Israeli sinks to even greater depths of depravity. Israeli drones lure Palestinians with crying chil... 21:39 Apr 18 0 comments Israel Continues to Shoot Itself in the Foot 20:25 Dec 16 0 comments Is the Gaza-Israel Fighting “A False Flag”? They Let it Happen? Their Objective Is “to Wipe Gaza Off... 00:48 Oct 21 1 comments Israel Confesses War Crime 23:49 Oct 10 0 comments Ukraine and West prepare media space for their potential false flag attack on Zaporozhye NPP 23:34 Jun 26 1 comments more >>Blog Feeds
Anti-EmpireThe Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Lockdown Skeptics
Judges Told to Avoid Saying ?Asylum Seekers? and ?Immigrants? Fri Jul 26, 2024 17:00 | Toby Young
The Intersectional Feminist Rewriting the National Curriculum Fri Jul 26, 2024 15:00 | Toby Young
Government Has Just Declared War on Free Speech Fri Jul 26, 2024 13:03 | Toby Young
I Wrote an Article for Forbes Defending J.D. Vance From Accusations of ?Climate Denialism?. Forty Ei... Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:00 | Tilak Doshi
Come and See Nick Dixon and me Recording the Weekly Sceptic at the Hippodrome on Monday Fri Jul 26, 2024 09:00 | Toby Young
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international editionNetanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en |
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 |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 6 5 4 3 2 1Brilliant, 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.
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?
loved it, very powerful stuff.
keep it up
poets against sanity more like!
Fuck NVDA - all direct action against imperialism is valid.
You 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.