A Cry On The Way To Counselling


 I start with the Madrid Metropolitan Orchestra with some of my lisping choir  doing an amazing version of Gloria Gloria  ……followed by this amazing nurse’s poem from the Vietnam war


But today’s highlight was a radio four production Life Changing where psychiatrist Sian Williams interviewed teenager Rozhan , an illegal immigrant from Iran who with her mother and younger sister braved death many times to flee persecution in the Middle East where her Muslim mother changed religion to Christianity . 
The account of how she took charge of a sick baby at fourteen in a sinking dinghy off Dover , and how the 26 people on board all held hands as they thought death was approaching made me stop Bluebell in order to shed a tear before my counselling day .
I defy anyone, including the most rabid of racists not to be moved by this tale of heroism 

33 comments:

  1. I have no words, just tears. xx

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  2. Anonymous8:05 pm

    The nurse poem slayed me

    Lee

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  3. So touching.
    And you know that racists do not know logic or empathy. Just hatred. The story will not move them. At all.

    XOXO

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    1. I’d like to think it would my friend

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  4. I don't think we can get it in the U.S. Disappointed. John, every day there is something else to make us cry here. We no longer recognize our homeland.

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    1. Anonymous1:30 pm

      You can…just Google BBC sounds website or app

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  5. Too bad the ignorant racists won’t be reasoned with.

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  6. So much pain and courage in this world. The best and the worst.

    Thanks for that wonderful video! Vivaldi's Gloria is one of my most favourite baroque pieces. I was wearing out my CD of it over Easter. I've heard it performed live twice -- both times by church choirs who did an impressive job of it.

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  7. Barbara Anne9:57 pm

    Tears here, too. Am glad you had a place to pull off the road.
    I've always loved Gloria In Excelsis Deo - thanks, John.

    Hugs!

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  8. Traveller10:08 pm

    I listened to that as well. Her description of making the little girl laugh at the water was so moving.

    Alas, it won’t have any effect on those who talk about “those bloody boats” and think the Uk wraps people from the boats in cozy blankets. it won’t matter to those who read the Daily Mail, those who think Nigel Farage is good, those who refer to Muzzies….etc etc

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  9. Early American industry was built largely by incoming immigrants, many were factory laborers who came to make a better life.
    In the 80's, I worked with Alex who came to the US from Russia with one suitcase. He was a trained Russian engineer. He rose within the corporate system and became a VP of Manufacturing. Lovely man and he tried his best to teach me Russian.

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  10. I suspect there will soon be many more people fleeing Iran. Depending of which way it falls, it'll either be more like the woman and daughter, or otherwise lots of the evil militia men. I hope for Iran's sake that it'll be the militia who are escaping, but Europe won't want them.

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  11. Anonymous8:14 am

    Vietnam…so much grief. Beautiful poem. Now to listen to the Radio story.
    How can people have no empathy for the tragedies of others?
    weavinfool

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  12. I would much rather live next to people who have fled their own war torn countries and violence than to live next door to a bigot. So there's that.

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  13. The immigrant came here for a better life, not to make their new home like the one they fled.

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  14. The irony in Canada, and Alberta, is that we are all immigrants, except for indigenous people. Immigrants usually want a better life for their children, a chance, and they're willing to give up everything for their children. They are brave people in my opinion.

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  15. Krayolakris1:58 pm

    I’ve given up on trying not to cry these days. Thank you for sharing. And for not giving up on little Weaver, bless.

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    1. Tonight she sat with the dogs
      See
      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003919104227

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  16. Can I just comment about your use of the phrase "illegal immigrants" - they are NOT illegal. They are probably more likely "asylum seekers" who have the right to seek and claim asylum, however they enter the country. If they are granted asylum they become refugees. If they are not granted asylum, but stay anyway, OR if they stay beyond their visa, then they become "illegal". At least, that is how I understand it. It's the people profiting from desperate asylum seekers who are illegal!

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