Growing up in the late 20th, early 21st century I have always been told of how much we have to be great full for. I can easily drive one hour, maybe three or four to a museum or art gallery sans excessive discomforts (including starvation, disease, physical exertion of any kind). Maybe, if I feel adventurous, I can plan a trip to England or Germany and visit one of their many public houses. No matter where I go within the western world I have access to some of the greatest treasures of the whole world!!!
I would like to say that I am and have almost always been aware of this amazing privilege. However, it is only in my recent past that I have come to realize this is also a pity.
Peter Hopkirk’s Foreign Devils on the Silk Road and Frances Wood’s The Silk Road raise some interesting points, when it comes to the age-long argument of who gets what and why! I am sorry to say that I haven’t read too far into either book (although I did do the assigned readings), so I am not yet about to pose any arguments of my own. Right now, I am happy to read of the rich history, and personal accounts of people living in and under the rule of the Han and Tang Dynastys. The only thing I can say right now is that it is a definite privilege and not a pity of any sort, that I do NOT have to travel through the Taklamakan desert and die an early death, lured off path by the sirens that lurk there.
Cheerio, that’s all for now!
