Reading John Pilgers' book 'Tell me no lies' about investigative journalism on the plane to London doesn't help the feeling of detachmentone gets at 37000 feet.
His piece 'Year Zero' describes in chilling detail the illegal bombing of Cambodia by America which killed 600,000 people with the force of "five Hiroshimas" and led to the Pol Pot genocide.
How culpable are we all . Me for flying into Britain who sanctioned the bombing and along with the US, China and Singapore refused to let any aid into the devastated country after the Khmer Rouge was ousted by Vietnam (the old enemy). All of us for not questioning our governments over the affair.
I look along the wing
Of BI097 to London
And it easily becomes
B52 to Cambodia
With my TV remote
I 'bomb' Budapest, Berlin and Brussels
And wonder how bombers can return home
To have scrambled eggs with the family
London fine and busy. Done the art galleries so will be on the road soon.
News and views on art, music, food and life 'Down Under' (or 'On Top' depending on your perspective)
9 comments:
seems like some fairly deep and dark thoughts for a vacation... not saying that you're not 100% correct to think this way and question the privileged lives that so many of us live off the backs of those less fortunate... but do try and have a nice time my friend... it's no one's choice to be born where they are... hopefully some of us can find a way to balance the good things we were born into and help the rest of the world by trying to understand it...
JON
thank you all the same for having such a decent and caring heart...
Vacation for me is time for reflection and getting a better idea of how the world lives. I hear tell only 19% of Americans have passports so maybe they all should travel more and reflect on other cultures.
You have to start with your own heart and hope that a tiny ripple will spread around the world.
Thanks for dropping by.
the crow told herself, "ok this is the time to go and see how my sculptor friend is doing in London..."
and reading this short post took her a long time... a very long time... 8 years...
during the first years of war she was at highschool... Tehran was bombed regularly... the sound of red siren and the blackout... and the alebra exercises she enjoyed solving under the light of a candle... and the neverending bad news she heard...
and the last year of war when there were no sirens... no need to go to a safe place because they were not bombarded... missiles were more convenient!
they could die anywhere they were... without that cruel waiting time between the red siren and bombing...
oh yes ... technology brings more comfort both for the killer and the victim...
and that war never ended... the crow sadly witnessed degeneration of a country because of the political, cultural, economical and social aftermaths of the war...
all those years passed before her tearful eyes.... and she was still sitting gazing at he computer screen when her daughter came and said,"you promised mom... you promised a game of chess...i won't go to bed unless you play with me..."
no war with the kid!... yes she was right... the crow couldn't break her words...
she left her desk to play the game... she was shocked...
her daughter had arranged the pieces in a strange way... she'd never did such a thing before...
the pawns were in the back row and the king and the rest in the front row....
- are you all right, mom? i just wanted to make you laugh...
she laughed...
- hey kid, you're a genius...
and thought if in their real life this happened just for once... maybe the VIPs would prefer fewer wars...
and this just could happen if the world was arranged and governed by kids...
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by artists
Dear HB I feel your joy for life comes from dark places. As a NZer I have no idea what it's like to go thru a war which perhaps makes it harder to understand how people can do such horrific things to one another. I am proud of my little country in it's stance against the taking of arms and nuclear proliferation and feel it gives me the right to speak out.
Your daughter is absolutely right and a genius, I have never thought about the game in that way with the 'foot soldiers' protecting the conniving nobility behind.
You embarrass me with your richness and wisdom but I'm much better for it
Dear HB I feel your joy for life comes from dark places. As a NZer I have no idea what it's like to go thru a war which perhaps makes it harder to understand how people can do such horrific things to one another. I am proud of my little country in it's stance against the taking of arms and nuclear proliferation and feel it gives me the right to speak out.
Your daughter is absolutely right and a genius, I have never thought about the game in that way with the 'foot soldiers' protecting the conniving nobility behind.
You embarrass me with your richness and wisdom but I'm much better for it
oh thanks for you kind and encouraging words...
yes you should be happy and proud...
being in a war you don't believe in is so horrible...
seems we should experience another one!!!
:)
:(
I will do everything in my power to protect you and yours.
a true friend indeed... thanks
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