History repeating itself

Daily writing prompt

What historical event fascinates you the most?

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That’s a tough question. There are many historical events that interest me, many that I could say affects me today.

The Famine

The Irish Famile, I say famine as that it is what it is generally called although it wasn’t really that. Food was taken out of Ireland under armed guard while the Irish people starved, only allowed to eat potatoes. During that period the population of Ireland dropped significantly and we lost our language. We went from a bilingual culture to an English only culture so this event had a profound effect on Irish people.

Sometimes history repeats itself. We watch with horror of what is happening in Gaza, another famine manufactured to erradicate a population. Food, aid trucks parked at the border unable to get through. We saw how the Global Sumud Floatilla was prevented from reaching Gaza, its participants kidnapped in international waters and thrown into Israeli jails where they faced torture.

So you see, that is why the Irish sympathise with the Palestinians. Our history of starvation, displacement and subjugation means that we know what the Palestinians are going through.

So to quote Michael Collins, I hope the Palestinians are given a future. Give them back their country, to live in, to grow in, to love..

Lazy Days

Daily writing prompt

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

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Lazy days make me feel restless, thinking about what I could have done and the missed opportunity to do things. When I was younger, when I had no kids I used to really crave lazy days. Watching TV, drinking coffee or a glass of wine, I spent quite a few days that way.

Now that I have kids, I feel they have to be doing something and lazy days are just a wasted opportunity.

If you are reading this, let me know your views in the comments.

Ceasefire in Israel – You cease, we fire

Reports that Israel have broken the ceasefire are disappointing but sadly not surprising. With the ceasefire agreement earlier this week the Israelis and their allies are hoping the world will tuirn away as things as back to normal.

What is normal though? Before October 7th 2023 Israel were murdering Palestinians on a daily basis but not at genocidal levels as we have seen in the past two years. The world must hold Israel’s feet to the fire in terms of the agreement they have signed up to and the leaders of the Zionist state must face justice in The Hague,

Kick Israel out of the World Cup

Today the Israeli naional team take on Italy in Udine. Against the wishes of the majority of UEFA members, Israel is still present in UEFA competitions despite its war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank,

Why FIFA won’t ban Israel despite Gaza genocide

THE TRUCE

The news this week of the ceasefire in Gaza is definitely welcome. Italians are not happy about hosting today’s fixture but the fact that the genocide is at an end, at least for now, might make it less of a problematic fixture.

SPORTING SANCTIONS

Even if the genocide is over, the occupation, the blockade and the apartheid system is not. The threat of expulsion from Eurovision and international football showed the Zionist regime that the world is not on their side.  Sporting sanctions were important in bringing down the South African apartheid system. and exclusion from international rugby in particular hit South Africa hard. The same strategy needs to be used with Israel

Many countries are calling for Israel to be banned form international football. FIFA, however, have shown time and time again that they pursue money to the detriment of the game. Russia was banned within days of the war with Ukraine, it’s time for UEFA, FIFA and other International sporting bodies so show some consistency and ban Israel as well.

Blocking humanitarian aid – The actions of a rogue state.

Politicians, activists, journalists trying to bring aid to a starving population have been kidnapped by the Zionist state. How can Western governments take this any longer? As a EU passport holder I am beyond furious with the at-best, inaction and at-worst, complicity of EU member states in the genocide of the Palestinian people.

Irish citizens are on that boat, British citizens, people that are well known; Tadgh Hickey, a great comedian and activist, Chris Andrews, an Irish senator , Greta Thunberg, the climate activist, Kieran Andrieu a jounalist from Novara Media, and a host of other well-known people.

I’ve Been Kidnapped by Israel in International Waters

This has to stop. Israel has to be stopped. They have zeeo respect for International law. Zero respect for anyone. Who is going to do it. The Soviets liberated Auschwitz. Who is going to liberate Gaza?