In thinking about roses, in looking through catalogues and
botanical histories for intriguing names, I was reminded of the many cultures
and eras where the rose has taken a special place. As a symbol of love,
passion, beauty, grace, joy and nobility that is forever embedded in
poem, story and song, and featured in art, in perfume and in design, it knows
few rivals. This floral élan
is so often reflected in the names that people give to the ever evolving plant
and blossoms that are the rose. But as the old saying goes, “Every rose has its thorn…”
Or perhaps in this case, its bittersweet side.
As a form of resistance during the Second World War, young
Germans began publishing leaflets, alerting their fellow citizens that not all
was well in the Reich and that terrible acts were begin committed. To publish
such material was considered subversive, treasonous and punishable
by death. When they were caught, many were executed. Their last leaflet was
smuggled out of the country into the hands of the Allies who edited it and airdropped
millions of copies over Germany. This group of students and intellectuals was
known as the White Rose – die Weisse Rose….
These days also I’m contemplating the limited freedom of
speech and expression that many friends, artists, writers and journalists are
experiencing around the world right now and the creative ways they are finding to make
their position known.
