Diamonds - How Lumps of Coal Rise To Brilliance

Diamonds have always been the jewel in thefrom Nigeria as the "gentle general" as she knew
crown, whether you were the Empress of Indiafrom me to be polite, but also that the leader of
and Queen of the entire British Empire. Which is,his nation was a brutal dictator. We all need
by the way celebrating 150 years since the 1858Nigerian oil into the international mix. Sigh.
first great bong from the famed bell clock ofBut the feeling inside my hotel, on the streets,
British Parliament, Big Ben. Another of diamonds inand coming and going on the bus systems by
it's way. However, in 1936 the father of Queenmerely showing your stadium pass for some
Elizabeth began, but did not end his reign asevent, it was an international party on the bus, a
Emperor of India, but rather as mere King Georgezoo. It was something that I could not explain to
after 1947, upon independence of India andmy American guests, who began arriving as the
Pakistan. The diamond jewel remains in the crown,party was winding down after ten glorious days.
but is no longer what it once was. Now symbol,But more about stepping aboard that bus: you
not power.had Jamaican music, people in costumes from a
The need to get off the once diamond conceptvariety of nations from Africa, south Asia, Pacific
of a British Empire upon which the sun never set,Islands, Hong Kong, and for the first time in
which was true, Churchill was coaxed and teaseddecades, newly black governed South Africa
into backing it off to a club by Franklin Roosevelt.under Nelson Mandella, back in the club.
Every time they met, Franklin would teaseYou should have been there in the stadium in the
Winston that this would no longer be an Empireopening, and closing ceremonies, when as at the
with subjective nations, but more a club, in whichOlympics, athletes of all nations come by in
any member nation could decide to stay with, oralphabetic order, with their flag flying, and a warm
leave. And so it has evolved today into aapplause from us all. But the emotion of the
members club fondly known to all, including India,crowd built, and the welling of emotion as the
as a proud English speaking Magna Carta of theathletes of Hong Kong walked on by. China was
British, or simply the Commonwealth.taking over Hong Kong, which had quite a Victoria
The Commonwealth Games are held every fourconnection,, as both deep harbors were east and
years, two years separated from the Olympics. Itwest repair depots for the British Pacific Fleet
is a huge success wherever the event is held.from 1843 until these 1994 Games. It was
And all this was eventually promised by Churchillgoodbye.
to Roosevelt as WW11 did seem to be aboutAnd yet the excitement built and we applauded
freeing people. More diamond minds. And howbut all began to stand as the South African black
more a club it seems to be, now some timesand white athletes walked by all mixed together,
voting to condemn or vote out of the club awith their new flag. And the foot stomping, hand
member such as South Africa for years forclapping, cheering and chanting welcome back into
apartheid. I attended many of the sports eventsthe club built to such a roar we all had huge smiles
with my English son in law when the Games wereand tears down our cheeks. And all the way
held in my home town Victoria Canada.through to Zanzibar or whoever, we were in a
It was a magical time. I operated my seaside Innwonderful mood. And when the Queen made her
at the time, and we hosted mostly blackappearance, we all cheered so much, and noticed
delegates from several African nations. All wereshe was not wearing the crown, with the huge
highly educated and held many seniors posts indiamond jewel. Just a very nice hat. But probably
their governments, and I came close friends toa diamond where we can't see. On her blouse,
many, as did my youngest daughter, then agedsilly.
eight. She referred to a very eloquent diplomat