Sayyada Khaki, Grade 11
UWCEA Moshi
The year 2020 was unlike any other. Between the wide-spread pandemic taking over and presidential elections in many countries, it seemed there was nothing good to remember, and all is better once it’s forgotten.
However, on June 21st 2020, the world was engulfed by a shadow. For a few minutes, the world was dark, and the temperatures dropped briefly. It reflected what many felt due to the sombre circumstances. What had happened was simply that the Moon had obstructed the view of the Sun from Earth, also known as a solar eclipse.
Within many cultures, a solar eclipse is a sign. Worldwide, solar eclipses are seen as supernatural. The ancient Greeks believed that the gods had been angered. It would signal the beginning of disasters, or rather a punishment and abandonment. One of the first recorded solar eclipses was May 28th, 585 BC. For years before, two nations had been fighting over control of the land. The eclipse had taken place during one of the battles, now known as the Battle of the Eclipse. The sky turned dark, and it brought a ceasefire. The soldiers negotiated and concluded on a truce to save the world from the anger of the gods, which would mean disasters, punishments and abandonment.
As science prevailed over, beliefs of solar eclipses were dismissed as a lack of understanding. However, in the case of the year 2020, the ancient Greeks may have been right. 2020 was not spared of disasters and even abandonment. The disasters include but are not limited to the Australian wildfire, the coronavirus pandemic, the Beirut explosion, aeroplane crashes, and millions of avoidable deaths.
However, the solar eclipse can also be a representation of change, which the world experienced a lot of this last year. A prominent example of this is the Black Lives Movement. The solar eclipse can be a time to reflect and focus on change. Many choose to look at the Sun as a representation of our desires and goals. The never-ending beauty of the Sun’s determination to shine is the way one should approach change, with courage and determination. Historically, a total solar eclipse was sometimes seen as a symbol for growth and a time change. The last year has brought change, no doubt, good and bad.
And it is only humanity that can look at sudden darkness in the sky and decide it was time for a change.
However, on June 21st 2020, the world was engulfed by a shadow. For a few minutes, the world was dark, and the temperatures dropped briefly. It reflected what many felt due to the sombre circumstances. What had happened was simply that the Moon had obstructed the view of the Sun from Earth, also known as a solar eclipse.
Within many cultures, a solar eclipse is a sign. Worldwide, solar eclipses are seen as supernatural. The ancient Greeks believed that the gods had been angered. It would signal the beginning of disasters, or rather a punishment and abandonment. One of the first recorded solar eclipses was May 28th, 585 BC. For years before, two nations had been fighting over control of the land. The eclipse had taken place during one of the battles, now known as the Battle of the Eclipse. The sky turned dark, and it brought a ceasefire. The soldiers negotiated and concluded on a truce to save the world from the anger of the gods, which would mean disasters, punishments and abandonment.
As science prevailed over, beliefs of solar eclipses were dismissed as a lack of understanding. However, in the case of the year 2020, the ancient Greeks may have been right. 2020 was not spared of disasters and even abandonment. The disasters include but are not limited to the Australian wildfire, the coronavirus pandemic, the Beirut explosion, aeroplane crashes, and millions of avoidable deaths.
However, the solar eclipse can also be a representation of change, which the world experienced a lot of this last year. A prominent example of this is the Black Lives Movement. The solar eclipse can be a time to reflect and focus on change. Many choose to look at the Sun as a representation of our desires and goals. The never-ending beauty of the Sun’s determination to shine is the way one should approach change, with courage and determination. Historically, a total solar eclipse was sometimes seen as a symbol for growth and a time change. The last year has brought change, no doubt, good and bad.
And it is only humanity that can look at sudden darkness in the sky and decide it was time for a change.
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