There aren't adequate words to describe the scale of horror of yesterday's event, the plane crashing down onto a hostel for doctors and other premises in the Indian township of Ahmedabad mere seconds after taking off, killing 241 passengers and crew, additional ground fatalities so far unknown, though likely to be numerous. The cause of the plane's failure/malfunction is, of course, yet to be determined. There was only one survivor (with a few non-critical injuries) from the plane itself, which I will refrain from calling 'miraculous' - though others may not be so held back - as that would literally imply a deity who'd 'decided' that everyone on the plane must die except for this single 40-year old British man - a preposterous notion. But I get that people, myself included, are prone to exaggerating for effect when commenting on such a catastrophe as this - or, indeed, any tragedy at all.
However, in the reporting of the disaster on yesterday's TV news, there was a matter which some might say is relatively trivial as against the entire deadly drama. Among all the victims was a British couple, Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek who founded a spiritual 'Wellness Foundry' in London in 2018 involving psychic readings, reiki healing, tarot and other 'alternative' belief systems (not specifically religious) and who was later joined by his husband, Jamie, as business partner:-
When I first heard about the horrible event yesterday on the BBC News channel, among the details of those few victims known at that early time, was this couple, the BBC acknowledging Jamie as the other's husband. However, on our ITV News half an hour later, the two were described as being 'partners' which, though accurate in the business sense, doesn't give what is arguably the more important part of their relationship. What makes their status as victims even more poignant is that the couple at the airport just prior to boarding for their flight, had made a video of themselves saying 'Goodbye, India' - which was broadcast. (Lump in my throat. Oh, weep for them!) Okay, so maybe ITV hadn't known that they were a married couple - but if it had been a man and his wife who was also his business partner, would they not have at least been 'interested' as to their relationship, if any? Or could it, just possibly, have been that ITV didn't want to 'offend' some viewers? I only ask the question because it still irks me. If the BBC knew, surely ITV too should or could also have found out?
The plane would have been bound for London's Gatwick airport which is in that part of England in which I also reside, so I watched the later ITV 'regional news' bulletin with some interest - and yet again, as the crash had some incidental connection with this region, these particular victims were mentioned once more - and (no surprise) this couple were again only referred to as 'partners'! (Incidentally, the later Channel 4 News did acknowledge their true relationship). Of course it's quite possible that I'm barking up a non-existent tree, but until there's evidence to the contrary I'll continue to quibble that this couple, dying together horrifically as they did, were not afforded the dignity and respect by our ITV channel to which they were absolutely entitled.
London Pride 2025 is to take place on 5th July coming up. The couple were booked to supervise an information stall for their London-based 'Wellness' enterprise in the park gathering following the parade. Plans are currently uncertain how to carry on but what will happen is that a period of silence in the couple's memory will be held, which is the very minimum that can be done. As to whether anything else takes place regarding their profoundly ever-so-sad demise and in loving honour of their memory, we'll have to see.
You've been privy to more detailed news information than I regarding the horrible crash and for this I thank you. I too am irked at the broadcasters/media attempt to, in their eyes, smooth over and negate the fact that those two very good men were far more than "partners". As far as miracles go, I'm with you. Sitting in exit row seat 11A was perhaps what got the lone survivor ejected quickly and saved his life. Sadly, his brother and hundreds of others did not survive, so tragic. Hope you are well Ray. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your visit, Camille. It's hard to get one's brain around this beyond-terrible event, Been haunting me ever since I first heard.
DeleteThe poor yet ever-so fortunate lone survivor must be going though a kind of mental trauma, thinking all sorts of things and repeatedly wondering "Why ME?" - and probably re-evaluating his life. Anyway that's what I want to think!
Last night the News bulletins with their references to this couple I talk of above hadn't changed. ITV still called them 'partners' yet the BBC, on both their national and local news, referred to them as being married to each other.
I'm okay (only just!), thanks. With the hope of not repeating myself too often, as you probably know, next year I turn octogenarian and, boy, do I increasingly feel it! Ever so wary of falling down again (which could well signal the end of me!) I now go down the stairs backwards, step by step - nothing to hold onto lower down. Just had a few days of of painful upper thigh symptoms, dreading that it might be first signs of a needed hip replacement. but after finding some out-of-date muscle balm at the back of a drawer this morning, its application has brought some immediate relief, so if it's only just a twinged muscle it might otherwise have been a lot worse. Then on this coming Thurs I have to take one of my cats to the vet for his annual check-up (the other one next month) but how I'm going to get him there (he's the heavier one), even just down the stairs, is my current worry.
Other than all that I have to say that things COULD be worse, though maybe not by so much.
I hope you too are well - and all those around or close to you. I also send you my very best wishes. Take care.
Luv.
The pieces I saw on Fiongal and Jamie all referred to them as married; I'm glad, b/c that's what they were and should be acknowledged as such. I think most of those posts were on Instagram. That video of the two of them was heartbreaking. So many stories the same. The whole family who died. The father, who had taken his wife's ashes back to India; now his children are orphans. Each day is such sadness. It can overwhelm, can't it? And don't get me started on the state of things here in the US. I knew it was going to be bad but this is beyond the pale. A feeling of hopelessness.
ReplyDeleteHope your cat visit goes well! You be careful, Ray.
Sad way beyond words, Elle. Those pics of families taken through their own phones and sent on to their loved ones, some with little kids, perhaps their first time in an aeroplane - it breaks our hearts utterly, it really does. If I was still believing in there being a benevolent 'God' - something I discarded over 50 years ago - then this event together with so many similar such, ought to have put an end to it.
DeleteNo, I won't say anything about American matters. As I'm writing, it's about 9 hours before the (birthday!) 'parade' begins - and that alone is more than enough - TOO much! - to cope with.
Thanks for your wishes. I do try to be extra-careful all day, every day - and it ain't easy keeping it up, but what choice is there?
Kind regards to all at your end.
I didn't really know what to say because it so very horrific and tragic. As nothing I can say could make a difference I will just stick with you, take care and I hope the cat/vet visit goes okay.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right, Carol. Any words at all would be inadequate. We can only share our feelings with like-minded people - with little else to add.
DeleteI'm still concerned about the vet visit on Thurs - just getting there and back will be problem enough, never mind what the verdict on Bobby will be, though I've got nothing in particular on that front to be worried about. Just play it as it goes will be my policy.
Alas the airplane event went hardly noticed here what with The Felon's military birthday present to himself.
ReplyDeleteAt first sight what you say is astonishing about the playing down in your news bulletins regarding the air crash, though it did have extra resonance here as over 50 of the victims turned about to be British, quite a number of whom not having any Indian heritage.
DeleteAlthough this horrible event has been high on our news ever since it happened, our main story yesterday was indeed 'that' parade. However, as far as I could see, none of our channels even mentioned the embarrassingly modest amount of spectators present there to watch it live - even citing it as a 'success'! - while some even making no mention of the far more solid and widespread ANTI-gov demonstrations all over your country. Something I find totally unfathomable.
Sometimes anti-gay bias doesn't have to be direct or hurtful to be real. Maybe members of the media still don't feel comfortable enough about same-sex marriage to talk about it. I don't know. The last time I had a homophobic remark directed at me was 10 years ago in Amsterdam of all places. I can elaborate if you are interested. The plane crash that haunts me is the Germanwings plane carrying exchange students back from Spain that was deliberately crashed by the co-pilot.
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1980s I visited Amsterdam no fewer than 35 times, H. - and, like you, suffered, though only very occasionally in my case, verbal abuse there. Maybe much the same as yours was. It hadn't helped my being dressed in leathers when out for a night 'cruise', so was rather conspicuous - but that was then, when I was still middle-aged.
DeleteI know exactly that deliberate plane crash you are referring to as the memory of that too, through news reports, haunts me equally. Horrifying beyond all measure.
Yes, anti-gay bias, even subliminally is still so deeply embedded in so many cultures and psyches, including my own up to my mid-20s, that it's going to take more than just a few more generations to make it a low minority characteristic - centuries even. We won't be here to see it, that's for sure.
Thanks very much for your visit here, H. Greatly appreciated.
I'm kind of letting the media off a little bit on this. With the horrific circumstances, there had to be so much information to process - and hopefully verify before they broadcast anything. Hopefully, they clarify it as needed.
ReplyDeleteYes, with all such tragedies as this there's an understandable demand from the public to be told everything possible straight away, which just isn't feasible, nor even necessarily desirable. It's a finely balanced position to do what's ideal, and everybody will never agree what's best.
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