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“It’s
Christmas time. There’s no need to be afraid”.
So went the lyrics of the song that launched Band
Aid, a charity event that grabbed the attention of
the world and forced us all to examine our conscience
in face of the terrible human conditions and suffering
on the continent of Africa.
At
this time of year all of the various charities go
into overdrive in the hope that the ‘spirit of
Christmas’ will translate into more money for
worthy causes, central to which is the protection
of life through funding research into deadly diseases
and programmes for famine relief in poor countries.
The British government, however, is not driven by
such benign propositions. Coupled with efforts to
totally emasculate the caring curing sectors of the
National Health Service, New Labour is in war mode
awaiting the nod from Uncle Sam to inflict further
death and destruction on the suffering people of Iraq.
The
monetary cost of this latest foreign venture to UK
taxpayers is estimated to be around 20 billion pounds.
The human cost to the people of Iraq is beyond measure.
If, as most government spokespersons claim, there
is strong support for such action throughout the U.K.
there shouldn’t be a problem putting the proposition
to the people through a fund raising red nose day.
If they were to reach their target of 20 billion pounds
through donations from the public it would justify
their claim of widespread support for war against
Iraq. I somehow doubt either of the above will happen.
At this Christmas time the people of Iraq can look
forward to either much of the same horrors that they
have endured throughout the recent history of that
afflicted country. Or their suffering will be compounded
one thousand fold by the imperialist designs of George
Bush and Tony Blair.
Its
Christmas time, be afraid, be very afraid.
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