CommonSpace columnist Richard McGinley says David Cameron has already proved there is only one way to get his attention
MAYBE it’s just me.
Would it really be too difficult to just set up a rescue mission and save the refugees currently fleeing the consequences of regime change?
Well, no. There is a way.
There’s been much debate over the terminology used to describe those poor souls fleeing the consequences of regime change in the Middle East.
Controversy has raged as some media outlets insist on using the word ‘migrants’ to describe those who are leaving Syria, Iraq, Libya and anywhere else where the American Empire, with her British and European allies, have tried to make things better for them by intervening in domestic politics.
As David Cameron hesitates to help out, perhaps we should use another word to describe these poor souls who have decided that it is much safer to pack their families into marine vessels of varying reliability – ‘bankers’.
Of course, anyone fleeing the consequences of war – the old fashioned term for regime change – is a ‘refugee’, one who seeks refuge.
As David Cameron hesitates to help out , perhaps we should use another word to describe these poor souls who have decided that it is much safer to pack their families into marine vessels of varying reliability than to stay where they are.
Maybe that would kickstart a relief mission that would at least prevent more deaths like that of little Aylan Kurdi, who died along with his mother and brother trying to get to the Greek island of Kos.
All we need to do is just find them somewhere warm, safe and dry, with something to eat, and we can decide what to do about it later.
But as referring to those poor souls as refugees or migrants cuts no ice with our prime minister, maybe we should call them ‘bankers’.
Cameron would swim out there with a rope between his teeth and haul the boats back to Portsmouth himself.
Cameron would swim out there with a rope between his teeth and haul the boats back to Portsmouth himself.
That’s because Dave has shown he doesn’t deal with real people, his appointment of Ian Duncan Smith to reduce the number of people on Disability benefits by removing them from the claimants list to the deaths column of the local newspaper has proved that.
As far as Cameron is concerned, if it’s not tax deductible and you can show him how it could be, then he doesn’t give a toss.
This isn’t so much a heartless government as a brutal regime. In fact, if anyone should be seeking regime change, it’s us.
Hang on, we’ve just discovered some more oil. It won’t be long before there’s a US aircraft carrier on its way up the Forth. Sound ridiculous? Mibbes aye, mibbes naw.
But wouldn’t it be nice to use those aircraft carriers for something useful for once? Maybe as temporary accommodation, which in turn would allow for time to think about how to deal with the crisis while the refugees are taken to their various havens.
This isn’t so much a heartless government as a brutal regime. In fact, if anyone should be seeking regime change, it’s us.
The United Nations must act now. It has to take the lead here. After all, isn’t that what it’s there for?
For once, all the people of all the nations must instruct, in no uncertain terms, those who claim to serve us, that the priority is to save these people. No excuses, no “we can’t cope with them”. There’s plenty of room, there’s not even a need for everyone to move over a bit.
The United States and Britain have more than played a part in causing this mess, oddly enough in the name of the people that are suffering. It seems like helping those people doesn’t really extend to helping them when it comes down to it.
If by the end of tonight Cameron hasn’t not only opened the door for those who are living in hope, but offered them a lift, then we must act.
Social media is the one thing that cannot be controlled. The message must get out. They can come here, whether those bandits in London say so or not.
We must be clear: no excuses, no “we can’t cope with them”. There’s plenty of room, there’s not even a need for everyone to move over a bit.
Maybe those in Edinburgh could apply some pressure, and take the bull by the horns and act independently of London. It’s what they’ve always wanted to do. Now there’s a chance for them to show they can.
Cameron by now will understand, or at the very least pretend to understand, that he who giveth can also taketh away.
And if there’s one thing he loves more than bankers, it’s being prime minister.
If he doesn’t start acting like one, we can always find someone who will.
Picture courtesy of IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation