By Ahmed Latif
For me, I do not think there is a character that is as defining to my childhood as Paddington Bear. I can scarcely think of how to describe what Paddington has meant to me and why he is the best anthropomorphic bear, and above all that, a great best friend. I first met Paddington when he graced the pages of A Bear Called Paddington, written in 1958 by British author Michael Bond and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum. Paddington has gone on to star in more than twenty books, two recent movies, and a well-meaning cartoon.
For me, I do not think there is a character that is as defining to my childhood as Paddington Bear. I can scarcely think of how to describe what Paddington has meant to me and why he is the best anthropomorphic bear, and above all that, a great best friend. I first met Paddington when he graced the pages of A Bear Called Paddington, written in 1958 by British author Michael Bond and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum. Paddington has gone on to star in more than twenty books, two recent movies, and a well-meaning cartoon.
Paddington Bear is an immigrant who arrives in London from his native Peru. He first lays his eyes on the city of London at the cathedral of transportation at the very heart of the city: Paddington station. He is utterly clumsy yet so earnest and well-intentioned. Paddington’s heart is always in the right place and yet he always finds himself in the wrong place. But he carries it all with the same utilitarian grace and forward-thinking mentality that all immigrants know so well. He also loves marmalade, much more than his doctor recommends but it is his one true love. Finally, Paddington has no life memory. He lives completely and solely in the moment, in the present, enjoying and relishing it as someone who is truly alive. Disregarding past mistakes and future risks and always risking it to make a mistake no matter how many times.
For those who know me, this description is essentially a profile of me; so it is easy to see why I loved and continue to love Paddington Bear so much. Paddington is my mentor, his little nuggets of wisdom about just enjoying life and letting your troubles wash right over you resonated so much with me as a child that I ingratiated them to my psyche. Paddington Bear is the result of a lot of compassion and a big mess; in a real sense, there is no idealizing going on here, just a bear trying his best to survive in another country. Paddington is the every immigrant, his struggles are ours and ours are his. And as far as I am concerned, Paddington and I will always be in this beautiful struggle together.
For those who know me, this description is essentially a profile of me; so it is easy to see why I loved and continue to love Paddington Bear so much. Paddington is my mentor, his little nuggets of wisdom about just enjoying life and letting your troubles wash right over you resonated so much with me as a child that I ingratiated them to my psyche. Paddington Bear is the result of a lot of compassion and a big mess; in a real sense, there is no idealizing going on here, just a bear trying his best to survive in another country. Paddington is the every immigrant, his struggles are ours and ours are his. And as far as I am concerned, Paddington and I will always be in this beautiful struggle together.
