Thank you for taking the time to read this and feedback on this piece. It is a huge pity we can't bring back the figures in history who have shaped our nation and "interview" them.....particularly those who are controversial. I found myself saddened by my research into Winston Churchill, to discover heroic figures have feet of clay is quite devastating. At the moment the world needs a few superheros....
Comment is about Can you bank on Winston? (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
Devon Brock
Sun 23rd Jun 2019 22:32
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 23rd Jun 2019 21:52
Well he's not here to defend himself...so that's all good.
Comment is about Can you bank on Winston? (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
Superb final line there Erin 'You are what is left'
love it
Comment is about what's left (blog)
Original item by Eiren Water
Thanks to David and Erin for reading and commenting. I am glad that it took you on a journey.
Thanks a lot
Martin
Comment is about Eddie Condon's apprentice (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Thanks for reading and commenting on this piece Erin. As you say sadly true
Comment is about How many tonight (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Many thanks for your comments, Lisa, Don and MC.
Comment is about I MADE MY BRASS THROUGH STRESS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you to all who responded to this piece.This is both a complex and touchy issue....particularly in the current environment of austerity, which is increasing social isolation and reducing community cohesion according to academic experts.
My personal take on it is that we don't have a migrant crisis, we have a climate crisis (fuelled in part by our Govt's policies on use of fossil fuels in preference to renewable energy) which is devastating the global south and making large areas uninhabitable. We have a crisis of war - many of which the UK is playing an active part in, which is displacing people from their homes (ie Syria), we have a crisis of exploitation....as a country we have exploited our colonies and in fact a lot of the world, leaving behind a trail of destruction and displacement. The UKs trade deals have created poverty around the globe - we need to separate trade from aid or we will go on economically pillaging countries in the global south. I have spent 2 years working with asylum seekers and refugees and I have yet to come across anyone who would not choose to return to their country of birth if it were safe to do so. The British weather alone is enough to put people off staying!
Comment is about Hostile Environment (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
Every country has a right to decide its direction and how it proceeds.
Immigration that is seen as destabilising through numbers or the
degree of change involved requires action & control. In a historical
context, Queen Elizabeth the First is recorded as acting to limit
immigration in her own time in the interests of the social cohesion
of her people - a phrase that surely has even more relevance today.
One great concern is the frightening escalation of violent crime -up
to and including murder - and the origins of those so often
involved. So much for "social cohesion".
Comment is about Hostile Environment (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
The current US president uses social media on a previously unknown
and arguably unconsidered level of connecting to the public. He
is certainly a contentious personality - a rich man free of the
financial pressures and obligations that may well have affected and
directed his predecessors - via the old media power-brokers of
the past: Hearst (the model for "Citizen Kane?") and present -
who don't take kindly to a maverick free from their influence and
ready to take them on in the worldwide online forum now available
to all and sundry.
Bigot? Isn't that someone who doesn't share you own prejudices?
Comment is about Writing poems in the sleep of reason (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Really enjoyed the time travel. Thank you for bringing me along.
Beautiful imagery and storytelling.
Comment is about Eddie Condon's apprentice (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Sadly ringing true and too close to home for so many sharing this small planet.
Thank you for such a vivid reminder.
Comment is about How many tonight (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
<Deleted User> (22158)
Sun 23rd Jun 2019 13:58
Hi Dylan. Thank you for your comments on my poem "Itch Hunt" and on my profile. I appreciate the kind words.
I, also, enjoy your work and style. "Chemistry Betrays" especially stands out to me (as my inner "chem-lab" bursts beakers and crosses wires). Aggressive intro followed by powerful use of your epic lexicon. Would be a great slam.
Looks like you're just getting settled in to WoL? I am new here, too. Welcome aboard and hope to see more from you soon!
Comment is about Silente-Write (poet profile)
Original item by Silente-Write
And your comments are like treats that I will savor and return to when I am in need of something sweet. Thank you.
Comment is about I wonder (blog)
Original item by Eiren Water
Thank you for the encouraging comments, almost like the faint whispers of the muse itself.
My feelings threaten to tumble out in words (my breadcrumbs, as they were, are, and shall be).
Naturally, when they are ready I will come back and sprinkle them here.
Comment is about addicts lie (blog)
Original item by Eiren Water
The phrase probably had some justification in years past but it's
a failure of understanding to think of it as a weakness..
If you're prone to a moan
You're not alone
Brits do it frequently
But just remember their old refrain
When bombed and blitzed: "Oh...can't complain"
And you might want to think again
Before resorting to grimace and groan. ?
Comment is about Whinging Poms All Sent Home (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
How topical in this day and age and "on the money" as usual, JC.
A pal of many years - still going strong - always said "avoid stress"
in our old line of work. How right he was - and is !
Comment is about I MADE MY BRASS THROUGH STRESS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Ah Coops indeed you know 'bout stress
You, drinking gin in Marakesh
You know how not to be a mess
Five hundred daily nothing less.....
Comment is about I MADE MY BRASS THROUGH STRESS (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
So...being an uneducated American...what the heck is a Whinging Pom?
Comment is about Whinging Poms All Sent Home (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
This is such a touchy subject with no easy solution. I hate to get into political discussions because everyone is always wrong while everyone else is always right. We cannot build walls everywhere, for how can we continue to deny fellow human beings the basic needs of freedom and security.
Yes, Eve, diversity is a wonderful thing. Without it we are not really free.
I would not be here if my great-grand-parents did not immigrate before WWII.
Comment is about Hostile Environment (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
Sun 23rd Jun 2019 11:46
thanks for reading my poem
"when everything made sense"
I hope the poem MADE SENSE.
I am not psychic, I'm Polish.
?
Comment is about Sarah Louise mcnee (poet profile)
Original item by Sarah Louise mcnee
DoRoThY I keep people guessing
Is he telling the truth or a lie
But most of my work has an element of truth
So I'm not telling all porky pies ?
Comment is about Whinging Poms All Sent Home (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
I agree with kj.No-one has the right to incite hatred. And with Tommy, no-one has the right to offend on the grounds of race, gender and disability. To me, society has certain rules and if you want to be part of that society you need to agree to and follow them. You can stretch to a certain point but there is a limit.
Comment is about A freedom to express (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 23rd Jun 2019 09:45
Look, immigration was (still is) out of control and there was massive pressure on the Government to 'do something about it'. So they did.
Comment is about Hostile Environment (blog)
Original item by eve nortley
I hate the idea of censorship, but fully understand the need for it.
If someone expresses an opinion which I totally disagree with, then I'll ignore it, or if I'm feeling brave I'll pull them up on it.
However, I don't believe that anyone has the right to incite hatred through their postings, and would agree with the censors if they take these posts down.
Comment is about A freedom to express (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Devon: once again I have to think. ?
Rachel: high praise indeed. Tommy
Comment is about The end of interest (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Andy I have never met (knowingly) anyone from WOL. Just is. ?
Comment is about Posthumous collection by Leanne Bridgewater will aid animal protest campaigns (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks for the comment Don. I felt like that one would get more of a response, but it's always those ones which slip under the radar. They're just words. T
Comment is about Don Matthews (poet profile)
Original item by Don Matthews
Thankyou for relating this Devon
Comment is about Conscious Uncoupling (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
Spectral spectator
Viewing night
Any ghosts
Round in sight?
In the dead
Of the night
Spectral 'tator
Scared alright....
(Sorry Rose. A ghost made me do it.....)
Comment is about Trying New Things (blog)
Original item by Lisa C Bassignani
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 22:53
mostly wide
Handsome?
not so much.
?
Comment is about Don Matthews (poet profile)
Original item by Don Matthews
the bridge of sorrows
is the bridge of sights
and we, who choose to live without disguise,
every time we cross this bridge,
must stand and weep
and smile and laugh;
then turn around
and let it pass
Thank you, Devon and, also, thank YOU Do-may-me-far-so
You raise my spirits
John
Comment is about The voice of death, the voice of love and the voice of art. (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 22:12
Droll are these poems
unabashedly so
they aren't too good
but so it goes,
I find humor in things
it just naturally flows
when it comes to a rhyme
I just can't say No.
?
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Recycling at its simplest level, MC.
Comment is about THE GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 20:58
Guys - thank you for your comments, I guess some are more concerned than others, my only hope is that we can turn this situation around. Appreciate the feedback...
Comment is about whale song (blog)
Original item by thephantomscribbler
Ah...a contribution to environmental matters. Fecundity in profundity.
Once upon a time, I met with a similar problem aboard a six-berth
yacht and had to employ some force (and force of character) to
dispose of it I never knew the gut could contain so much disposable
detritus and could only hope it would be recycled in the murky (now murkier) depths.
Comment is about THE GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Devon Brock
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 17:26
Well said Don. I happen to know a couple that only survived as a couple by getting divorced. They are perfectly content, do everything together, still live together, and the kids are very happy and well.
Comment is about Conscious Uncoupling (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
Devon Brock
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 17:22
Wow, Mr. Marks. Not only are the images (and voices) stunning, they are dragging me around by the neck hair in the most beautiful way.
Comment is about The voice of death, the voice of love and the voice of art. (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
Devon Brock
Sat 22nd Jun 2019 17:03
Thank you so much dear C.Q!
I'm glad you like it?
Mae
Comment is about Beast in Pain (blog)
Original item by Mae Foreman
The Turn-Off sounds a more exciting belle....
Comment is about THE GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE 2 (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
High, wide
You may be
Handsome I
Would question thee?....
Comment is about What Meets The Eye (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Don Matthews
Mon 24th Jun 2019 08:31
Eve. Thankyou for this. You sent me researching on this 'great' man and found this:
The actor Richard Burton, when preparing for his role as Churchill in a television drama, famously wrote for the New York Times:
In the course of preparing myself . . . I realized afresh that I hate Churchill and all of his kind. I hate them virulently. They have stalked down the corridors of endless power all through history. . . . What man of sanity would say on hearing of the atrocities committed by the Japanese against British and Anzac prisoners of war, “We shall wipe them out, every one of them, men, women, and children. There shall not be a Japanese left on the face of the earth”? Such simple-minded cravings for revenge leave me with a horrified but reluctant awe for such single-minded and merciless ferocity.
For this iconoclasm, Burton was barred from future work at the BBC, accused of having “acted in an unprofessional way” and evidently regarded as having committed treason. Yet his query touched on something about Churchill that has often embarrassed British sensibilities, so that it is generally not talked about: his gung-ho fondness for imperial slaughter. Everywhere one looks, one finds Churchill dripping blood from his mouth. He was fanatical about violence.
Comment is about Can you bank on Winston? (blog)
Original item by eve nortley