Racism & Migration Related Issues Germany: Large-scale police operation against refugees in Berlin 19:14 Aug 27 0 comments Brain Drain 21:16 Jan 04 2 comments EU Report On "illegal Immigration" Action Plan 19:05 Oct 12 0 comments UK: Far right supporters - violence is largely inevitable 21:55 Mar 17 1 comments Wanted! Participants for Intercultural Radio Project 16:20 Mar 30 0 comments more >>Blog Feeds
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
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Human Rights in IrelandIndymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Lockdown Skeptics
News Round-Up Wed Jul 24, 2024 01:01 | Richard Eldred
Porsche Scraps Electric Car Targets as Demand Slumps Tue Jul 23, 2024 19:43 | Will Jones
?Mission-Driven? Government is the Antithesis of Liberty Tue Jul 23, 2024 17:30 | Dr David McGrogan
Victory! Hospitals That Brought Back Mask Mandates Backtrack After Complaints Tue Jul 23, 2024 15:30 | Dr Gary Sidley
Read it and Weep: The BBC Journalists Taking Home Six Figure Salaries Courtesy of the Licence Fee Pa... Tue Jul 23, 2024 13:45 | Will Jones |
Lampeduse: NATO Ship ignores starving refugees in echo of Irish famine days
international |
racism & migration related issues |
opinion/analysis
Monday May 09, 2011 23:02 by AC
DOZENS OF African migrants were left to die in the Mediterranean Sea after European and Nato military units apparently ignored their cries for help. Saw this story '63 refugees left to die at sea after Nato aircraft carrier fails to respond' in the Irish Times today and thought of the Heaney poem about the Irish famine. Where is the outcry? Looks like nothing has changed since then in this laissez faire era. See the Irish Times for the full article. |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 4 3 2 1.. at it again.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24746
Next up on the circus bill: Buffalo Soldier.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24779
also, if you are not on it already
stopnato@yahoogroups.com
People should remind themselves this is the same NATO that makes the claim that it is bombing Libya to save civilians lives. If it was really that concerned it would have saved these lives too. Clearly it is not just as clearly they are intervening in Libya not to save lifes but to help the Western powers help themselves to Libyan resources.
The whole episode shows the callousness of the machinery of the state.
I wouldn't normally be Heaney's greatest fan but when I saw the above article today I couldnt' help thinking of this poem. How little the logic of empire, and the complacency of the masses, changes from age to age.
FOR THE COMMANDER OF "THE ELIZA"
. . . . the others, with emaciated faces and prominent, staring eyeballs, were evidently in an advanced state of starvation. The officer in charge reported the incident to Sir James Dombrain, the Inspector General . . . . . and Sir James "very inconveniently," wrote Routh, "interfered." Cecil Woodham-Smith: The Great Hunger.
Routine patrol off West Mayo; sighting
A rowboat heading unusually far
Beyond the creek, I tacked and hailed the crew
In Gaelic. Their stroke had clearly weakened
As they pulled to, from guilt or bashfulness
I was conjecturing when, O my sweet Christ,
We saw piled in the bottom of their craft
Six grown men with gaping mouths and eyes
Bursting the sockets like spring onions in drills.
Six wrecks of bone and pallid, tautened skin.
"Biadh, biadh, biadh," in whines and snarls their desperation
Rose and fell like a flock of starving gulls.
We'd known about the shortage but on board
They always kept us right with flour and beef
So understand my feelings, and the men's,
Who had no mandate to relieve distress.
There was relief available in Westport
Though these poor brutes would clearly never make it.
I had to refuse food: they cursed and howled
Like dogs that had been kicked hard in the privates.
When they drove at me with their starboard oar
(Risking capsize themselves) I saw they were
Violent and without hope. I hoisted
And cleared off. Less incidents the better.
Next day, like six bad smells, those living skulls
Drifted through the dark of bunk and hatches
And once in port I exorcised my ship
Reporting all to the Inspector General.
Sir James, I understand, urged free relief
For famine victims in the Westport Sector
And earned tart reprimand from good Whitehall.
Let natives prosper by their own exertions;
Who could not swim might go ahead and sink.
"The Coast Guard with their zeal and activity
Are too lavish" were the words, I think.
Seamus Heaney