|
Dear Cindy and a tip
of the hat to the list members;
I like your proposed
topic, of the contribution of Sinclair women, but if I may, let me respond from
the perspective of my recognition that those Sinclair women whether famous or
infamous or simply having lived their lives in a decent way, have all made a
significant contribution to their families, to their neighbours and their world.
The arguement can be
made that there is no more important task ever assumed by any human being
than the role responsible for the creation of life and nuturing the
generations that follow. That said let me suggest that there is more that
history may teach us.
We get confused by
history and our reading of it to assume that the role of women were either
intended or meant to be in a secondary role. We forget women ran the castle and
the staff in fudel times, before that fought beside and with the men in clan
wars, contributed to education throughout history. I am proud to say
that today Sinclair women in my family have performed satalite
tracking for NASA, attended the George Washington Law School and another ran the
law library!
So it is the
historical writing that sometimes scues understanding, and then our values that
create fame with making a contribution. They are not on the same par. It is easy
to give a Canadian example of Margaret Sinclair Trudeau rather famous wife of
the Canadian Prime Minister in the 1970's-80's. Lots of fame, but that said,
there is something to call heroic pertaining to the women who do ordinary
things extraordinarily well, or undertake ordinary feats in difficult
circumstances. It is this contribution, made without fame, glory, or even a
written trace that has moved mankind forward.
It is easy for anyone
on this list to recall great women in their own ancestry that made a heroic
contribution in their own way to the human energies that followed. I can
nominate my grandmother Jennie Sinclair who accompanied my grandfather to the
Canadian west. They walked across the praries, - on foot. On arriving in Alberta
gave birth to her first son 1700 miles from any "civilization". Now walking is
not heroic, but I would defy most individuals to try this today, without
prepared food, under the Saskatchewan sun in July. One ate what hopped by for
dinner. Then we have another example, Mary Sinclair, carrying her children and
possessions from Scotland walking across the Northumberland Ice to PEI. Now if
one has the slightest idea as to what it means to be widowed, have a number of
dependants, and starting life from scratch, with Mary stopping to have her
family get their breath sitting on pack ice miles from land, one has some idea
as to just what courage constitutes.
Cindy, heroes aboud
with Sinclair women, tougher than nails, yet gentle and intelligent. Hats off to
them for their examples for living a life. But for their efforts, we would not
be writing here today.
Neil Sinclair
Toronto/PEI/Forever
Argyll
Attention All "Sinclair"
Women
And I don't mean just women who currently use the surname
Sinclair. I for one, am a true Sinclair female! Are there no others? There
must be numerous stories regarding famous Sinclair women!
It would be wonderful if a few of you great historians would
share your knowledge.
Not that I mind a good "mud slinging" myself, but girls lets
get a REAL discussion going here! Surely our ancestors did more than bare highly
intelligent children and bake great bread! (No conceit in our family - Can you
tell that I am Donald H. Sinclair's daughter yet?) Hope to hear from you
soon!
Cindy L. Woodson |