Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookpossum
As we discussed in Things Fall Apart, it takes a lot of courage to go against the majority.
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Thanks for the interesting quotes, Bookpossum. Things don't seem to change until, one person at a time, a majority is formed that refuses to be part of the abuses of the past and challenges them wherever they occur. Then the new unhappy minority complains a lot about the tyranny of 'political correctness'. Having a multi-racial family, I can tell you that it was a great boon to live in Seattle, long a 'politically correct' city.
Too many are unable to overcome their fear and contempt, and change must forced upon them by law as an enlightened majority gains power. Then the succeeding generations have a chance to learn there is really nothing to fear and that we are all just people.
The Secret River was tragic: the hopeless poverty and class system of London, the failure of the exiled to understand the native people, and the heartbreaking massacre near the end of the book. I was left with a sadness similar to the one I felt after reading several historical novels about Ireland this year. My own homeland has its own sad history.