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International Womens Day March 8
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Once upon a time, in the middle of a vast ocean, there was a small island, known as Here. The few hundred Hereans usually existed peaceably, fishing and tending their gardens. All that was not Here was known as Away, where their spirits went after death.
No one knew how they came to Here or from whence they came. Herean lore held that they had a common ancestor, but over the centuries, they had formed separate families.
Of late there had been dissention because the population was increasing, putting a strain on the natural resources and food supplies. If these were shared equally there would be no problem.
The real problem was the attitude of one man who insisted on consuming as much of the Herean resources as six other men. Dub was a big, strong man and most people were afraid of him. He was loud mouthed and aggressive like his brother Duh.
One of his forebears had advised the family
"Speak softly, but carry a big stick".
So instead of making fish spears Dub made javelins to hurl at his neighbours.
Dub demanded the best trees in the small forest to make into dug-out canoes. He often boasted that he would discover another island but had only been able to reach a solitary rocky reef known as Loon that had no fresh water or even shell-fish.
Many of the men who went to bed hungry, harboured resentment against Dub. One day he discovered that someone had vandalised his favourite canoe. To add insult to injury one of his cherished missiles had been used to smash a gaping hole in the hull.
Dub almost went berserk and threatened to kill the man responsible. Understandably no one owned-up. Eventually Dub decided that the culprit was Hassle, who had a decade ago, quarrelled with his father. Few people liked the fellow, who was known to be cruel to his family, but they held a grudging respect for his tenacity.
In the days of strife that followed two men attached themselves to Dub, like the pilot fish that accompany a shark.
Faunus, tall and skittish, with wild eyes, loved to call on other Hereans throughout the island and then prance on to another meeting.
Grrr was small and pugnacious like a cross between a terrier and a bulldog. Because he gloried in all military commemorations he was known as the Mascot.
Dub had hitherto regarded them with amused contempt but now he found it convenient to form a triumvirate, speaking the same dialect.
Dub, puffed up with his own importance, requested or rather ordered UNN, the Council of Elders, to sanction his proposed punishment of Hassle, to send a warning to other men. UNN appointed inspectors to investigate but they were unable to find evidence that Hassle had been responsible.
No one had seen the man in question for weeks. It was believed that he was hiding under his house, in one of the ancient sea caves that riddled the island.
"It's all the same to me", Dub boomed,
"I'll smoke him out!"
He and Faunus assembled their javelins and other weapons to besiege the Hassle abode and to deter others who may interfere. Without confiding his real intentions Grrr started off from his distant home, carrying weapons.
It was obvious that he was privy to Dub's plan of attack.
All over the island the Hereans began to cry out in their agony of spirit. They had witnessed violence and even killings before but never had a killing been so remorseless or for such little justification.
The UNN ordered the children to gather shell-fish from the farthest shores. They, too, began crying for they knew the reason for their banishment.
The sun rose on the fateful day. The island never had looked more beautiful nor nature so bounteous. What a day to be alive yet everyone was filled with dread.
Dub picked up a firebrand, ceremoniously held it high for all to see, and then stooped to set fire to Hassle's home.
In an instant he and Faunus were engulfed by shouting children who had rushed from their hiding places. Scores of little hands grabbed their sleeves, their loincloths and their scrotums. The grown men crashed to the ground as impotent as Gulliver trussed up by the Lilliputians.
At long last the UNN took action and securely bound the would-be killers. Little Grrr who had arrived just too late for the action, managed to slip away unnoticed.
"Well done, children!" exclaimed the UNN leader with the twinkling eyes.
"And now, have you any idea what should be done with them?"
Bob Bensemann. © 2/2/03
Bob's Links:
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Clap Hands to Bomb Iraq
The discussion list for Tas Refugees -Launceston
600 refugees from Nothern Iraq bound for
Guam in a military airlift
Asylum Seekers in the United Kingdom
War Games
While they plan their attack
A little girl plays
While they screw on their warheads
A little Girl plays
While the ships force their way to the sea
A little girl plays
While the caller says fire
A little girl plays
While the bombs rain down
A little girl plays
While the War Lords celebrate
A Mother screams!
Kerry Bowden 2/2/2003
Global Strategic Alliance,A family of Humanity,One Mind,One Voice
Poets Against The War.Org
On Feb 3 ,2003 opposition to the Iraqi War grew with former Liberal Party President , John Valder launching
Liberals Against The War On Iraq.
ABC AM interview with former Senator Peter Baume.
