As I tightened the laces of my running shoes with my foot propped up on the garden wall this morning, someone going past, a random dog-walker I’ve not seen before, said to me, “It’s just started snowing in Shaw”. As if that was something I really needed to know. Shaw is another district of Oldham, over the hill from here, not very far away, so maybe if it was snowing here it was an indicator that soon it might snow here. About an hour later Granddaughter Number One, who lives in Shaw, posted on our group chat, “I can’t believe it’s snowing again!” Well, it’s cold here in Delph but it’s still not snowing!
The Israel - Hamas ceasefire has staggered to a start. Prisoners/hostages will be released later today - at least some will but not all. Most of us, I think, expect that when a ceasefire has been announced it will come into force immediately. Surely the clue is in the name. But, no, as for goods ordered online, a delivery time is given. And until that delivery time, fighting can continue:
“Israeli attacks killed at least 13 Palestinian people this morning - medics
Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks killed at least 13 Palestinian people between 0630 GMT, when the ceasefire was meant to begin, and 0915 GMT, when it actually took effect, Palestinian medics said.
Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, is reporting that the Israeli attacks have targeted Beit Lahiya, Gaza City and al-Bureij in Gaza. What it is describing as “violent shelling” is occurring in Beit Hanoun and other areas in the northern part of the Strip. Dozens more people are reported to have been injured in the attacks.”
Why? Here’s an explanation offered by Michael Rosen’s King and his Tutor yesterday:
'Have we signed this treaty thing or not, tutor?' said the King to his tutor.
'We have signed it, sir,' said the King's tutor.
'Then why are we still fighting?' said the King.
'This is quite complex, sir,' said the tutor, 'but bear with me. We have agreed that a temporary peace will happen tomorrow,'
'Good,' said the King, 'so why are we still fighting?'
'Because today is not tomorrow,' said the tutor.
'But if we know we're going to stop tomorrow, why don't we stop today?' said the King.
'That's because, sir,' said the tutor, 'there's still time to carry on what we were doing before.'
'But what we were doing (and still doing), is war,' said the King.
'Yes, indeed,' said the tutor, 'and what's wrong with that?'
'Well, if we've decided that there ought to be peace tomorrow,' said the King, 'I would have thought it's us that think there's something wrong with war.'
'You're getting carried away, sir', said the tutor. 'The point is, we do war as long as there isn't peace.'
'But if we think it's a good ideas to do peace,' said the King, 'that must be because we think there's nothing to be gained by more war. So we might as well stop waging war now rather than wait till tomorrow to stop.'
'All very logical, but wrong, sir,' said the tutor. The point is we have several objectives at the same time, sir.'
'So what objective is being achieved by waging war for another 24 hours?' said the King
'Sometimes, sir,' said the tutor, 'it's not advisable to divulge details of all our objectives.'
'Can I guess?' said the King.
'I can't stop you, sir,' said the tutor.
'My guess is that we're waging war in this last 24 hours so that we can knock out as many of the enemy as possible until we're no longer allowed to do so.'
'No comment, sir,' said the tutor.
'And isn't there a danger that if we're trying to knock them down, they're trying to knock us down? said the King
'No comment, sir,' said the tutor.
'And isn't that war, not peace?' said the King.
'It is, sir,' said the tutor.
'And haven't we decided to do peace not war?' said the King.
'We've already discussed that, sir,' said the tutor.
'I thought you would say that,' said the King.
Meanwhile, there was a pro-Palestine and anti-BBC protest in London yesterday.
Some protestors were arrested:
“77 people have been arrested in pro-Palestine protests in central London - after police said some demonstrators who broke through their lines ignored orders to disperse
Thousands gathered for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) rally in Whitehall on Saturday - ahead of a planned ceasefire in Gaza coming into effect on Sunday.
Some of those arrested were taken into custody on suspicion of breaching conditions put in place for the protest. One of the conditions prevented anyone involved from entering a specific area around Portland Place.”
Among those arrested for “breaking through the police lines”, was Chris Nineham, the vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition, who served as the chief steward for the national protest for Palestine.
Jeremy Corbyn posted this about reports of the arrest:
“This is not an accurate description of events at all.
i was part of a delegation of speakers, who wished to peacefully carry and lay flowers in memory of children in Gaza who had been killed.
This was facilitated by the police. We did not force our way through.”
Michael Rosen posted at length about this on Facebook. Here is one of the comments about his post:
“As a peaceful demonstrator yesterday l was appalled at the behaviour of the police. They were aggressive from the start. We were quickly surrounded by hundreds of them even though we had been given permission to have a rally in Whitehall. As hundreds more people kept arriving they had to pull back. As per usual the demonstrators were elderly, young and of every age including children. Why are they so threatened by us mainly ordinary people especially when these are peaceful protests. Many of the people were shocked at the behaviour and aggression and were beginning to question what a government they had and indeed being ashamed of being British. Maybe this aggression has backfired!”
What is happening to freedom of expression in this country?
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment