On "The Venus Hottentot"
These are really just some notes I was jotting down in class. I wonder why do things like the events in this poem and the documentary we watched really surprise us? Horrific acts go on in this world each day. People are denied rights all over the planet and even in this country, in our very own cities and towns. Stoning, slavery, the sex trade, systematic rape - these are all problems that are prevalent throughout the world. The sex trade and human trafficking is actually a huge problem right here in the U.S.
Of course I'm not saying that any of these issues are good or right, and I'm not defending them in any way, but I think it's kind of awful how people think we've come so far when really modern people aren't really all that different from the ones that have committed atrocities throughout history. We're not all that different from Cuvier.
Our own rights are being taken away and we have the power to stop it, but it seems as if we're so apathetic. Sarah was powerless to stop what was happening to her and I think our general apathy and ignorance is an insult to her memory and the memories of so many others that we study that have been repressed throughout history.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying nobody in the class is doing anything to help anyone, it's just something that I've observed. Perhaps incorrectly, I'm not sure. I'm always open to new things...
I'm also not saying that it's anyone's fault that much of America seems so ignorant, especially given the news sources that we are stuck with.
This is a very powerful post, Victoria. You astutely demonstrate that Sara Baartman's case is not exceptional. Rather, the injustices enacted against her are one among many and this fact must be realized. I would venture to say that many of us are in this class because we want to be aware and not apathetic. Great observations.
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