Princess of Our Time

Diana, Princess of Wales was born Diana Frances Spencer in 1961. Her life ended tragically in a car accident 36 years later. She was the wife of the heir apparent to the British throne and a humanitarian beyond her duties.

Princess Diana's life was a fairytale story brought to live. Her advantaged childhood and subsequent marriage to Prince Charles brought even more envy to the everyday people. She was beautiful, glamorous and elegant in every way. However, I do not believe she wants to be remembered as a Princess.

She was every ounce and morsal of flesh a human being just like you and me. What distinguishes her from us was she was privileged beyond most people's imagination. But being privileged comes with an added responsibility. As an individual, there's just so much one can contribute. However, Princess D used her alleviated status as a royalty to bring the world's attention to crisis that are so often forgotten. She used her 'celebrity' status, knowing the world's media would be following her everywhere she went to good use.

Her works involved actively raising awareness for AIDS and the banning of landmines. Her work posthumously led to the signing of Ottawa Treaty, an international ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines.

Her personal life albeit has much to frown upon in the asian context is a result of royal pressure and accusations of infidelity. Conspiracies aplenty to explain the cause of her accident however are irrelevant I feel as a life so beautiful and meaningful is gone forever. And if indeed theories are accurate, no one is able to bring her back to continue her work.

Let us continue her work not just in landmines or raising awareness for AIDS, but in any other ways meaningful. For example, you can, instead of indulging in a meal, donate that $ to your poor neighbour (it doesn't apply if you live in a house) or spare a few notes or shillings to the old uncle or auntie picking up cardboards in your neighbourhood. Don't pretend they don't exist! They do, you know it but you choose not to acknowledge it. If you are inspired by my entry and have the sudden burning desire to want to do something meaningful, look no further! You can start by helping me do this survey on Nike.Thanks.

Innocent Victims, a bronze statue in memory of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed in Harrods in London