Manuela Cardiga's Blog, page 29
November 2, 2015
TODAY I DISCOVERED SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF I AM ASHAMED OF
There is a man sleeping in a bus stop near my daughter's school, 200 meters from my home.
You must understand that we live in a priviledged residential area, in what is considered the very best munincipality in the country, with the highest level of education, the best infrastructures and the highest income bracket.
I am not wealthy, alas, very far from it, and sometimes (often) struggle to make ends meet, I don't own a home here, I rent-share one. I know how close I walk to the edge. I and a lot of other people just like me and I am ashamed to say I flinched. I wanted to look away. His poverty embarrassed me. It seemed out of place there. Surely there is somewhere more appropriate to be homeless? I though that. I did. I thought this ugly thing,
But I made myself lift my head, smile and greet the man who had laid out his blanket on the bus-stop bench, just as I would anyone else from the neighbourhood who might be sitting waiting for the bus.
I told myself that it could be me, with the neatly packed bags and the blanket. All it takes to be destitute and alone is a slip on the banana-peel of Fate.
MC
You must understand that we live in a priviledged residential area, in what is considered the very best munincipality in the country, with the highest level of education, the best infrastructures and the highest income bracket.
I am not wealthy, alas, very far from it, and sometimes (often) struggle to make ends meet, I don't own a home here, I rent-share one. I know how close I walk to the edge. I and a lot of other people just like me and I am ashamed to say I flinched. I wanted to look away. His poverty embarrassed me. It seemed out of place there. Surely there is somewhere more appropriate to be homeless? I though that. I did. I thought this ugly thing,
But I made myself lift my head, smile and greet the man who had laid out his blanket on the bus-stop bench, just as I would anyone else from the neighbourhood who might be sitting waiting for the bus.
I told myself that it could be me, with the neatly packed bags and the blanket. All it takes to be destitute and alone is a slip on the banana-peel of Fate.
MC
LET THEM EAT FALAFEL
Ok, this a day for revelations as to the less agreeable side of my nature.
Europe is taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.
That is so COOL, right?
We are opening our arms to people fleeing from turmoil and pain and the horror of a civil war!
What could be more humane?
Now bitchy shitty me has a question.
Excuse me?
Isn't Syria in Asia?
Why aren't the frantic and desperate Syrians seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries that actually share the same (similar) culture, religion and language?
Why are they crossing a continent to come lay their weary heads on the comforting breast of Mother Europe?
Aren't we the despised and depraved infidels?
I don't get it!
Why not go to Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Iran, Kuwait, Egypt?
Hey! Go north and you can even cross Afghanistan?
Get to China? Or Russia?
Why drag themselves this far?
Another question is, shouldn't Europe be saving up their resourses to help their OWN needy? Or are we pretending we dont have any?
Just asking why our citizens are sleeping in the streets and Syrians get brand new apartments and jobs.
You want to help the Syrians?
Fine, but do the same for our own ciitizens.
Charity begins at home, and if we cannot look after our own we should certainly not be playing Lady Bountiful.
Sorry guys, but this is how I feel.
MC
Europe is taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.
That is so COOL, right?
We are opening our arms to people fleeing from turmoil and pain and the horror of a civil war!
What could be more humane?
Now bitchy shitty me has a question.
Excuse me?
Isn't Syria in Asia?
Why aren't the frantic and desperate Syrians seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries that actually share the same (similar) culture, religion and language?
Why are they crossing a continent to come lay their weary heads on the comforting breast of Mother Europe?
Aren't we the despised and depraved infidels?
I don't get it!
Why not go to Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Iran, Kuwait, Egypt?
Hey! Go north and you can even cross Afghanistan?
Get to China? Or Russia?
Why drag themselves this far?
Another question is, shouldn't Europe be saving up their resourses to help their OWN needy? Or are we pretending we dont have any?
Just asking why our citizens are sleeping in the streets and Syrians get brand new apartments and jobs.
You want to help the Syrians?
Fine, but do the same for our own ciitizens.
Charity begins at home, and if we cannot look after our own we should certainly not be playing Lady Bountiful.
Sorry guys, but this is how I feel.
MC
LET THEM EAT FALAFEL AND SHAWARMA TOO
Just in case anyone wants to know? I was a political refugee. South Africa took me and my family in, and we respected the laws, religion and customs of our benefactors. South Africa became our country.
Refugees do not vandalise, demand or despise.
We truly were grateful for the opportunity to start new lives.
I prophesy that in six months time you will see these new refugees on TV bemoaning the lack of "conditions" they have been given...
That the housing is bad, their culture is not respected, they want this or that condition of their religion observed in public schools even though it may infringe on our code of human rights...
Just saying.
BTW I wanna get a Suite at the Ritz like Rushdie and a coterie of those muscular yummy MI5 agents to protect me...
MC
Refugees do not vandalise, demand or despise.
We truly were grateful for the opportunity to start new lives.
I prophesy that in six months time you will see these new refugees on TV bemoaning the lack of "conditions" they have been given...
That the housing is bad, their culture is not respected, they want this or that condition of their religion observed in public schools even though it may infringe on our code of human rights...
Just saying.
BTW I wanna get a Suite at the Ritz like Rushdie and a coterie of those muscular yummy MI5 agents to protect me...
MC
November 1, 2015
Modest painBrings no gain,Only a sense ofDeja-vu:Being th...
Modest pain
Brings no gain,
Only a sense of
Deja-vu:
Being the fool
Yet again.
MC
Brings no gain,
Only a sense of
Deja-vu:
Being the fool
Yet again.
MC
October 31, 2015
PIED PIPER WIND-CHIME SING A SWEET SONG MAKE A RHYMEhangi...
PIED PIPER WIND-CHIME
SING A SWEET SONG
MAKE A RHYME
hanging on the fence
wind shaking
my bones
waitin for
the mean man
to bore some holes
for tones
he the mean man
the bad man
the sand man
the stone man
with the cold
dead hands
he the man with the sly eyes
and the friendly smile
he the man you trust
til the moment
his blade burst
your heart apart
he don't want your life
he don't want your soul
he want the long bones
of your thighs
to make his flute
and play a song
MC
From the libretto for "Mama Cannibal's Blues"Allie's Lullaby
SING A SWEET SONG
MAKE A RHYME
hanging on the fence
wind shaking
my bones
waitin for
the mean man
to bore some holes
for tones
he the mean man
the bad man
the sand man
the stone man
with the cold
dead hands
he the man with the sly eyes
and the friendly smile
he the man you trust
til the moment
his blade burst
your heart apart
he don't want your life
he don't want your soul
he want the long bones
of your thighs
to make his flute
and play a song
MC
From the libretto for "Mama Cannibal's Blues"Allie's Lullaby
October 28, 2015
NOT SHIT-STIRRINGNOR NOTHING,JUST WONDERINGWhen some poor...
NOT SHIT-STIRRING
NOR NOTHING,
JUST WONDERING
When some poor guy
Takes that bullet,
Falls twitching
And shaking
Spidering fingers,
Foam oozing
From the side
Of his mouth,
That is when
The General
With them pants
With the stripes
Should be there,
Medal in hand
With that
Smarmy smile.
Wonder if
He'd get
That same
Sticky metallic
Taste of fear
As the whistling
Angel-winged bullets
Magically appear
And disappear.
Wonder if
They taught him
At that Academy
That your bowels
Loosen, that death
Scares you shit-less,
That death ain't clean
(not here anyhow)
Wonder if
He even knows
Which end
Of the rifle
The killing bullet goes.
Manuela Cardiga
NOR NOTHING,
JUST WONDERING
When some poor guy
Takes that bullet,
Falls twitching
And shaking
Spidering fingers,
Foam oozing
From the side
Of his mouth,
That is when
The General
With them pants
With the stripes
Should be there,
Medal in hand
With that
Smarmy smile.
Wonder if
He'd get
That same
Sticky metallic
Taste of fear
As the whistling
Angel-winged bullets
Magically appear
And disappear.
Wonder if
They taught him
At that Academy
That your bowels
Loosen, that death
Scares you shit-less,
That death ain't clean
(not here anyhow)
Wonder if
He even knows
Which end
Of the rifle
The killing bullet goes.
Manuela Cardiga
October 27, 2015
The poor and destitute desire the death of their near-and...
The poor and destitute desire the death of their near-and-dear as passionately and as frequently as the rich.
From: "Murder Ballad"
Manuela Cardiga
From: "Murder Ballad"
Manuela Cardiga
October 26, 2015
Every so often a blind squirrel gets a nut.Ivan Shapiro
Every so often a blind squirrel gets a nut.
Ivan Shapiro
Ivan Shapiro
Isn't it funny? Everyone argues over what constitutes lan...
Isn't it funny? Everyone argues over what constitutes land-ownership, but never again since "The Merchant of Venice" has anyone argued over the ownership of blood; and whether it should lawfully be spilt over money, pounds of flesh OR land-ownership issues...
MC
MC
MORE CHIT-CHAT AT THE DROP OF A HAT!
ME: Have you noticed that the Bleeding-Heart Liberals never bleed at all???
IVAN: Nope, they get the Great Unwashed to do their bleeding for them.
From Conversations with Ivan Shapiro
IVAN: Nope, they get the Great Unwashed to do their bleeding for them.
From Conversations with Ivan Shapiro
