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Reflections on Shannon, a poem
national |
anti-war / imperialism |
opinion/analysis
Thursday September 22, 2005 11:48 by Thomas Byrne - Poets against the War Ireland
*** Reflections on Shannon |
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Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6You gotta get yourself some direct action under your belt my dear man. Gladdened to hear your heart's cry for some alternative to the crap leadership the movement has been given. Time to study NVDA and act accordingly with an affinity group - Consider calling it, 'Poets for Direct Action', 'Direct Actionist Poets', 'For Poets, Direct Action', 'Action First Poetry Later', 'Poetry in Direct Action'.
Two or three of ye could do an awful lotta good if ye decide to confront the powers that be in Shannon with your gifts of poetry.
Best of luck in your journey.
Fuck NVDA - all direct action against imperialism is valid.
poets against sanity more like!
loved it, very powerful stuff.
keep it up
Don't despair! Don't despair! Caoimhe Butterly said at a talk once in Dublin after the invasion of Iraq had begun -- don't despair, it's a luxury our sisters and brothers in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq can't afford. (It was something like that anyway that she said.)
I should say first Thank You for sharing your poem with us. Though I don't remember ever thinking of killing myself in an action, I can't tell you how often I've thought of being on the grassy knoll when war criminals Rumsfeld, Bush or Chaney visited SNN.
On being sick of "being understanding", I think I know what you mean. Why, in a culture where scabs crossing a picket line get spat upon, should we show anything but utter contempt for those murderous American soldiers who despoil the world with their actions?
Why do we -- even we in the peace movement -- speak of "Iraqi civilians killed" and "American soldiers killed", but ommit the Iraqi fighters killed by the invaders?
Brilliant, harrowing poem!
As Michael says above though, don't despair. I was there too when Caoimhe said the same thing (it was a talk in Wynn's Hotel organised by the Socialist Party, where Michael Birmingham spoke and was followed by some thoughtless SP knob from the North talking about the great value for the Party in all those contacts they had made during their anti-war campaigning -- some great recruiting material there!).
Regarding use of violence: The Baader Meinhof gang and other groups like it were campaigning for violent revolutionary change for socialism. Maybe that's what the anarkid in your poem is aiming for, in which case she might do well to study those groups and their tactics. I dunno... maybe she has already.
The thing is at Shannon we're really only campaigning for compliance with the most universal, basic moral and legal standards -- supported even by the most conservative, pro-American FG politicians in Dail Eireann. It's quite modest really. What's more, it's also quite achievable.
So I see little point in wollowing (reflecting is okay though! :-) ) in self-disbelief and despair. I see little point in repeating over-and-over how rotten this end or the other of the peace movement is behaving.
Do you know what the FF/PD lot have and we are lacking: Even when they're caught out, when everyone is against them (remember Enda Kenny voting against the use of Shannon for the war on March 20, 2003!) -- they've got discipline.
I've never received so much as a single text message from a FF or PD member, supporter or other, saying "I'm not happy with this". Not one crack. Not one sliver of light. Mute.
I don't need to tell you how often I've seen, heard and read hurtfull, damaging, and generally completely unnecessary arguments within the peace movement (even within the smallest little groups within the smallest sections with the smallest sects in the peace movement!). You and I have read them -- and regrettably participated in them -- on just Indymedia.ie alone enough to make anyone think "these folks are in trouble, they're going nowhere!".
We've got to overcome our suicidal tendencies.