Our world is full of lionesses
Not so much in politics, sadly.
Football certainly. Let’s hear it for the European champions – England.
Israel, Gaza & the West Bank. Whether living in a tree lined kibbutz; under the boot in an occupied zone; the party city of Tel Aviv or the crucible of God and his teachings – the Holy city of Jerusalem.
Every grand mother, mother, daughter, sister and aunt have been badly served by their so called ‘leaders’. Every mother, wherever in this world she is, will fight to her dying breath to keep her little ones safe, fed and educated.
Lionesses indeed.
Ukraine. I remember vividly an interview with an older lady by a BBC man and interpreter. It was shortly after 24th Feb 2022, when Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine and the steep escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war took hold. It rages on today – vying with others for a mention in the shouty headlines.. Our TV screens were full of the horror on a daily basis.
This lady, older, dressed in black, was burying what was left of her husband in the earth of what was left of their little garden, next to the remains of their simple stone cottage. Looking straight into the camera, her stumbling words, repeated by the interpreter, will stay with me always.
She spoke of a Ukrainian tradition adhered to by her, her parents, her grand parents and great grand parents. The oral history echoing down through the ages.
Whenever their men went off to war, the women would place into their pockets a handful of sunflower seeds. She said “If our men did not return, no matter where they lay, we knew that eventually sun flowers would bloom over their unknown grave”.
Lionesses indeed.
Let’s hear it for lionesses everywhere, and pray for some to emerge into the troubled world of politics. Perhaps we need to look no further than England head coach, Sarina Wiegman. She is everything we look for in a leader, but rarely see. Her calm, emotional intelligence with a leadership style that fosters a culture of trust, courage and clear determination.
Meanwhile political dinosaurs, old men steeped in the bloody history of hatreds and land grabs. Is there no one with the courage to step forward to put an end to this agony?
