By Stuart Rees
You can’t help wondering why the question about cruelty as a priority of brave men called leaders of arms industries, governments and finance corporations is never posed.
You can’t help wondering why bestiality is considered only a preserve of an animal universe and never enters the thoughts of brave men called leaders who cross their chests for human rights.
You can’t help wondering why history is forgotten so that only one group of terrorists are blamed by democratic leaders armed with guns and righteousness justifying their brand of punishment.
I am incredulous that discrimination can be called democratic, that indiscriminate slaughter is varnished as targeted killings, that hostages might be rescued by the same violence that led to their capture.
I am disbelieving that sentiments for humanity are treated like ornaments from an op shop décor that will not disturb the murderous goals of those intent on opposing the next ceasefire resolution.
I am despairing that slaughter of thousands of women and children is staged as theatre for brave men to wage and watch because their minds cannot escape the racism that carves an identity parceled and publicized by media who also know no other way of thinking.
I despair that a cancer spreads, that drugs and surgery cannot be used because exceptional countries are so above the law that no-one intervenes, genocide continues, ambulances are forbidden to collect the dying and my despair cannot be lessened by protesting in an article or even by writing this poem.
In response to months of genocide in Gaza and the West Bank written in Vincentia NSW, January 31 2024