72 Years On

As a child one of my heroines was Amelia Earhart.  She was of course the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in 1928 and 4 years later became the first female to cross it solo.  Her last, uncompleted journey was to fly around the world with her co-pilot Frederick Noonan on this day she sent a message that she was low on fuel, that was the last that was ever heard of her.  Nothing was ever found of the plane last reported as being somewhere in New Guinea in the South Pacific.

The world is a very different place some 72 years later, her achievements have passed into the mists of time with the ability for anyone to fly around the world, if they have the money, without much planning or consideration that they might be embarking on a dangerous journey.  Yet still a lot of what she believed in has not been achieved, equality is still not a reality, however I believe that Amelia can continue to be an example for those who fight for it, whatever that equality they fight.  Amelia didn’t proclaim equality with mere words but went about doing it.  She didn’t complain about a glass ceiling, instead she got into a plane and smashed through it proving that a woman was just as capable as any man.  Although she was vocal at times she most definitely believed that actions were stronger than words.

Her determination, courage and belief that she wasn’t restrained by her gender has inspired and no doubt will continue to inspire me.   I think it is sad that she is rarely remember.