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Samantha Selimo
ECI 430
Dr. Young
16 November 2010
The Rest of the Story
“Diamonds are forever”
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? They never grow old, the shape and cut always
stays the same, and diamonds never change. This all may be true; we all know diamonds are nice
to wear and it might be true that every girl desires a diamond at one point in her life, but
diamonds do not consume who we, women, are. In fact, it is almost just as common for a man to
show off diamonds in today’s society. Take “Hollywood” stars for instance; everyone wears,
owns, and “rocks” diamonds. But what do diamonds truly symbolize?
Diamonds frequently symbolize wealth and more recently fame. “Hollywood” stars are
seen rocking diamonds from their head to their toes. Reality TV has series like “The Real
Housewives” which depicts how significant diamonds are to keeping a certain image. This image
has been adapted by more than just “Hollywood” stars; average people purchase and own
diamonds. They may not be as big as the diamonds famous people own and they might only be
worn on silver or gold, but the fact is, a large number of ordinary people own diamonds for
different reasons. So how does it make any sense that diamonds resemble wealth? Is it because
they are shiny and small? Or is it just because they are expensive? All of these reasons can be
considered when defining the elegance of diamonds.
Another way diamonds are used is for engagements. Diamonds are in fact elegant. They
are worn tastefully on earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and most commonly rings. Diamond rings
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represent more than just wealth and fame, they express love and commitment between two
people. Diamonds are the main focus of engagement rings. Knowing marriages do not always
last forever, why do we say that diamonds do? An advertising slogan used by De Beers
Consolidated Mines Ltd., owner of diamond mine in South Africa, coined the phrase “a diamond
is forever,” as of August 1948. Surprisingly, this was not the first usage of the famous phrase
(Martin, 2010, p.1). In 1925, Anita Loos' said, “…kissing your hand may make you feel very
very good but a diamond and safire bracelet lasts forever” (Martin, 2010, p. 1). Advertisements
and authors do what they can to verify the meaning and use of diamonds, but we can also assume
that the phrase “diamonds are forever” is to symbolize memories. No memory is actually
concrete; therefore a diamond given to someone will allow them to forever have that memory
with them.
Diamonds do more than represent wealth, fame, and engagements. They can be given to
people for many reasons. A lot of girls receive diamonds for momentous occasions, besides their
engagement. Through the years it appears that diamonds have become a hot item; one that is
bought or received for a number of reasons. The price of diamonds has not reduced, nor has the
beauty, but the significance has. So then why are diamonds so expensive and do diamonds still
embrace the old phrase, “diamonds last forever?”
Here is the rest of the story. Diamonds may be considered a girl’s best friend;
coincidentally, to others, they are enemies. Across the African continent, the symbol of love,
wealth, and fame – diamonds – fund civil war. Diamonds are known as blood or conflict
diamonds; sold to fund the unlawful and illegal operation of rebel, military, and terrorist groups.
Blood Diamonds are often traded in countries with illegitimate governments. Unfortunately, each
of these countries has contributed to the ruthless terrorizing, mutilating, and killing of their own
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citizens due to the local diamond trade issue (Pervenia, 2005).
For decades, first world countries, including the United States of America, have bought
and sold blood diamonds (United Nations Department of Public Information, 2010). Before the
United Nations got involved in Western African countries the diamond trade business was
completely illegal; therefore, they would transport these unmarked diamonds to countries like
Liberia for them to in turn be sold. When these diamonds were sold they had no documentation
and after being cleaned the “dirty looking diamonds” look like “clean” diamonds.
There is more to the story. “Hollywood” model, Naomi Campbell was given “dirty
looking diamonds” in 1997 while attending a dinner for The Children’s Fund at Nelson
Mandela’s presidential home. Press reports have released statements from Naomi that she did not
know the men that gave her the diamonds and she was not educated on the manslaughter in
countries like Sierra Leone (Fox News, 2010).
Understanding that diamonds are used in first world countries as symbols of wealth,
fame, love, and commitment, it became obvious to the educated folks that the illegal blood
diamond trading was not noticed. Edward Zwick and Kanye West, both “Hollywood” figures
took power into their own hands. Zwick created the film “Blood Diamond” in 2006 to bring
public attention to the atrocities happening in Western African countries (Zwick, 2006). His film
depicts the grim reality of the 1999 Civil War in Sierra Leone. Citizens of Sierra Leone were
split from their families, forced to work as slaves in diamond mines, tortured, beaten, and cut.
Many young boys were doped, brainwashed and served in the Rebels military to enforce the
illegal government.
Have you ever heard the song “Diamonds form Sierra Leone,” it goes a little something
like this, “Diamonds are forever (forever, forever) throw your diamonds in the sky if you feel the
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vibe” (West, 2005, p. 3). Well that song was done by Kanye West in effort to educate Americans
on the harsh effects the diamonds we purchase might be causing on humans in Sierra Leone.
Although the war has been over for quite some years and the illegal diamond trade is being
watched, it is still important that anyone who buys a diamond asks for the regime.
Without knowing about the blood diamonds in Western Africa, Americans take diamonds
for granted. We use them for a number of reasons, but are any of them comparable to a person’s
life? Now that you know the rest of the story, do you believe “diamonds are forever?”
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Works Cited
“Blood Diamond,” directed by Zwick, Edward. Warner Bros Entertainment and Inc. December
8, 2006.
Brown, P. Pervenia. “Blood Diamonds- Sierra Leone,” World Press, December 13, 2005.
http://www.worldpress.org/africa/2193.cfm (accessed October 4, 2010)
“Ex-Liberian President Promised Naomi Campbell a Gift of Diamonds, the Model's Former
Agent Says,” Fox News, August 09, 2010,
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/09/actress-mia-farrow-follows-naomi-campbelltestifying-charles-taylor-war-crimes/ (Accessed October 3, 2010)
Martin, Gary. “A Diamond is Forever,” The Phrase Finder, 1996-2010.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-diamond-is-forever.html (accessed October 17,
2010)
United Nations Department of Public Information. “Conflict Diamonds: Sanctions and War.”
http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html (accessed October 2, 2010)
West, Kanye. “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” Late Registration, May 31, 2005.