Sunday 8 March 2009

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE

In Belfast on 10th August 1976 a terrorist, trying to escape pursuers, lost control of his car and plowed into a woman and three children. All of the children were killed. A woman living nearby heard the impact and when she saw the carnage vowed that this slaughter of innocents had to stop. Enough was enough

She went knocking on doors begging and pleading with people to put an end to this violence once and for all. Her appeal found a ready response. More and more people rallied to her call. One of the first to do so was an aunt of the three children.

These two women went on to form the Northern Ireland Peace Movement and in 1976 they received a Nobel Peace Prize. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1976/press.html

Their names are Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan but unfotunately in the ensuing years they were discredited http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4781091.stm .

I mention all this for three reasons.

1. Here we are, 32 years later, still listening to news of two soldiers killed and four injured in a cowardly attack in Northern Ireland last night.

2. A new political party has been formed http://www.newparty.co.uk/policy/ for the express porpose of shining a light into the murky world of British politics. How long will it be before the founders of this party are also discredited and personally vilified? This is a British sickness that has to stop.

3. Watching Peter Mandelson on the Andrew Marr show this morning smuggly reassuring us all that the British Government will resolve the global crisis and ensure that the international banking system is made more transparent makes me dispair.

Whenever will we learn. http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/flowers-gone.shtml

6 comments:

Eddie Bluelights said...

Your posting has stirred my sense of justice.
Oh I agree with you completely and I am very annoyed. I utterly despair of our politicians, our lawyers, our senior business people - everyone who used to earn our respect and now no-one respects because of their utterly selfish behaviour. Today we live in a deprived and a sick society which is getting worse by the day. No attempt is made to stp terrorists. No attempt is made to stop murders, rapists, child molesters etc. All morals have gone. All justice has gone. All fairness has gone. Hard working people are penalised. Scivers are rewarded. We live in a Godless society and our idols are ambition and greed, and our children are encouraged to aim for these goals. I call this place we have to live Cosmos Diabolicus. I thought the girl who threw the green custard at Mandelson was right to do it. I think I'll do a blog on this as well. Very powerfull post to stir me up like that. You may have noticed I escape regularly into humour now and then to keep my sanity. Best wishes x

Anonymous said...

Yes, when will it all stop. Do they know how to stop. It's a generations thing isn't it - the new generation don't know any different.

CJ xx

Eddie Bluelights said...

Gosh I did get worked up the other night didn't I? A plate of fish and chips awaits you at my place.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I get worked up about the whole situation too Eddie. Thanks for the plate of fish and chips. Nice comfort food!

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Yes, it probably is a generation thing CJ. Much like smoking only more dangerous!

Anonymous said...

I have a question......... There's a book that speaks about the war in Northern Ireland. It speaks about British Soldiers, in the end, they sing WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE . I can remember it was published in 1984 or so, but I can't remember the name of the author or printing company. If someone can help me with these data, I will be very grateful with this person. Thank you.