DECODING THE MIXED MESSAGE – by Donal Kennedy

 

 

 

 

The piece below was inspired by an article with the above title by Joe Horgan

a columnist with the Irish Post in London and was addressed as a letter by me

to its excellent Editor and personal friend of mine Malcolm Rogers.

Unfortunately pressure of space did not allow for its publication this week.

 

I believe the point I am making should be seen and heard and, while I do

not claim infallibility, deserves an airing.

 

 

The Irish electorate sent no mixed messages to the Government and Joe Horgan’s article reminded me of Bertolt Brecht’s 1953 poem THE SOLUTION –

 

After the Uprising of 17 June

 

The Secretary of the Writers’ Union

 

Had leaflets distributed on the Stalinallee

 

Which stated that the People

 

Had squandered the confidence of the Government

 

And could only win it back

 

By redoubling work quotas.

 

Would it not be simpler to dissolve the People

 

And elect another?

 

Perhaps Joe Horgan thinks that Brecht and Lee Anderson were brothers under the skin?  

 

Donal Kennedy

London

 

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