British Culture

Since 1963 one programme has blessed our television screens with wonders of the universe, brilliant story lines and a man who could could change his face. Doctor Who has become part of British culture, and for good reason. You could go up to anyone in the street and ask if they have heard of it and 99.9% of the time they will say yes. According to the Guinness world book of records, Doctor Who is the "longest-running science fiction television show in the world" and the "most successful" science fiction series of all time.

It's history truly shows how much times have changed, from the Who monsters being made out of cardboard to brilliant special effects. Technology, fashion and writing has dramatically changed over the 47 years it's been broadcast.

I found this video of my favourite Doctor Who song, "I Am The Doctor" being played on the violin, enjoy.

"Through crimson stars and silent stars and tumbling nebulas like oceans set on fire, through empires of glass and civilisations of pure thought. and a whole, terrible, wonderful universe of impossibilities." 

My history, my childhood...

My childhood summed up in one medley. 

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
Walt Disney

Performed by Alan Menken

Dorothy Counts: One of the first black students to attend an all white school in the United States. 

This picture shows two sides: The strength and determination of Dorothy and the hate and discrimination of ignorant people. She was taunted, harassed and spat on by her fellow students, causing her to drop out after only four days. 

However painful this picture may be, it's comforting to know that it got better. People are more tolerant these days, however there is still discrimination in this world. I long for the day where everyone can get along, no matter what gender, race or sexual orientation. 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.

Genesis 1:27

In school, we met this inspirational woman from Poland. She told us about her experiences in the holocaust, such as being smuggled out to safety and the loss of various family members. The strange thing about her was that the loss and trauma she faced did not harden her, she was open to talk about it and she still smiled.

Hearing stories like hers, make you truly think about what it was like. It's not just facts, figures and a series of events that took place. 

Here is a video showing the testimonies of three Holocaust survivors who were children at the time.

In the news we hear about death, destruction and the lack of humanity however amongst the war, the hate and the prejudice there is still beauty upon this Earth. 

It may be hard to find, but I take courage in that it is there. 

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.
William Shakespeare 

Stumbled across this video the other day and I just thought I'd share it. Inspirational.

The Imperial War Museum

At the Imperial War Museum, I visited The Holocaust exhibition, The First and Second World War galleries and the Conflicts since 1945 gallery. Although the Conflicts since 1945 gallery contained information on a wider variety of wars, the World War galleries were much more in depth and therefore were more enjoyable and educational. Some of the photographs and audio clips at the museum were just to painful to look at and to listen to, such as the large photograph of the dead bodies during the holocaust. 

'The silence and intensity of emotion only deepens as you go further into the exhibition'

It's difficult to explain why I love History so much, especially the history of war. I suppose it may be because history can make you feel so much, from sadness to triumph. There is so much to learn from our past, and it helps shape the future as we learn from mistakes made.  

'We are not makers of history. We are made by history.'
Martin Luther King, Jr

Sources

 (Picture of museum): http://www.flickr.com/photos/mctumshie/5299467091/

(Museum's website): http://london.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00b