I watched a new Netflix documentary (‘True Spirit’ ) about a young Australian woman who became the youngest person to circumnavigate the world. This video touched a big nerve with me. I was once stationed at a small military base in N. Turkey. A couple of us bought a small sail boat and spent the summer sailing the Black Sea. Years later I was living in Germany and took a learn-to-sail course at a German lake/resort, Herren Chiemsee). We started with small boats and worked our way up to several famous 11 meter boats that required a 5 person crew. I got the sailing bug and was determined to buy a sailboat. We returned to Seattle and went to lots of boat shows. For me the ideal size was 27’ which was the smallest size with a berth, galley, and head and could be managed by one person. Later a friend of a friend asked me to help him sail a boat from Tacoma to Seattle. It was winter but it was also a clear blue sky. As we headed south I noticed planes taking off headed north and said that is a bad sign. The friend had no clue what I was talking about (we had to head north and tack). That lack of knowledge made me nervous. It turned out to be one of the scariest, and comical times in my life and the bug was gone. It takes skill, knowledge and sometimes stupidity to do what this girl did but now she’s on the record book. It was a totally moving film and the end with some 200,000 cheering people filling the area around Sydney was really emotional
She had the privilege of sailing around the world while Australia was rejecting boat immigrants from Vietnam. They were fleeing the destruction caused by the US war on their country which Australia had participated in also.
I am more impressed by those who use their privilege to help the refugees who are the victims of their privilege. I am more impressed by that than those who indulge their individual privilege.
Sorry, I totally disagree. Developed countries cannot be the worlds social workers and bring in billions (the number is accurate) of people in other countries that are suffering. The usual excuse of what horrible things we have done to others does not work. I have been to Vietnam. We went with a brother and his Vietnamese wife and spent a month going from Saigon to Ha Long Bay. We saw the country as few do. In Vietnam it's call the American war. This is a country, the size of Calif. with over 90 million people. There was garbage and poverty everywhere yet having big families was paramount with the people. Sometime (almost always) people create the conditions that they eventually have to live. Haiti is a prime example. Compared with the Dominican Republic one can clearly see how two parts of the same island have completely different lives.
There are some who push the idea of 'open borders.' In reality this is nothing short on insane. In the end everybody will suffer.
My late partner, in immigrant from Iran, once asked her 2nd graders, "what's more important, people or dirt?" We live in a natural system and when we destroy that system, which we are rapidly doing, no one will survive.
@jackjr
The issue of Vietnamese refugees is not something incidental or outside of Australia's History.
The destruction in Vietnam that prompted refugees was created by Australia, along with the US, in their war on the country.
The woman you feature is a beneficiary of such imperialism. She indulges her privilege and access to resources. But does she help those who pay for her privileges - like Vietnamese refugees?
I have no clue what you are talking about either.
Basically it's about sailing and a wonderful documentary about a young woman who broke a record. The main part was a former enthusiasm I once had for the sport.
Others seem to have gotten it.
@jackjr "As we headed south I noticed planes taking off headed north and said that is a bad sign." "The friend had no clue what I was talking about" The hint about what I was talking about was there in the word "either" at the end. Ok, so if others seem to have "gotten it", we'll let them explain the meaning of this.
@Archeus_Lore After the comment I added (we had to head north and tack). Tacking is a strategy used when heading into the wind. It's like climbing a hill - instead of going head on one goes at an angle to minimize the load. [sailoradvice.com].
Someone could be a professional sailor, and still not know a thing about airplanes. It's not real likely, but certainly possible.