UNIVERSAL SOLDIER

Written in the early 1960s by Canadian Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Universal Soldier is commonly interpreted as being written in response to the war in Vietnam, it was actually penned before the first US combat troops arrived there. It received popularity when released by Scottish folk artist Donovan in 1965. It did well in Britain, where it was first released, reaching number five on the singles charts, though it fared less well in the United States.The version here appears with a photo montage, with credit to Youtube user tolka.

The Universal Soldier is an unusual war-protest song because it blames war not on governments, leaders or corporations, but on the individuals who accept the notion that killing solves problems and one war can end future wars. As implied by the title, Sainte-Marie makes no distinction between the soldiers of different nations, religions or ideologies: they fight for different causes but the same reasons. 


WITH the recent closure of the Bridgend Army Office by members of Cymru Rydd Welsh Republicans and someone  called Rebecca, our attention will turn others recruitment  dens in the South Wales valleys. No child in Wales should ever have to grow up and fight in the English Army ( now restyled from British Army to "Army". For less than £15 a day Welsh soldiers have lost their lives fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like the song, Gallippolli says "The real war is at home".


Who then do we fight against?


Three years ago a under cover intelligence operative for the English Crown ie  TRAITOROUS SPY, attempted to inflitrate our organisation. Being long in the tooth and having had alot of experience of Her Majesty kindness to republicans, pacifists and anyone else who refuses to be quiet little doggies, he didn't get far. That's the trouble with Wales, we are family and coomunity based.Inothers words we all know each and are related some way down the line


Whilst politicians must take the blame for wars, there is also a personal element in war, as UNiversal soldier lyrics below state (link).


1.
We must agitate amongst members of the Crown Army in Wales and asked them to refuse to fight on moral grounds as the Unified Code of the British Army allows.


2.
We must double our efforts to close the Pontypridd Army recruitment office. If we can do it in a place like Bridgend, we can do it anywhere. I dont know if Rebecca will be around. Whether or not she and her children pay clandestine visits with the magic buckets, we can raise awarness of the issue. We urgently need to co-ordinate days of action, letter writing to papers (still effective) and develop a chain of groups like the Fellowship of Reconcillation, churches, civic groups etc.


3. The Head of the Army will be Wales for several days in July so we should think about demonstration that would highlight the issues of recruitment.


Its going to be a fun, action packed Summer. 


See you soon,


Fluffy,  xxx




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A50lVLtSQik&feature=fvst

Watched the Brighton Bomb last night. Recalled my teenage years in Maesteg when my girlfriend's dad was out on the Miner's strike. The London police Thatcher called in to attack miners: "the enemy within" she called them. Then there's the antics of special branch targetting union leaders in the NUM. Not forgetting of course, the 10 Hunger Strikers in Northern Ireland. Thatcher said there no such thing as society- except for the society of millionaire yuppies living for greed, whilst kids where homless. I worked as a volunteer in Centrepoint Night shelter, Soho. Kids came to us, within 3 days they had money to get a place to live. Thatcher ABOLISHED THIS and made them wait 2 weeks.Two weeks living on the streets of London exposed to male female prostitution to get money to eat: drugs and vice. Many of these kids (16yrs +) were gay AND RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME. One young lad said his step dad would beat "the gayness out of me". Others were under 16 and thanks only to the Childrens Society had a place of safety to access immdiately. The there's lesser things, but insulting. Like John "Spock" Redwood who paid "lip service" ( badly) to our people and the National anthem. Millionaire Alun Michael, MP for wealthy Penarth, Blair's poodle who no wants to run our police.

 Then there is the deliberate sinking of the Belgrano so the Crown could rule over Las Malvinas/Falklands and all the Welsh lads who were injured and died in this war over some rocks and Penguins so that the Butchers apron could fliy over terrority of a former glory and a dying Empire. But its ensured a political re-election for Thatcher. So watching the Brighton Bomb and the horrors of violence, saddened for those who died,  perhaps, just perhaps, I could see where the Miners, the NUM, the disenfrachised young people, and the parents of Bobby Sands and the other 9: perhaps, I can just see where they're coming from. When Thatcher dies: her legacy of greed, war, individualism, colonialism and bigotry will die do. Unless Mr Cameron, a smiling, two faced vilain, will re-erect her legacy. After all, she was invited to No.10: and Labour, under Brown, did the same. 


My new years resolution is to fight for justice, for a democratic Wales, ruled by the people of Wales. Please help me in and the others in Cymru Rydd- we cant do it alone. But together, we can rise again! Fe godwn ni eto! www.cymruryddwelshrepublicans.webs.com