Tuesday 19 July 2016

Big Red Button - Do Not Push

Would you push the button to massacre 100,000 innocent victims? Yes, no?

Well, Theresa May said she would, but she was put on the spot, with the eyes of the world watching (probably), and while backing the move to renew Britain’s Trident, nuclear-bomb-carrying submarines, so she was never going to say anything else. Since then plenty of people have expressed their answer, either in support or complete opposition, along with their reasons. The thing is, I don’t think anyone in this country, given the chance at the crucial moment, would, even Theresa May.

Maybe I’m naïve but I don’t believe that a Prime Minister in this country would ever be so barbaric. Certainly I don’t think they’re ever going to use such a bomb in an aggressive attack, not least because we don’t have enough (only America and Russia do), so the only time we would fire this massively destructive weapon is if we have first been attacked in a massively destructive way, i.e. we’re all dead and the only thing left is to wreak revenge, to pay back the enemy in like-for-like fashion. But who are the enemy? Isis? You can’t put a nuclear missile on a lorry-driving lunatic on a beach front.

Britain has in the past been the calm voice of reason when tensions between nations with nuclear weapons have got tight, I hope we will continue to be and I cannot foresee any situation in which we would fire a nuclear bomb (we are British after all). Nor do I see that they work as a ‘deterrent’ to anybody else. I don’t have a problem with a new submarine, (I think four, given the price, might be a bit over the top) but let’s stop pretending we would ever use nuclear weapons. Sending out the message of ‘if you destroy us, we’ll destroy you’ is doing nothing for improving international relations, and I always think, if you’re not going to say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.

If Britain is bombed to the point of extinction I hope that whoever is left with the power to retaliate will realise the futility of it and perhaps come to a different conclusion. Never will the earth have needed the power of forgiveness more.

 

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Little Brother

Our little brother, wide eyed and easily influenced. You saw the sweets in the window and squandered your bus fare, but we opted to walk the long way home with you. Your legs soon tired and I gave you my penny for the bus, but you got off at the next stop and ran back to join us. The guilt was too much for you, but the loyalty bound us together.

Mother asked us where we had been and you told her the truth. She sighed and offered a reprimand, which we ignored, but you took to heart. You always took her words to heart. We never doubted who was her favourite, but we didn’t begrudge it either. I wonder if you know that we love you just as much as you love us. After all, you are our little brother.
 

Monday 4 July 2016

Winmarleigh by Me

A sunny morning for colouring blank pages
 

Oh Winmarleigh is a house, and it's almost like a home,
     But we share it with 300 kids, so it's not quite our own.
                                                    (Song for Winmarleigh)