Missing in Action (MIA)
In military language, the term 'missing in action' is ambiguous and can mean one of several things. In the absence of any physical evidence, it means the fate of any missing military personnel is unknown; whether or not they are dead, wounded or taken prisoner by the enemy is unclear and leaves doubt in the mind of their loved ones.
Or in some cases, it can mean that the 'missing' face a very different fate as shown in the above picture.
These three soldiers, members of the Western alliance fighting in Afghanistan, were captured by the local militia and are now officially declared 'MIA, presumed killed in action' leaving their families and friends to grieve for their loss.
Once not long ago, they would have faced a gruesome fate when captured. As hated infidels and crusaders they would have faced slow torture and death at the hands of their captors.
However, they are very much alive as we can see and they are now seen as a valuable resource and generator of money to fund the militia's ongoing battles. Instead of being killed - such a waste really - they were sold to an Arab slave-trader who specialises in white slaves and transported to a clandestine slave-market in a major Middle-Eastern city to be sold.
Slaves such as these three are in great demand as sex slaves with wealthy Middle-Eastern potentates and oil billionaires and with newly wealthy Black Africans from West Africa who consider owning a naked, white slave kneeling before them as the ultimate status symbol.
The picture shows them being presented for a 'private viewing' for the slave-trader's most valued clients in a secluded courtyard of his slave-market. Stripped naked, shackled hand and foot and chained by the neck to a viewing post, the new, as yet, unsold slaves nervously await the arrival of the buyers.
Each is lost in his thoughts as he remembers his former life as a free man and now contemplates his awful future as a slave. What fate awaits him? Will he be used as a beast-of-burden toiling under the whip or will he be his new Master's 'plaything' and sex toy?
Only time will tell and in the meantime, the three slaves are left with their solitary thoughts - and fears.
This is one of my all-time favourite pictures which is frequently found on the internet and I am sure most of you are familiar with it. It is of course the art of the incomparable Amalaric and though I don't know or certain, I suspect he created it to use in one of his stories. However, the text appearing here is my version of this highly, evocative scene of slaves waiting to be sold in a secluded slave-market. Chris
This is one of the best of the genre. Along with the scenes of medieval Arabic markets
ReplyDeleteYes, Chris, you are right: the art of Amalaric is certainly incomparable, but, let me say, your Art is at the same exceptional level.
ReplyDeleteThis is a theme of EXTREME BEAUTY and EXCITEMENT on which I’d like to read countless pages of yours written with your outstanding art.
Yes, these unlucky courageous and gallant Western soldiers are meeting their worst possible fate ….. perhaps even worst than atrocious and slow tortures to the death inflicted, by barbarous Afghani guerrillas to their many infidel enemies, first “godless” Russian soldiers in the 980’s ….. and more recently “crusader” soldiers of the Western coalition.
But a tortured prisoner of war, after having given some “amusement” with his sufferings to his capturers. Is just a loathsome carcass for vultures and wolves !
On the contrary, sold into slavery, as it is commanded to the true Believers to do with filthy infidels captured in war, these strong Soldiers POW’s not only will involuntarily fund, with their gorgeous muscled bodies, the militia’s holy war and future victories, but even more will glorify, with their sufferings and humiliation as slaves, the bravery and strength of their glorious religiously fanatical capturers.
FANTASTIC !
Karel
I’d like to add a further comment suggested by the incomparable art and fantasy of Amalaric, but inspired to real facts.
ReplyDeleteIn ancient Slave Market (as we know for sure from testimonies of ancient writers) …… and most probably also in MODERN Slave Markets, wherever they exist …….. before their auction, the choicest and most valuable slaves, were exposed by traders for several days before their sale, so that prospective buyers and even passers-by could start to inspect their bodies, appreciate them and in case, decide to bid for them in the next auction.
For example, in ancient Rome, the sturdiest and best-looking young males, to be sold e.g. as litter-bearers or as gladiators or wrestlers, were displayed to their potential buyers solidly chained to pillars or columns (like the three white POW’s in this splendid Artwork by Amalaric) or chained to the store-walls, inside or outside of the slave store ….. sometimes already stark-naked (especially inside the stores) or at the upmost with their well endowed groin hardly covered by a scanty rag or a dirty skimpy loincloth….. with their tall and brawny physiques carefully massaged and profusely oiled, a “trick” often used with young athletic males, for emphasizing the size and hardness of their mighty muscles and to make them look even bigger and stronger.
As said, most likely these habits continue –as Amalaric imagines- even in modern “white” Slave Markets, in some secluded region of the Arabic peninsula, of the Middle East or of Equatorial Africa.
Moreover, we are informed that some slave traders, during the preparation of athletic male slaves for their sale, obliged the slaves to tone their muscles up, by forcing them to real athletic workouts, e.g. by lifting weights, by running, by wrestling etc. …. and that rich customers were allowed to watch those “slaves’ sport trainings” appreciating and choosing the athletic males they liked the most and for whom they would have generously bidden at the future auction.
Again, perhaps also this is still happening even today, in some Arab or African “White Slave Market” !
Karel