Dominicans call for international help in Burundi

Piece below is from the international Dominican website. Edited version. It is a statement from Dominicans for Justice and Peace to a special session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Mr President,

Dominicans for Justice and Peace congratulates you for calling this Special Session of the Human Rights Council as we are extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights in Burundi.Since the theft of arms from various military camps on 11 December, 2015, the pursuit of the alleged thieves has been carried out in a way that has gone far beyond any international norms for dealing with armed robbers.

Several witnesses have reported the kidnapping of young people from their homes by military and police in uniforms and their summary execution by being shot in the head or the heart.The violence is also showing an alarming tendency towards ethnic targetting.

Families are being prevented from burying their children by being denied access to their bodies, the whereabouts of which are unknown.

In short, a total disregard for human life is evident, the rule of law has disappeared, and people are living in terror with a total absence of security. In this situation, the priority is not to impose sanctions which will likely largely primarily punish the poorest people.

The urgent priority is to provide immediate protection and security to the people of Burundi.Since this cannot be provided internally at the moment, it is the responsibility and duty of the international community through the UN or the African Union urgently to step in.

A failure to do so will result in further massacres and a new genocide.Once security is provided, inclusive negotiations between all the stakeholders in the country needs to be embarked on as soon as possible, as only a just political solution can end all the violence.

There is great appreciation in Burundi for the calling of this extraordinary session of the Human Rights Council to address the current crisis in the country.

However, there is also a cynicism that it will only result in another commission of enquiry while everyone already knows what is happening and while people are dying.

Mr President, Please do not let the people of Burundi down. Please take immediate action to provide them with protection and security.

Losing a bag on a Dublin Bus vehicle and finding it

This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

A former work colleague back in Ireland for a few days phoned and asked me to join her for lunch. It was an enjoyable hour and we had plenty to talk about. Just as we said our goodbyes she gave me a small bag - a Christmas gift.

I jumped on a bus and went home. Later in the evening I realised I had managed to mislay the bag. Next morning I retraced my steps. Unfortunately it was not to be found. But I had not given up.

I checked out the Dublin Bus app and emailed them details of the bus I had been on, the time I had boarded and the number of the stop.

Within three days, and that included a weekend, I received an acknowledgment with a reference number and the telephone number of their lost property office.

The following day I called into the Dublin Bus office in Dublin's O’Connell Street where I was directed to their lost property office at the back of the Clerys’ building. A difficult place to find. But at last I was there and just one person ahead of me in the queue.

My turn comes. A man appears from behind a curtain or some sort of ‘barrier’. I explain what happened, tell him about the email I received from Dublin Bus and give him the six-digit reference number.

He assures me that I could not have been given a reference with six ‘letters’. I explain they were numbers and not letters. He then asks me who sent me the email and I, before I could calm down, said ‘Santa Claus’. At that he went away and told his colleague he was refusing to serve me.

I immediately suspected that I was in for trouble and I was going to be told in no uncertain way to get lost. And in a sense it was what I deserved.

Within a minute a woman appears at the counter. Again I explain my case. She could not have been friendlier and was somewhat at sea in respect to the email I had received from Dublin Bus. It seems Dublin Bus’s IT department doesn’t have great communications with the lost property Office in Dublin’s Earl Place. 

So we disregarded the email and I gave her details of the bus journey.

After a short search she arrived with a small bag. Magic, it was my gift bag. I could not believe it.

On handing over a €2 service charge my gift bag was returned to me.

Excluding the minor blip with the first man it’s difficult to believe how it all went so accident-free and that I managed to get the bag back.

I can imagine that required a lot of honesty by a number of people. Did a passenger on the bus hand it to the driver or did the driver or a cleaner come across it and hand it into an office at the bus depot? The buses on the route I was on operate out of two depots, Summerhill and Donnybrook. So a warm thank you to all those in the chain of people that saw it got back to me.

And to the man to whom I was a little smart or abrasive, mea culpa.

Two things have struck me about the episode. Isn’t it uplifting and inspiring to experience honest people? It does us all good. And the efficient system that Dublin Bus has in place when people leave items on their buses. It must happen every day of the week.

Happy Christmas to readers of the column.

 

Human rights everywhere

In the western world great emphasis is placed on rights, equality, justice.

Say tomorrow Dublin Bus introduced a rule requiring all its staff to be celibate? Of course, silly, outrageous.

What right has any organisation to lay such obligations on its members?

A case for the European Court?

Last words at Concern

A few words said on my last day at Concern.There was a great turn-out for the occasion.

Thank you.

Donal McGowan is a friend of mine for over 60 years. He always tells me I do things well - 96 per cent of the time but blow it all in that last four per cent.

So, I’ll start this with that dangerous four per cent.

I was 65 in April 2014 and Concern offered me another year. When that year was up they offered me a new contract until the end of this year.

I thought that could keep going. And why not? Yes, I have been a little sulky about it.

Job gone. End of story and I’m on the scrap heap. It is a shocking feeling and I’d be some liar if I said anything else.

I’m told it’s the first time in its history that anyone stayed in full-time employment after 65with Concern.

See, my father worked in his job until he was 82. He swam in the Atlantic in West Kerry at 92.

One of the great assets in being superficial is that one gets over things quickly. I’m over it, have bounced back, and here I am, still in one piece.

Though it has struck me how Concern champions gender equality. Maybe they/weshould now be at the vanguard of age equality. An idea.

These have been 11 great years.

Gerry Reynolds employed meon the recommendation of David Begg. He called me for an interview in Dublin. I travelled from West Kerry. Gerry appeared at the door and asked could we change the meeting to next week. It was a good intro to Gerry. And well that I had free accommodation in Dublin.

I eventually landed.

And guess what I never did an induction.

It’s always the people who make places. I have lived in different places but Berlin was the best. And that was before the Wall came down. But it was the best because of the people I met.

And Concern has been the best – because of the people I have met here.

Some weeks ago I sat down and interviewed Rosaleen Martin. It is in this week’s Leinster Leader. I was dumbstruck with the woman. What she has done in her few short years. Her intelligence, her kindness. Everything about her. I mention her because she was my last victim, my last interviewee for the regional press.

And I can multiply Rosaleen by well over 100.

When people like Rosaleen, Ross O’Sullivan, Paula Donohoe, come to work in Concern and like the place it says something about the organisation.

I have spent my life as a low-grade version of Plato’s Gnat fly. Or was it Socrates?

I have spent my entire priestly life criticising the hierarchical institutional church. That’s I, that’s the nature of the beast and I am hardly going to change at this hour.

Maybe it is because I never joined the management class or got preferment. But you know what, I’m proud of that now. Don’t we all have to justify our existences? And I’m no different.

But these have been 11 great years. My visits to Zambia and Lebanon were life-changing experiences, never to be forgotten.

I have made great friends here. People I will never forget. I’d actually have to think for a while if I ever met a really nasty person here. No I don’t think I have.

What at all will I do, not coming into this office, looking around at all the different faces, the smiles, the laughs, I pretending to get angry.

It sounds it might be horrible.

No it will not.

How many people are fortunate to have the choices I have? With a Dominican priory nearly in every capital of the world. And guess what I’m still nervous.

Again, I want to thank everyone who put up with me.

For close to 11 years Eithne managed me and that alone deserves a commendation. She was never once unkind or unfriendly to me. Now and again when I would say daft things, yes she would make that ‘Eithne-esque’ look.

Paul joined after me. And he became my boss. Thank you Paul for your help and guidance.

It got back to Kevin Byrne that I was a bit sulky about leaving. And did he make sure to let me know.

Is there anyone in Concern as loyal and committed as Kevin? And here’s a sort-of-secret: on most occasions when I finished writing a profile on someone I would get Kevin to throw his eye over it. He was brilliant at it.

Indeed, when I could I would also ask him to read my Irish Times column and the weekly column I do for the INM regional newspapers and again his advice was invaluable.

To my colleagues on the floor - thank you so much. I hope I never was rude or insulting to anyone. I am going to miss you all so much.

I suppose everything about me was and is a bit dodgy. I flyclose to the wind. Got that from my mother’s side.

When I first came here I was employed as a consultant –that’s a funny one - I a consultant. And then just before the financial crisis Concern made me permanent. Just as well. Otherwise I’d have been out the door when the crisis hit.

I officiated at four weddings and was even flown to foreign parts for one nuptials.

I don’t think anyone ever looks at it but may I suggest you check the Style Guide. Otherwise I’ll see a letter some day with practice incorrectly spelt or presently misused. And there’s no full point after Mr. Please don’t split your infinitives. A wise sub editor once told me to delete the word ‘very’ from my vocabulary. Good advice and advice I wish to pass on to you.

Proud of anything? Survival? I got to know so many people. But it’s the Synge Street project that really excites me. And I know Concern will take the ball and run with it. Italready has. That has such potential and we should have been there years ago.

Catriona Loughran will be doing my job. On Saturday I was for lunch with GerColleran in Tralee. He spoke so highly of her. And he meant every word he said. And there’s a line of continuity there. Ger employed me in The Kerryman and he employed Catriona in The Star.

She is a great asset for Concern. She knows what newspapers are about and she’ll do the business. But she is also a great person.

I’m going to miss you all.

Thank you.

Marx on Deutschlandfunk

This morning the Archbishop of Munich Reinhard Marx gave a 30-minute interview on Deutschlandfunk.

He spoke on a wide range of subjects including the refugee crisis, Ukraine, the positive aspects of an open and tolerant society. He expressed his concern on how there is a change of attitude towards the European Union and greatly criticised any move towards closing borders or building fences. He cherishes the experience he had as a young man to study in Paris.

His comments were the first item on the news bulletin that followed at 11.30, 10.30 Irish time.

In these days leading up to Christmas, certainly in the UK and in Germany, radio stations give a lot of time to Christian topics. They interview ministers of religion and church leaders.

Irish radio?

Silly rule of retirement age

The Government has nominated 65-year-old Judge Peter Kelly as the next president of the High Court.

Judge Kelly can stay in his new job until he is 72.

Why must lesser mortals retire at 65?

It is only right and proper that there be gender equality but why not age equality?

Chelsea Manning pays the price for speaking the truth

Humanity has never had this complete and detailed a record of what modern warfare actually looks like.

Once you realise that the co-ordinates represent a real place where people live; that the dates happened in our recent history; that the numbers are actually human lives - with all the love, hope, dreams, hatred, fear and nightmares that come with them - then it's difficult ever to forget how important these documents are.

Chelsea Manning discussing with Amnesty International why she leaked classified information while working as a US army intelligence analyst in Iraq.

Ruairí McKiernan, a social campaigner, Fulbright scholar and member of the Council of State met Chelsae Manning's mother, Susan, in Dublin in 2013. Susan told him that Chelsea's grandmother always said to her grandson: if you can't tell the truth then don't bother talking.

And Truth - Veritas is used by the Dominican Order as its motto.

The last day

My last day in the office.

The children of two of my colleagues. Both three and a half months old.

So, I'm in the market looking for a job. Either in PR or post primary teaching. Anyone looking for a sub-teacher, English or German? I'm registered with The Teaching Council and Garda vetted.

My father worked with Smurfit Paper Mills until he was 82. My ambition.

Thank you Concern

Today is my last day as an employee of Concern Worldwide.

It's been the experience of a lifetime. The skills I have learned, the people I have met, the kindness I have seen.

Yesterday the staff held a 'surprise' party in my honour and presented me with a wonderful gift.

I am humbled. 

Thank you to all at Concern.

Today is our Christmas lunch.

Of course I hope to continue to be in a position to work for Concern in a cosultancy capacity.

Also, thank you for the kind comments on Twitter.

Bertrand Russell on fanatics

On reading today's post, someone tweeted this.

The right-wing's belief in knowing what's best

What is it about the right-wing that they think all right is on their side?

Listen to any US right-wing station and one is led to believe that they know best on all matters. And all said in stunning arrogance.

Observe right-wing ministers of religion and one gets a feeling that they are in direct contact with God. And again, the arrogance is breath-taking. If it weren't so sad it would be wonderfully funny.

Is it a US phenomenon that has spread to Ireland? 

Religion, arrogance, right-wing 'know-allery' is a lethal cocktail.

And tragic to see how it is in the ascendancy in the Catholic Church, in spite of all of what Pope Francis is saying. It seems to be like some unstoppable force. 

A city under darkness

This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane 

A new day dawns. On Friday I went to Tralee, taking the 07.00 Heuston Cork train as far as Mallow. It meant getting out of bed at 04.35, before cycling across the city to the station.

Many of the rosters of Irish Rail drivers involve early rises. A driver has to be on site an hour before the scheduled departure time of his/her train. The first train out of Tralee every Monday is 04.45. That means getting up in the middle of the night.

I left home at 06.00. Plenty of stars to be seen. And also birdsong to be heard.

There is little or no movement on the road but what traffic there is, seems to take advantage of the empty roads and travels at speed.

The real-time signs at the bus stops are indicating that the next buses are due in 30/35 minutes.

A number of people walking, probably going to work. A few cyclists and two people out running. Maybe they are running to work.

Once I cross the Grand Canal there are hints of day dawning. Cars stopped at traffic lights. But not much happening. Three large trucks parked bumper-to-bumper outside the Guinness brewery, perhaps filled with barley? 

And not a vacant space at the dublinbikes stand beside it.

In an instant everything changes. As I cycle down by the side of St Patrick’s Hospital on Steevens’ Lane and arrive at the junction of Heuston Station, it feels like I have been transported into another world. There is traffic darting in every direction, there is a Luas at the Heuston stop, buses in the queue of traffic stopped at the lights.

Within 30 seconds and a 300 metre distance, life has gone from slumber to wake mode.

It strikes me how right beside the early morning hub-hub near Heuston Station, people are most likely asleep in their beds in St Patrick’s Hospital. But within a short time the breakfast trolleys would be on the move.

A new day dawns. What sort of a day was it going to bring to people? I had my day mapped out. I was going to Tralee to say thank you to the students in the CBS The Green for donations they raised for Concern.

Somewhere near the Grand Canal I had spotted a middle-aged woman. She may have been going to work. There was a look of weariness on her face. On a meagre wage? Maybe she was just managing to get by from day to day.

What must it be like for people who are constantly worried where the next cent is going to come from? It doesn’t matter where they come from or what’s the colour of their skin.

What must it be like for people who don’t know whether or not they will survive the day? People would be born, others would die during the day. For some it would be a day of great excitement, for others profound sadness and disappointment and all that among the ordinariness of everyday life.

It’s still dark, I wonder how thieves and crooks begin their day. Are they planning their next heist? Early in the morning, do they ever feel it’s a mug’s game and think of changing jobs?

There is something magical, mystical about the early morning. Cycling through a city before it gets down to business puts a whole new look on the place.

It gives me a unique sense of ownership and belonging.

A new day is about to unfold.

I think of what the Psalmist wrote: “Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!”

 

Priests to visit Democratic People's Republic of Korea

The Catholic Church in South Korea has reached an agreement with authorities in North Korea whereby priests from the Republic of Korea will make "regular visits" to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

It is a breakthrough in relations.

A train versus a deer

Some kilometres north of Templemore the train slowed down. At that point on the track, Saturday's 18.20 ex Cork Dublin Heuston serivce should have been accelerating to top speed of 160 km/h.

But instead the driver had braked and powered down the locomotive. And some moments before that the loud cry of the train's sounding device could be heard.

The hooting horn had no effect and the deer was hit by the train.

The train picked up speed, stopped at its next scheduled stop, Portlaosie and then ran non-stop to Dublin. Arriving at Heuston approximatley eight minutes late.

Probably not a passenger on the train realised what had happened. And the sorrow and pain it must have been for the deer community near Templemore.

Locomotive drivers have a hard job.

Dominican links with Heuston Station Dublin

Apologies for the poor quality picture.

Both these plaques are in the main concourse of Dublin's Heuston Station.

John Heuston was executed for his part in the 1916 Rising. He had worked for the rail company and on the 50th anniversary of the Rising, CIE, which is now the holding company of Irish Rail, named the country's main rail station after him.

His brother, Fr John Heuston, was a Dominican priest. On entering the Order he was given the name John. His baptismal name was Michael.

Just days before the execution of his brother, Brother John, he was not yet an ordained priest, was granted special permission by the Dominicans to leave his priory in Tallaght and visit his brother in his death cell.

Fr John was a highly intelligent man with a great mathematical flair. His interests covered a wide spectrum. He was in many aspects of his life considered to be eccentric. It is believed that he has written/compiled important material on the apse of San Clemente in Rome.

We both lived in the Irish Dominican Priory, San Clemente in Rome in the mid-1970s. On one occasion I commented to him that he was ahead of his time. "No Michael, the province is simply behind in its ways," he replied.

I am a lowly member of the Irish Dominicans. But it baffles me how the Irish Dominicans have not given prominence to the Heuston brothers in the run-up to the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It so happens the Order has also begun to celberate the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Dominicans.

Shocking PR, a glimpse of how out of touch the Catholic Church is and can be with the world around it.

The lives of the Heuston brothers is such an attractive story and not a word.

Fr John Heuston died in Rome on March 6, 1984.

Will the Irish Dominicans remember Fr Thomas Walsh, who died in Dublin On August 16, 1987? He was another Irish Dominican with links to the 1916 Rising. There may well be others.

Such a pity.

Below this plaque there is another oblong plaque, which reads:

TO COMMEMORATE THE 1916 RISING THIS BUILDING WAS NAMED HEUSTON STATION IN HONOUR OF SÉAN HEUSTON

EU could fall apart, says parliament's president

President of the European Union Martin Schulz told the German newspaper Die Welt that the Union is in danger of disintegrating, saying that there are forces that want to drive it apart.

He said the alternative to the EU would be a "Europe of nationalism, a Europe of borders and walls. That would be horrific, because such a Europe has repeatedly led in the past to catastrophe."

To see the dreams of the great visionaries of post-war Europe fall apart is simply shocking.

And this insular nationalism, "I'm right, you are wrong" attitude is not exclusively growing in popularity in Europe. Russia, the US and Donald Trump. 

Let's all stand up and stop Trump in his tracks

Suzanne Kelly, a campaigner from Aberdeen whose petition to ban Donald Trump from the UK on the grounds of hate speech has acted as a lightning rod for public disgust at the US presidential candidate’s Islamophobia, has said she is “as shocked as anyone” by its success.

And not a word from the Irish 'management class' who paraded on the red carpet to greet Mr Trump when he arrived at Shannon some months ago.

Not a word from any of them. Wouldn't it be such a gesture of decency and solidarity at least to refer to the silliness of the event. But those sort of people don't do those sort of things - unless they are shamed to do so.

Has the US Ambassador to Ireland said anything about Trump's words of hatred?

Well done Suzanne Kelly.

Politicians and greed in all its various and silly forms

Since the RTE programme on corrupt local politicians on Monday evening there has been much comment on political shenanigans in Ireland.

Just some months ago the red carpet was rolled out at Shannon Airport to greet Donald Trump to Ireland. He was buying a golf course in County Clare and the hope was he would be leaving loads of money here. Ireland wants his money, no matter what nonsense or hatred he utters.

The small-time crook-politicians and the Trump red carpet episode are all scenes from 'Fr Ted'.

Simon Coveney's outrageous comment on RTE Radio 1

On RTE One's Drivetime this evning Minister for Agriculture and Defence, Simon Coveney, said that he did not consider it corruption for councillors not to fill out the necessary forms.

The Minister must make an immediate apology. 

If a citizen does not fill out the reuired Revenue forms she/he would be heavily penalised for not doing so.

Mr Coveney's comment is an outrage.

Understanding words

In the Offertory Prayer of Mass today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the priest prays:

"... on account of her prevenient grace,......"

Will everyone in churches, where that word is used in prayer, understand what it means?

What does it mean?

Vernacular?

Always best to use a registered contractor

This week's INM Irish Regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane

A friend of mine called me at the weekend. She was in a bad way and upset. She had a months’-long nightmare experience with a builder.

The builder had been recommended to her and she felt confident that he could do a good job.

Alas, that’s not what happened and she was out of pocket by a five figure sum. Eventually she had to cut her losses, call stop and go off and find herself another builder.

For starters, two absolutes, never pay ‘cash’ for a job. Be honest and pay the proper tax. It’s ethically wrong and you are leaving yourself wide open to abuse. By using a registered contractor there is the possibility that you will be able to claim back tax on the work.

A small example between right and wrong. Some weeks ago I decided to replace gutters, downpipes and facia. I went to a cash-in-hand man who gave me a price. It was somewhat cheaper than a professional who came recommended. 

The professional explained to me that before he did the job I needed to contact ESB Networks so that they could lower the cable before he began his job. I did that and was most impressed with the efficiency and professionalism of ESB Networks. 

It’s important that the cables are lowered, otherwise the new facia would conceal the cable and some years down the road someone might decide to drill the new facia for some reason or other. The cash-in-hand man was simply going to place the new facia over the electric cable.

Secondly, no matter how much your builder might try to coax you, never pay any money in advance. 

If she or he is an established and recognised builder he/she will have an account with builder providers. If you are asked for money in advance, be merciless and sack your builder.

It’s always advisable to shop around when looking for a builder. The best recommendation is word-of-mouth. Talk to friends, colleagues and ask them if they might have someone they could recommend and then go and have a look at the job.

Doing your homework means that you have all your plans worked out before work begins. If you chop and change during the job you are adding significant sums to your final bill.

There are rules and regulations governing the building trade and no doubt the overwhelming majority of builders conform meticulously to all the rules.

It has struck me as a PAYE employee, whether working as a teacher or in the newspaper industry, both employer and employee are governed by rules and regulations. A code of conduct/behaviour is expected of the employee and likewise the employer is duty-bound to treat employees in a correct manner.

Maybe in the current rush to the bottom in a number of industries there is a need as never before for workers to have the support of a trade union.

When it comes to the self-employed much is left to the ethical behaviour of the individual person.

Without a good business ethic a trader or professional can take short cuts, ignore regulations, deliver poor quality work in order to maximise profits.

Of course bad workmanship will eventually catch up on the trader/professional but in the meantime a lot of grief can be inflicted on an unsuspecting client.

My friend has found herself out of pocket. Not nice before Christmas.

Isn’t it strange how ministers of religion can get worked up on certain moral issues and not a word from them on so many other moral topics?

As I keep saying, it’s a funny old world.  

Pilgrims at COP21

From Saturday's Irish Times.

An apology, a correction and need for another apology?

This is not intended to be disrespectful, but it is so funny it's difficult to avoid mentioning it.

It is worth reading the apology on the left-hand side page and then observe how the author's name is spelt on the right-hand side page.

Is the author's name Chris or Christ?

The pictures are taken from the December issue of Doctrine and Life.

Is it a lift or a stairs?

The notice below appears in a lift in Dublin's Mater Private Hospital.


And it seems 'level' has a different meaning than 'floor'. You can be on Level Four but on Floor Three.

But it's in keeping with the general signage across all hospitals in the State.

Police and priests

The latest review on the Garda Síochána, carried out by the Garda Inspectorate, calls for a root-and-branch reform in the Irish police force.

Anyone close to the Catholic Church will be struck with the similarities between the Irish police and the Catholic Church.

Some comments from the report of the Inspectorate.

Strong, visible leadership is required to develop, inspire and deliver a clear measurable programme of cultural reform.

Some staff are focused on self-preservation. The less interaction, the less confrontation, the better.

The report paints a picture of a cosseted and comfortable management class - albeit one in chaos and making lots of promises without delivering.

At least someone has the wit and common sense to examine the Garda.

Who ever examines Catholic dioceses and religious congregstions in Ireland?

And the situation is seismically worse within the Irish Catholic Church - right across religious congregations and dioceses. Probably not one exception.

F-16s, Su-24s and the cries of John the Baptist

The 'Thinking Anew' column in today's Irish Times.

Michael Commane

On Monday, November 23 I visited someone in a Dublin hospital. I was struck with the number of seriously ill people I saw. Young people too, looking as if their lives were going to be cut down far too early.

What can one ever say to people in such pain and suffering? It's difficult.

Within 90 minutes of leaving the hospital I was standing in torrential rain at a bus stop in the city centre. I spotted a middle-aged woman carrying two black sacks from an office. It looked as it they were rubbish sacks but certainly they seemed far too heavy for her. No doubt she is on a meagre wage.

The following day a Turkish F-16 war plane shot down a Russian Su-24. Turkish authorities alleged that the Russian plane had violated Turkey's air space.

A Russian pilot was killed. The Su-24 was probably coming from or going to a bombing sortie in Syrian skies.

The downing of a Russian plane by a Nato ally and the alleged violation by a Russian plane on Nato territory could easily spark a serious international crisis. But away from the great world scene, what about the downed pilot and his family?

What about the innocent people who had most likely died as a result of the bombs unleashed by the Su-24? And all the lives that are lost and ruined every day and night in Syria.

We have all been shocked and repulsed by what happened in Paris on Friday, November 13. But probably more worrying is what happens next. Where next will ISIS attack?

It goes on an on and has been for generation after generation. It seems violence is part of our human condition. A century ago people were talking about the war to end all wars. It never happened.

Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent. Christians are preparing for the incarnation - the coming into the world of the Prince of Peace.In tomorrow's first reading we are reminded that we will be blessed by God forever  - "Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness."  (Baruch 5: 4)

In the  Responsorial Psalm the response goes - "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126)

What's the joy in young people dying? What's the joy in looking at burning contrails across the skies of Turkey and Syria? What's the joy in working people struggling to earn a meagre wage?

In the Gospel, Luke quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe John the Baptist."A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.....  The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " (Lk 3: 4 - 5)

The role of John the Baptist is often quoted. And it is true that he evokes the image of someone who has something to say but no one is  listening to him.

We use him as a role model when it suits us.

But right now do we really want prophets who will shout stop about poverty, slavery, maiming and killing, and institutional violence?

How is it that statesmen, and they are predominantly men, gain great political and popular clout when they stand beside their warplanes?

I keep thinking of that woman who was carrying those sacks, dressed poorly and probably paid a pittance.

John the Baptist crying in the wilderness?

What at all would he have to say to the manufacturers of that F-16 and Su-24? What would he have to say to the woman with those heavy black sacks?

The knowledge that God is in our world should bring joy to us. And also, spur us on to change things.

Francis on fundamentalism

Returning to Rome form the Central African Republic Pope Francis said to jouranlists:

"In the Catholic church we have some -- many -- who believe they possess the absolute truth and they go on sullying others through slander and defamation and this is wrong. Religious fundamentalism must be combated. It is not religious, God is lacking, it is idolatrous."

This man seems to have his finger on the pulse of things within the Catholic Church.

Nasty right wing fundamentalist media in the US constantly attacks President Barack Obama. This month's freesheet Alive manages a snide remark on the US President, quoting Vladimir Putin to do so.

Kindness is always best

It was a wet dark morning in Dublin. At a road junction where I was on the major road a car attempted to cross my path. I shouted some expletives, the driver of the car heard or else saw me at the last moment and slowed down.

We were both stopped at the next set of lights, he in his car and I on my bicycle. He opened the window and apologised. I asked him had he heard my expletives. He had. I too apologised for their use.

He said he well understood why I used them and said he had not seen me. He was most apologetic.

Being kind, gracious and forgiving always works over anger, violence and rudeness.

A nasty way to begin the day. A wonderful way to begin the day. 

Hammond versus Murpurgo

The Channel 4 news this evening concentrated on the House of Commons debate and vote on UK involvement in Syria.

Jon Snow interviewed a number of people including the British Froeign Secretary, Phiip Hammond and the author Michael Murpurgo.

It was stomach churning to watch Hammond. At one stage he even seemd to smirk, then suddenly realising that sort of look would not do on television he changed his tactic. Immaculately groomed. The manager class that sends people to their death and maims them.

On the other hand Michael Murpurgo argued that it makes no sense to bomb Syria and he expressed his concern that the war in Syria could have dangerous world-wide consequences.

To compare the performance of both men on television was revealing, a stunning exercise.

Hammond came across as dangerous and nasty. But of course terribly sophisticated and even learned. Murpurgo, on the other hand seemed a man of sympathy and concern. An ordinary kind man.

Hammond's wealth is estimated to be between £7.5 and £9 million.

It is a shocking scenario.

The stories of two priests

Vatileaks 2 monsignor  Balda (54) admits having sex with another defendant. It so happens this time the defendant is a woman.

The woman, 33-year-old Vatican consultant Francesca Chaouqui had been introduced to Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda by 73-year-old French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.

Subsequently Ms Chaouqui was appointed by Pope Francis to Cosea, a short-term Vatican economic reform commission, mainly on the recommendation of Monsignor Balda, who had already been appointed.

Balda claims that Chaouqui seduced him in Florence. She in turn says; "From what I know of Balda, the last thing he wants to do is to go to bed with me..... If I wanted to betray my husband, I wouldn't do it with an old priest who does not like women."

A priest who says he was seduced and a woman who says the priest does not like women.

What sort of a man would publicly say he was 'seduced' by a woman?

Pathetic.

Meanwhile in France the Cardinal Archbishop of Lyons sacked Fr Herve Benoir.

Benoir wrote an editorial about the people who attended the Bataclan as being in ecstatic trance.

"They are the living dead. Their murderers, these hash-smoking zombies, are their Siamese twins. The same unrootedness, amnesia, childishness, absence of culture."

Young people carrying the torch for poor and needy

This week's INM Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

On Thursday, November 19 over 400 young people from all over Ireland attended a seminar in the RDS on how to make this world a better place.

It was organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland and Concern Worldwide.

You might be inclined to throw your eyes to heaven at the thought of such an adventure. You might say it’s inspirational nonsense.

World leaders have agreed a set of 17 goals to be achieved by 2030. These goals focus on such topics as poverty, hunger, health, inequality, education, climate change, gender equality, development, water and sanitation, disability, employment, peaceful societies and partnership.

Throughout the day it was palpably clear to see that young people must be at the centre of shaping a fairer world for all seven billion people. Young people have the potential to have a say. 

There are 1.8 billion people aged between 10 and 24 across the world and half the world’s population is under 30.

Dominic MacSorley, CEO of Concern Worldwide, explained how he has been 33 years with the aid agency.

“When I joined Concern at 26 I thought I could change the world in two years, 33 years on and we still have a long way to go,” he said.

He stressed how Ireland’s history of poverty, famine and emigration, gives us a special role in our fight to make the world a better place.

“We need to move from goals to demands. Everyone, no matter where they live, has a right to a job, to food, to human rights,” the Concern Chief Executive said.

“In a globalised world a disaster like Ebola is just one plane ride away.

“The refugee crisis is not ‘over there’, it’s on our doorstep and if we think Europe has a crisis, it’s a disaster in Syria.

“While in Lebanon in early November I met a young Syrian girl, who is living in a UN camp. She always wanted to be a teacher. That’s all changed and now she will get married at 16 so as to support her mother. It’s called ‘survival sex’. 

“It’s right now we need to be making changes that will allow that girl be the teacher she once wanted to be,” MacSorley said.

Kevin Kelly, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, gave a rundown on the history of the United Nations.

This year Ireland celebrates 60 years as a member state of the UN, which was founded 10 years earlier in the aftermath of World War ll. The world wanted peace and it certainly needs peace today. 

Kelly admitted that there are many who will say the UN is not doing enough but as a senior Civil Servant pointed out to me the UN is simply the countries which make up its membership.

During the last 60 years Ireland has had 66,000 people working as UN peacekeepers in trouble spots around the world. That’s something we have every reason to be proud about.

Did you know that Irish farmers feed 18 million of the world’s population? It was a statistic that the president of Macra na Feírme, Seán Finan, told the gathering.

MEP Brian Hayes pointed out that we Irish should demand for the poorest of the poor around the world the rights we have.

It was impressive to see so many young people expressing such interest in topics that have the potential of making or breaking our world.

Looking around the room, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon’s words came to mind: ‘young people are the torchbearers of Sustainable Development’.

It’s up to us to follow their lead and keep those torches alight.