What I Deserve

The personal is political and I take the political quite personal and please do not get me wrong because I am not one to moan for only those taking responsibility themselves should be allowed to criticize what the holders of power decree how they govern Empathy They can be wrong might do their best and I believe them to be human after all has been said and done in the public’s name so that is why I do not wish them to hide in ivory towers and posh mansions Transparency Governments have to make difficult decisions and balance judgements determine chose accord walk a tightrope of compromise and verdicts may struggle not to corrupt themselves when they have to arbitrate for us the people who need to be governed for pure anarchy is an utopia and yet their bubble of influence must have a valve for close inspection Accountability I want them to be trustworthy virtuous fair even handed and outspoken abide by a moral code their declarations mission statements and the blurb which is documented in manifestos shiny brochures and election promises stick to what they commit to and oblige by rules of engagement and truth whatever ideology they prescribe to and follow covenants and vows Honesty Within and outside international boundaries I expect them to pledge and act upon the principle of life and freedom self-determination and the right for love and amity and the refusal to call for arms destruction and warfare Humanity must not end in senseless annihilation for some dubious gain for there are no victories on battle fields to be had only weak cowardice when combat and slaughter erupt in belligerent carnage and hostility Peace This calls for ethos and values that cannot be had in the name of crusades bloodshed havoc fighting and conflict for the sake of religion or dogma I reserve the licence to refuse when right becomes wrong and will resist in the event of abuse of governance and will scrap any false allegiance burn flags statues statutes that imprison my dignity and besmirch my kin family fellows so called foes and opponents who in truth are my friends in the just struggle for humans of all colours in the rainbow of nations to exist mix mingle join together and determine the personal and political and therefore when Integrity falls in self-righteous misdeed and arrogance I simply request Empathy Transparency Accountability Honesty Peace and will make sure that the rulers’ children are the first to be sent into War that they reside in homeless shelters and feed themselves in food banks and experience at first-hand what it means to live on marginal trash heaps Some will say that it is not my place to seek revenge and give them a dose of their own unsavoury medicine that spin doctors know best for us all but maybe just maybe the threat of reaping what they sow and dispense might remind the purveyors of politics that there is a sword to fall upon to be exposed for the ignorance and bedlam they often wield in contempt 14th March 2021 ‘The personal is political’ – attributed to Carol Hanish