As the fictional Brennan family disperses around the globe,
I wonder about communication.
Did Silas and Grace Brennan ever know their young son had died on a prison ship?
Did convict Florence ever write to his parents?
How long would these letters have taken to arrive?
Today, we communicate with face-time and Skype and Snapchat.
There is no isolation and waiting for the postman.
How does that influence our demand for instant gratification,
for up-to-date news, to know NOW?
How was bad news conveyed?
When Kevin Buchanan died on the Somme,
was it an official, emotionless telegram that told a family
that their world was destroyed?
What responsibility do bearers of bad tidings have
to offer support, reveal compassion, companion grief?
When the E-coli epidemic broke out in Western Africa,
the world knew almost immediately and efforts were made to
help the affected and contain the outbreak.
With better communication,
could the effects of the Spanish Influenza which ravaged the population of Tahiti
have been mitigated?
Indigenous populations were very vulnerable to viruses and bacteria carried by colonists.
What moral responsibility do these pioneers have
in accepting their role in communicating infectious diseases and decimating native populations?
New languages were introduced and nearly obliterated native tongues.
How were important treaties, such as the Treaty of Waitangi, signed
and the ideas they contained, communicated?
Was there reciprocity and mutual exchange?
How do we ensure we have made ourselves understood?
How do I feel about bilingual and multi-lingual communities?
Do I embrace diversity?
Do I respect the languages of different ethnic groups?
Parents often have dreams for their children.
How are these communicated?
Should children be expected to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of their parents?
When Maurice Donovan turned his back on academia and joined the circus,
how did his family respond?
I wonder about communication.
Did Silas and Grace Brennan ever know their young son had died on a prison ship?
Did convict Florence ever write to his parents?
How long would these letters have taken to arrive?
Today, we communicate with face-time and Skype and Snapchat.
There is no isolation and waiting for the postman.
How does that influence our demand for instant gratification,
for up-to-date news, to know NOW?
How was bad news conveyed?
When Kevin Buchanan died on the Somme,
was it an official, emotionless telegram that told a family
that their world was destroyed?
What responsibility do bearers of bad tidings have
to offer support, reveal compassion, companion grief?
When the E-coli epidemic broke out in Western Africa,
the world knew almost immediately and efforts were made to
help the affected and contain the outbreak.
With better communication,
could the effects of the Spanish Influenza which ravaged the population of Tahiti
have been mitigated?
Indigenous populations were very vulnerable to viruses and bacteria carried by colonists.
What moral responsibility do these pioneers have
in accepting their role in communicating infectious diseases and decimating native populations?
New languages were introduced and nearly obliterated native tongues.
How were important treaties, such as the Treaty of Waitangi, signed
and the ideas they contained, communicated?
Was there reciprocity and mutual exchange?
How do we ensure we have made ourselves understood?
How do I feel about bilingual and multi-lingual communities?
Do I embrace diversity?
Do I respect the languages of different ethnic groups?
Parents often have dreams for their children.
How are these communicated?
Should children be expected to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of their parents?
When Maurice Donovan turned his back on academia and joined the circus,
how did his family respond?