eve nortley

This Christmas

by eve nortley

Monday 17th December 2018 2:24 pm

This Christmas

I am wishing you a Christmas

Wrapped snug in family love

Sharing hugs and food and laughter

Celebrating the birth of Christ the dove.

Will you spare a thought for a man I know

Locked up in a Home Office cell

A gentle soul whose only crime

Was to seek asylum from a living hell.

He came quietly to give praise and pray

His eyes downcast his shoulders bent

His mind a mass of monstrous memories

His physical energy all but spent.

And he found a family in Jesus

Who shared what they were given

And this quiet man with humble eyes

Gave heartfelt thanks to heaven.

But now he is imprisoned

Will spend Christmas locked up tight

So I'm asking can you spare a prayer

That into his darkness will come light?

🌷 (4)

◄ Time stands still

She walks in beauty ►

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Wed 19th Dec 2018 16:15

The last thousand years of history in these islands have been singularly affected by the Norman invasion and its gradual
assimilation into the existing predominantly Anglo-Saxon population.
Other incomings have been small and barely registered on the
(modest) population, from whatever source they came, limited of
course, by the difficulties that travel and cost presented. Their
accommodation was slow and less than intrusive since they had
every wish to be accepted and worked to achieve that result.
The "English" identity has been a source of humour, with the
world - often with a touch of envy - joking about our various odd
traits...love of cricket, tea, warm beer, hail fellow well met...fair
play, and, of course, those old chestnuts...class and retention of
the monarchy when the rest of the world was "going republic".
We are still welcoming incomers but it is disingenuous to assume
things are on the previous footing and scale. Any optimistic
preaching how things should be (always a personal position)
is connected to what can be made acceptable for the host nation
in well meant efforts to help the more mobile transients while
preserving its own precious sense of identity. That is the concern
during these days of mass migration, occurring for whatever reason. These islands already support a population equal to that of France. Check the difference in the size of the two nations.

M.C. Newberry

Tue 18th Dec 2018 13:37

It sticks in my mind from way back (in more innocent youth) that the
road to "salvation" is a rocky one. None can deny the human imperative to improve one's lot, but the host's reality is often more
prosaic - how often and how many? These islands - like a life
form - have an identity and a capacity that need to be constantly
addressed and safeguarded. We cannot solve the problems of the
world - and certainly not one which has numerous places of safety
and sanctuary to stand alongside our own shrinking confines.

Big Sal

Tue 18th Dec 2018 00:38

I always find it ironic during the Christmas season when I see insurance companies and companies try and sell us the idea of a 'charitable capitalism', something from an Edward Bernays wet dream.

You see them sponsor the homeless, the beaten, the children, and then as soon as the holiday disperses so too does their funding and spotlight.

If it does not benefit a company to market it, they refuse to do it. Then you have the foolhardy, capitalist missionaries that like to remind you, "Well there's nothing wrong with that." and "That's the way of business."

Funny thing is, people have already learned how to do business without destroying the planet in the process and all the people living on it, but it is much more profitable to do it the dirty way. But oh there's nothing wrong with that!!! They paid their taxes. The homeless and immigrants had it coming.

Jesus, it IS easy to play the blame game when someone is sitting on a pile of cash pulling even a single string to their own quartet. That is why I enjoy your poetry, Eve, as it is more thought provoking than the vast majority that comes on here, and definitely more conversation worthy. It's just those that don't agree like to pick their poison, but they won't be the ones testing to see how bitter that pill is.?

Jon Stainsby

Mon 17th Dec 2018 19:20

Love and best wishes.

eve nortley

Mon 17th Dec 2018 17:43

Hi Brian, from what I have seen seeking asylum is a lottery, it often depends where your lorry stops,boat docks or your plane touches down first. I do know, however, that we used to be a country made great by our mongrel genes who were known for fair and humane treatment of those seeking asylum (often from wars and situations our Govts policies had a hand in creating). I know there is no magic wand we can wave to sort this situation fast but I do feel we can all reflect on the fact that if the Global North keeps pursuing financial activities that damage the climate and economies of the Global South this movement of people will continue and we may end up making half of our beautiful earth uninhabitable in the bargain. Thanks as always for reading what lots of others will find "indigestible".

<Deleted User> (18980)

Mon 17th Dec 2018 14:54

Hi Eve - I live in a safe, free country and always feel sympathy for those that don't and seek safety elsewhere. Obviously I don't know anything about the man in question other than what you have said in your piece, but I would ask how many safe, free, Christian countries he crossed to get to the UK. I'm not being flippant...just questioning whether he wants safety or whether he wants the UK?

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