Pirates: Past vs Present

            When trying to define the word “pirate”, many probably imagine groups of rough looking men sailing around on wooden ships in search of buried treasure.  These classical figures are constantly being portrayed in movies, celebrated in festivals, and have even been granted their own international holiday, “Talk Like a Pirate Day”.  And while the historical representation of pirates is often revered in today’s world, modern pirates are typically regarded in an entirely opposite manner.  However, when comparing the two, one can see that today’s sea bandits are in many ways quite similar to those of the past.

               After listening to many of the arguments from Thursday’s discussion, I could not help but think about this connection.  Some of the quotes that regarded modern day pirates as heroes pushed me to primarily consider how different they were from those of the past.  The world was obviously a much different place then, and today pirates operate in an entirely different manner.  However, despite the defenses claiming that pirates, specifically those fixed around Somalia, serve as protectors of their State’s coastal territory, I feel that the vast majority of them are in it for the profits they gain, just as those of the past were.

            Although historical pirates are often romanticized in popular culture, the fact of the matter is that they mostly consisted of ruthless criminals that used violence to take what they wanted.  And as much as I want to believe that there were pirates like Captain Jack Sparrow, that in some ways leaned more to the side of good, sailing around in the Caribbean, this was not likely the case.  This same likely goes for pirates today.  While there may have been a number of incidences in the Gulf of Aden where pirates were specifically targeting foreign vessels preforming illegal activities, they probably make up a small fraction of the attacks on boats and ships that are purely made in hope of achieving financial gain.  

            What I have found interesting in making this comparison deals with the characteristics of piracy in the past that eventually made it the subject of fascination that is today.  Many famous historical pirates such as Blackbeard and Calico Jack have become regarded as legendary figures in many respects.  And while these figures may be ultimately remembered for the terror they struck across the seas, classical pirates still usually seem to be held in a positive light.  When considering modern day pirates and how they will be remembered in the future, it may be entirely different.  Despite arguments that claim they are protecting the sea from dumping and overfishing, there do not seem to be many elements of piracy today that might help lead it toward the same outcome.  However, it is difficult to make predictions about the future, and although it is probably highly unlikely, perhaps modern pirates may one day be considered environmental heroes.