Friday, 28 February 2014

LETTERS OF COMFORT FOR ALL?




Look, here's a letter from him: the state hath
another, his wife another; and, I
think, there's one 
at home for you.


The First Minister of Northern Ireland in Belfast (54 degrees North, 5 degrees West) threatens to resign over letters to people termed 'on the runs'. MPs in Westminster (51 degrees North, 0 degrees West) roar and shout. Journalists say 'I told you so'. Lawyers wax knowledgeable and rub their palms together in expectation of future windfalls.


A letter for me! it gives me an estate of seven
years' health;
in which time I will make a lip at 
the physician


All over a letter. Or almost 200 of them. Letters sent on the authority of various British Governments, including the current one. Some of them include pardons from the Queen of England.


Madam, a noble gentleman of Rome,
Comes from my lord with letters.


The putative criminals receiving these
pardons/amnesties/exemptions/letters of comfort are all alleged to have been involved in armed activity against the British State as part of militant Irish Republican campaigns.


Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.


No letter falls through the letterbox of family members of the dead, killed by State or paramilitary forces, in the civil conflict in Ireland. No letter for the woman whose son was killed; for the woman whose her husband was killed; for the man whose sister was killed. No letter of comfort, explanation, acknowledgement, regret or justice. No letter saying 'sorry' and 'it won't happen again'.


Welcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
Patience herself would startle at this letter,
And play the swaggerer


Armies look after themselves first.


the letters too
Of many of our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home




http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org



www.facebook.com/DaveDugganWriter










No comments:

Post a Comment