Song of Brotherhood

Song of Brotherhood

by Don Franks
May 5, 2014

It was just a small space item, away back in the news
About a bunch of people, having quite a lot to lose
A bunch of men in Egypt, six hundred and eighty three
Condemned to be hanged by the government
Seemed pretty harsh to me.

I looked in the paper next morning, for Obama’s admonition
Thundering about the plight of folks in this perilous position
There was no complaint from Obama, nor any from John Key
No western indignation for the six hundred and eighty three

Next day I see John Kerry, US secretary of state
With Egypt’s foreign minister, like teenagers on a date
Kerry mutters something about “disturbing decisions”
Not bad enough to stop him sending more munitions
To Egypt, strategic partner and friend of the USA
“And so Mr Foreign Minister, we welcome you here today.”

Now they say these six hundred and eighty three
Are all Muslim Brotherhood
Some kind of crazy religious nuts, none of them any good.
Well, we all have our rough edges, whatever our estate
And I think capital punishment has past its useby date
There was not even any trial for the six hundred and eighty three
Although that doesn’t matter to John Kerry or John Key

Now I’m wondering if it was announced that several hundred men,
From Lower Hutt or Omaru were in this state, what then?
Six hundred sentenced to be hanged, there’d be an awful fuss
Why not for these Egyptian guys, they’re people, just like us.

ENDS

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