July 21 - Day 99 - “To dwellers in a wood, almost every species of tree has its voice as well as its feature.” Thomas Hardy

We don’t look up enough. I decided that when I took the picture of the strange clouds but there are also so many amazing features on buildings that we miss in cities and aspects of nature that we miss in the country. Now I realise on saying this, that it is not something you should do while crossing a road, driving or cycling but if you do get a chance to stand still for a moment or can spare a quick glimpse, you might be very surprised by what you have missed. The sun shining through all the different greens this morning certainly made me try to capture it.

Looking through past events that took place on July 21, I couldn’t help focus on 1931. It seems absolutely unbelievable that only 90 years ago a bill was put before parliament proposing ‘the sterilisation of the mentally defective’. Thankfully it was defeated in the House of Commons but it certainly raises significant questions about our history and attitudes towards those that are in need, ill and/or vulnerable. I am going to leave you with a quotation from the speech recorded in Hansard in 1931 - if for nothing else to remind us, that we have much as a nation to be forgiven for as well as much to be proud of. We can only hope that attitudes throughout the country have changed but unfortunately, as we know from events throughout the past 90 years, this has not always been the case. The work to increase understanding continues.

Hansard 1931 July 21 - Major Church: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable mental defectives to undergo sterilizing operations or sterilizing treatment upon their own application, or that of their spouses or parents or guardians; and for purposes connected therewith. I realise, and those associated with me realise, that in making this request we are asking the House to do something which may be regarded as in advance of public opinion.