Thanks, Pat. Yeh, uneasy is right.
Bill
On 31/07/2013, at 7:13 PM, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Bill thanks -got that feeling of being uneasy embarrassed wanting and
> watching others
> P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Bill Wootton
> Sent: 30 July 2013 23:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Say it loud and say it clear
>
> Say it loud and say it clear
>
> 'Refugees are welcome here!'
> My contributory voice was neither loud
> nor particularly clear, more desultory
> if I'm honest, even if I was there pounding
> the streets of Melbourne to join with those
> who feel outraged by what is being
> proclaimed in our names about seekers
> arriving by boat. The so-called New
> Guinea Solution. Refugees will no longer be
> settled in Australia even if found to be genuine.
>
> Maybe it is the idea of 'led' chanting,
> maybe I'm uncomfortable with opening
> my mouth full wide in public; unwilling
> to be so publicly vociferous.
> Yet it hasn't ever bothered me
> at the football, where I roar
> for the Magpies, lambast
> physical shirkers on the field
> and cheer accuracy and effort.
> So why the political recalcitrance?
>
> One neat-bearded marcher, lithe
> of limb, never broke stride as he
> exhorted us all to Say It Loud And
> Say It Clear in perfectly enunciated
> tones so it sounded like a fresh call
> each time and not a mindless
> chant. No hint of sing-song.
> An honest urging to vocalise
> and to be sure about it, so all on-
> lookers would know. From where,
> I muse, does that, all that
> clear-eyed assurance spring?
>
> bw
> 30.7.13
>
|