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Poetry


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John Charles

By Talisker

04 November 2006

John Charles de Menezes was shot 7 times in the head on a train at Stockwell tube station, 22nd July 2005. He was a 27 year old, innocent Brazilian electrician. He was held down and summarily executed by plain clothed firearms officers. The act, to my mind was callous, the coverup and justifications have been stomach wrenching. Who are you more afraid of? The state, or the other terrorists?

John Charles De Menezes RIP (7th Jan 1978 - 22nd July 2005)

John Charles you silly chap,
You wore a jacket in July,
And a bloody baseball cap,
Can’t you see you had to die?

John Charles you silly fool,
You had pretty olive skin,
Not a crime as a rule,
But the times we’re living in!

John Charles you careless twit,
Can’t you see you fit the bill?
Looking Asian, well, a bit,
So what if you’re from Brazil?

John Charles you evil fiend,
Why’d you have a duffle bag?
That was why we “intervened”
It’s a bloody terror flag.

John Charles you monstrous man,
Looked suspicious to a cop,
Shall we throw him in the can?
No, let’s see his skull go POP!

John Charles rest in peace,
With your perforated head,
Dreadful sorry, signed The Police,
Not our fault you misled.

Oli (04/11/06)

Reviews

Written by Phil (8764 comments posted) 4th November 2006

A powerful piece that I really liked for it's content and delivery. However, I feel this may be 'Twin Towers' all over again. (Incidentally, that remains one of my favourites of yours.)

Seven times? I wasn't aware of that.

All the best,

Phil.

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 5th November 2006

I wasn't aware he was shot seven times either. Jesus -- even once was too much.

Shortly after 9/11, two teenage boys went into a grocery store owned by an immigrant from Egypt, the father of children who went to school with my niece and nephew in Southern California. They shot him dead -- no demands, no theft -- then fled. Later, it emerged they had done it 'because of 9/11.' They didn't know that the man was a Coptic Christian and devout church-goer, nor that he had immigrated to the US precisely because of the religious freedom he and his family craved. His children were enrolled in a Christian school and he was very happy to be in such a tolerant and accepting country.

I hate terrorism too, but we ought to realize that it goes way beyond dark-skinned fellows clutching duffle bags.

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