Planting the seeds of a memoir - I

Blueprints for my story

“It’s, it’s Bola.” Yes, my stutter that became the in joke, a source of embarrassment and blushes, probably the first words that anyone relayed back to me from my earliest childhood.

Bola was 3 months older and probably a bit of a feisty girl, the first child and daughter of one of my dad’s best friends, he now deceased. I would think we were brought together at small social gatherings or for a baby sitting, I cannot say. I was a late developer, born premature at just six and a half months, I quick to speaking but late to walking.

Our playful episodes were definitely plagued by some disagreement and discomfiture which resulted in my crying back to our adult supervision. “It’s, it’s Bola.”

Yet, out of the recollection of events log ago, includes observations, secrets, intrigue and scandal. Much discovered though unspoken, the speculations and allegations might remain unproven but never fully discounted. For instance, the discovery of a letter in a book in our library that suggesting an affair between Bola’s mother and dad. Contents committed to memory but questions never asked.

Of my early memories of my mother’s addiction to religion was Bola’s father presiding as white garment priest in clandestine meetings my mum and I attended in the dark Walsall nights, a woman desperately trying to save many things including herself.

Blog - My own #Moonlight story is not a movie

I do not know how much I can gloss over the first few years of my life in England in both its ordinariness and enchantments, I will have to retrieve a few pictures from storage to flesh out the seminal moments. However, I can say, I was born a miracle could not reproduce some 40 years on.

Blog - Ìrírí - How our brotherly love could have blossomed

This or a variant of it would appear in the first chapter of my life story.

These are no men of peace

What could have been

If it is true that in 2003, Iran offered the United States a deal that today might have helped quell the problems we see in Iraq and it was rejected outright, then we do live in unfortunate times.

It also means that all measures should be taken to bring maximum oversight and analysis to the proposed plan to escalate the battlefront or troop “surge” in Iraq as presented by President George W. Bush.

It is beyond belief that the two heads of the regime in America who in their youth, by every sleight of hand avoided serving their country in the thick of war are now the purveyors of the ignition to what might possibly be World War III.

There is no doubt that the consequence of rejection is the meat-grinder that Iraq has become, it is the graveyard of some who have unlike their leaders offered to serve their country in a war that no one wanted, at least, not I. On reflection, what America is asking Iran for now, is what Iran offered then, only this time, Iran does not have to care about responding.

Hating Iran with a passion

Surely, there must be something about the complete recalcitrance of these men that they just cannot deign to open diplomatic channels to either Iran or Syria, seeing Iraq, the country they have occupied since 2003 already has diplomatic relations with both countries.

It does not augur well for world peace that we cannot find men in leadership who can temper their belligerence with a modicum of restraint in view of the sacrifices they have demanded of others, that they themselves declined.

The question becomes, what has Syria or Iran done to George W. Bush and Richard Bruce Cheney? Because every right-thinking person, would be left aghast at this new development.

Making up for the faults of youth

However, it may be that having been stung by the seeming “cowardice” reference most especially to Dick Cheney’s non-military record, or is it a record number of deferments from being drafted to Vietnam (for the record, none of the deferments were illegal), they now have to display a quality of bravado, braggadocio or worse still brigandage to make up for their follies of youth.

This chauvinism to military power and expedition leading to the plunder of life and peace in Iraq and its environs is of great concern, if indeed, this news is true, the personification of power corrupting absolutely has another two years in the White House.

Our war on terror would now be for the Congress to consider regime change.

Is there a ‘Nam brewing in Mess-O-potamia?

Is there a ‘Nam brewing in Mess-O-potamia?

I just visited Technorati and found that someone for Vietnam had linked to a blog I posted about Bush taking the draft and finally reporting for duty in Vietnam.

Looking at the old post, I had a wry smile when I looked at my lame attempt of poetry that many might think I was not gazing in a crystal ball but doing crystal itself.

Like bean porridge, some like it hot, some like it cold and some like it in the pot nine days old – here is a rehashed blog, in the pot hardly two months old.

The unpalatable comparisons

My crystal ball does not like the cold, condensation on the inside of the glass means I may not be able to see things clearly.

However, a window into the future appears, I hit the streets in my haggard witch costume, wailing like a banshee.

Woe, woe, three times woes, I see in Mesopotamia, the shame of Saigon; as peace finds no respite in a land brought to destruction on the flight of a lie.

The many who were carried out having arrived on their feet, would not the maidens back home anymore countenance.

We shall leave soon and no sooner than the mess in Mesopotamia has overwhelmed us with more shame than the retreat from Saigon.

Hear, O Dubbiyew, your Saigon has come for the King of Terror has for his kingdom Iraq chosen.

Phew! That crystal does take you places, in the light of new developments for the troop surge, the death of President Gerald Ford who oversaw the withdrawal from Saigon and questioned the validity of the Iraqi war.

More so, in readiness for the speech that the President intends to give on Wednesday.

Need a good joke to bury - give it to John Kerry

Education or possible cremation

Sometimes the truth is too bitter a pill to swallow. As the electioneering for the US Congress hots up and gets deep down dirty.

Senator John Kerry, the failed presidential candidate in 2004 was out campaigning and happened to be in a school where he deftly mangled what would have been a perfect criticism of the President by saying – “You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Well, that does cut both ways depending on the sword and who you allow to take advantage of that weapon.

Ouch! Swing it the other way

For now, the cut which was supposed to cut down the President as being stuck in Iraq because of his inane policies is looking like the blunter edge, whilst that which portends to show soldiers being stuck in Iraq as cannon fodder because they have not been smart and well educated seems to deliver a mortal blow.

So, it has gotten downright emotive as John Kerry is getting disparaged for denigrating the service and patriotism of people serving America in an unholy war that they are not winning that has generated over 2,000 body bags and much more of the native Iraqis.

We are on the verge of trying to pull out but without the graceful means of extricating ourselves from the quagmire we willingly and consciously offered to wallow in.

Smart soldiers? Give me a break. Just a few of these smart soldiers have done well to secure the reputation and safety of our men in Iraq with Abu Ghraib and many other human rights abuses that cannot be tried by independent international courts.

The albatross of Vietnam

Well, it would appear John Kerry is not going to run into a corner and hide; he has come out firing all guns and ‘Vietnamised’ the retort.

Having expressed disgust about “Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country” [Meow!!!], now, Kerry who has served his country in uniform, with distinction and honours, he goes on to say, it is Bush and Cheney the draft ‘dodger’ who “owe our troops an apology having misled America into war”.

It is going to get awful, and it appears the first cut would probably not be the deepest, at all.

References

Bush on Kerry remark: U.S. troops are 'plenty smart'

U.S. is recruiting misfits for army / Felons, racists, gang members fill in the ranks