Bàrdachd is Bomaichean	Poetry and Bombs
Am bi fuasgladh ann a tha na cheartas no na dhioghaltas airson nam mìle a chaochail air 11 Sultain?	Will there be a resolution that represents justice or revenge for the thousands that died on September 11th?
Ri àm sgrìobhaidh a’ phìos seo chan eil fuasgladh san amharc sa “chogadh” an aghaidh Afganastain. ’S mathaid nach bi fuasgladh ann idir, ’s e sin fuasgladh a bheir biadh is sìth is seasmhachd dha muinntir Afganastain co-dhiù. Agus, am bi fuasgladh ann a tha na cheartas (no na dhioghaltas?) airson nam mìle a chaochail air 11 Sultain?	At the time of writing this piece there is no resolution in sight in the “war” against Afghanistan. Perhaps there won’t be a resolution, that is, a resolution that will bring food and peace and stability to the population of Afghanistan. And, will there be a resolution that represents justice (or revenge?) for the thousands that died on September 11th?
Chan eil teagamh nach eil na Stàitean Aonaichte daingeann nuair a tha ceann amais sònraichte aca ri thoirt gu buil. Nach b’ fhad an t-sìde a ghabh iad an casan a thoirt leotha à Bhìatnam? Agus nach b’ iad a thug cogadh “fo na mùdan” air dùthchannan mar Nicaragua, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia agus Cuba fad bliadhnaichean mòra? Tha e na ìoranas gun robh e na chleachdadh aca a bhith a cumail airgead, oideachadh cog-aidh is armachd dha riaghaltasan coirbte is còmh-lain cheannairceach na làimhe deise.	There is no doubt about the determination of the United States when they have a special objective to fulfil. Didn’t they take their time packing their bags to leave Vietnam? And wasn’t it they who waged “covert” war on countries such as Nicaragua, Chile, El Salvador, Colombia and Cuba for years on end? It is an irony that it was their habit to supply money, military training and arms to corrupt governments and right-wing terrorist groups.
Thathar ag ràdh gu bheil eachdraidh mhoiteil cogaidh aig na h-Albannaich agus gu h-àraid aig na Gaidheil. Tha fhios gum bu dual dhuinn cath a chur air a chèile. Chan iad na fineachan bho thuath a-mhàin a bha ri creachadh is murt, ach na “comhlain ealltainn” a ghabh dha càch a chèile air sràidean Ghlaschu. ’S fìor cuideachd gun deach ar cleachdadh is ar caitheamh air sgàth dùthchannan ris nach robh gnothaich againn. Ach gu tric thèid dearmad a dhèanamh air seo.	It is said that the Scots, and in particular the Gaels, have a proud history of war. Certainly it was customary for us to make war on each other. It wasn’t only the northern clans who used to plunder and murder, but the “razor gangs” who would go for each other’s throats on the streets of Glasgow. True also that we were used and spent for the sake of countries with which we had no quarrel. But this is often overlooked.
Rinn Iain Prebble obair ionmholta air a’ chùis seo na leabhair Rebellion a tha a’ dearbhadh nach robh na Gaidheil gu lèir deònach bàs fhaighinn gun adhbhar agus gun d’rinn iad seasamh na aghaidh. Ach tha fianais ann cuideachd bho na bàird againn, agus ar leam gum biodh e iomchaidh sùil a thoirt, sa chiad dol a-mach, air Deòrsa Mac Iain Deòrsa.	John Prebble did excellent work on this subject in his book Rebellion that proves that not all Gaels were willing to die without good cause and that they took a stand against it. But there is also evidence from our own bards, and I think it fitting that we look, in the first instance, at George Campbell Hay.
Aig toiseach an dàrna cogaidh bha e den bheachd gun robh na bomaichean a thuit air Sasainn mar cheannachd air “na goireasan, beartas, cliù is onair” a bha na Sasannaich air an goid bho dhùthchannan eile. Mar sgàthan air na tha a’ tachairt an-dràsta, chaidh dèanamh dheth gun robh “sàr chumhachd” a’ buain na bha iad air cur. Dhiùlt Mac Iain Deòrsa pàirt a ghabhail sa chogadh agus theich e gu garbh-chrìochan Earra Ghaidheal, far an deach a chleith leis na cnuic is na coilltean fad naoi mìosan tro shìde dhubh a’ gheamhraidh. Cha b’ ann nach robh fuath aige dha Hitler, ach nach robh e airson “sàr chumhachd choirbte” mar Sasainn a dhìon. Mu dheireadh thall rug na poileis air agus chaidh a chur a shabaid.	At the start of the second world war he was of the opinion that the bombs that fell on England were just reward for the “resources, wealth, fame and honour” that the English had stolen from other nations. In a reflection of what is happening at the moment, it was considered that a “superpower” was reaping what it had sown. George Campbell Hay refused to take any part in the war and he fled to the highlands of Argyll, where the hills and woods kept him hidden for nine months through the dark wintertime. He certainly hated Hitler, but he had no wish to defend a “corrupt superpower” like England. Eventually the police caught up with him and he was sent to fight.
	Thàinig am beachd seo am bàrr sa bhàrdachd aig Murchadh MacPhàrlain cuideachd. Bha esan fo chuthach gun robh na h-aon daoine a rinn sgrios air na Gaidheil a-nis an dùil gum biodh na bha air fhàgail dhiubh deònach a bhith a’ sabaid air an sgàth. Thuirt Bàrd Mhealboist san dàn aige “An Deis Odhar”:	This thought surfaced too in the poetry of Murchadh MacPhàrlain. He was angered that the same people who decimated the Gael now expected what was left of them to fight on their behalf. In his poem “An Deis Odhar”, the Melbost Bard said:
	Hitler gheall e Lebensraum dha shluagh ma gheibh e bhuaidh; Cha b’ ionnan sin ’s na Hitleran A bhris spiorad mo shluaigh; Na Hitleran breun Breatannach A mhurt mo thìr mu thuath Gu Lebensraum do chaoraich, Is na daoine sgiùrs’ thar chuan	Hitler promised Lebensraum to his people if they gained victory; Not the same is that and the Hitlers That broke my people’s spirit; The filthy British Hitlers That murdered my northern land to Lebensraum your sheep, and the people scattered overseas
	Cha robh bàrdachd Mhic Iain Deòrsa agus MhicPhàrlain gun bhrìgh. ’S iad seo daoine a bha thall ’s a chunnaic. Thàinig bàrdachd chumhachdach is beachdan cruaidh bho na chunnaic iad de sgrios fuilteach air a’ bhlar. Mas math m’ fhiosrachadh, rinn Seòras Bush a dhìcheall gus seirbheis an airm a sheachnadh, agus cha robh a-riamh taobh aig Tònaidh Blair ri beatha an airm nas mò. Carson a-rèist a tha iadsan cho deònach an tuilleadh bàis adhbhrachadh?	The poetry of Campbell Hay and MacPhàrlain was not without import. These men saw the war for what it was. From what they witnessed of bloody destruction on the battlefield came powerful verse and uncompromising opinion. If I am correctly informed, George Bush did his utmost to avoid military service, and Tony Blair never showed any inclination towards an army life either. Why then are they so willing to cause yet more death?
	’S fìor nach bu choir dhuinn na thachair air 11 Sultain a leigeil à cuimhne, ach cò as urrainn a ràdh gu fìrinneach gum bi an saoghal na àite nas fheàrr às dèidh na h-iomairt seo? Agus muinntir Afganastain? ’S iad a bha fo dhaorsa an Talabain a-nis le na ceudan marbh is leònte le bomaichean Aimeireaga is Bhreatainn. Nach iad a bhios taingeil sna bliadhnaich-ean ri teachd? Agus am bi Blair deònach a-rithist armachd a reic dha treubh seach treubh san Afganastan ùr? A bharrachd air sin, cò tha sireadh ceartais dha nam mìltean a chaochail ann an Nicaragua is El Salvador aig ceannaircich an CIA? Iomadh ceist – ach cò aig a tha na freagairtean?	It’s right that we should not let the memory of what happened on September 11 fade, but who can honestly say that the world will be a better place after this campaign? And the people of Afghanistan? Those who were once under the tyranny of the Taleban now with hundreds dead and wounded by British and American bombs. Won’t they be thankful in the years to come? And will Blair once again be willing to sells arms to each and every tribe in the new Afghanistan? Moreover, who is seeking justice for the thousands who died in Nicaragua and El Salvador because of CIA-backed terrorists? Many questions – but who has the answers?
	Bho làithean m’ òige tha cuimhne agam gun deach innse dhomh gum b’ e fòirneart an rathad ceàrr gus cùisean fhuasgladh eadar dithis. Bho na tha mi a’ mothachadh ann am foghlam an latha an-diugh, tha seo fhathast fìor. Air an aon dòigh, tha mi den bheachd nach bu choir dhuinn armachd a reic no a chumail ri buidhnean is riaghaltasan coirbte sa chiad dol a-mach. Rinneadh Bin Laden, an Talaban agus Saddam Hussein le airgead is miann Aimeireaganach is Breatannach. Rinn sinn prothaid às. Buannachd eacona-mach is poileataigeach sa bhad ach le ceannachd mhòr aig a’ cheann thall. ’S dòcha gum bi cuid a luchd obrach a’ dèanamh air an ionad obrach agus nach bi uiread de dh’airg-ead bho na companaidhean mòra armachd a’ dol gu ionmhas a’ Phartaidh Làbaraich. Ach a bheil prìs air sìth is beatha?	As a youngster I remember being told that violence was the wrong way to settle a dispute between two people. From what I am noticing in present day education, this is still true. With the same reasoning I believe that we shouldn’t sell or supply arms to questionable governments or organisations in the first place. Bin Laden, the Taleban and Saddam Hussein were created with American and British money and will. We made profit from it. Political and economic gain in the short term but with a heavy price to pay in the long run. Perhaps some workers will be heading for the job centre and there won’t be the same financial support from the arms companies to Labour Party funds. But does life and peace have a price?
	A bharrachd air sin, b’ urrainn dhuinn an t-airgead nach tèid a chosg air armachd a chur gu ospadalan is sgoiltean. Agus Inbhe Theàrainte dhan Ghàidhlig.	On top of that, the money that isn’t spent on arms could go to hospitals and schools. And Secure Status for Gaelic.

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.