Tag Archives: rivers of blood speech

Legacy

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Some things
Have wings
Of light,
While others fly at night
Their poison carrying down the years,
Provoking bitter tears.

One such has gone
But his legacy lives on
In those who can not wait
To employ their knuckles tattooed with “Hate”.

An intelligent man
Frequently can
Do more harm
Than a stupid one,
For he is possessed of charm
And learning to.
True he has gone
But the bitterness lives on.

The word “fascist” is ugly to me
And I can not agree
With those who would label him so,
Yet I know
That it is possible to stoke
The fire and deplore the thuggish smoke
On which we all choke.

This is not quite fair
As there where
Racists ere
He spoke.
Yet he threw a match
Which did catch
Provoking flame
Blame
And smoke.

Rivers Of Blood

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I have just finished listening to a dramatization of Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech on BBC Radio 4, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09z08w3. The speech (which is voiced by an actor as no complete recording of it exists, is interspersed by the reactions of contemporary listeners. The Conservative journalist/commentator and biographer of Powell, Simon Heffer defended Powell against accusations of “racism”, while the former Conservative MP, Matthew Paris condemned Powell unequivocally.

The programme was, in my view balanced with David Lammy (a Labour MP) giving his perspective, together with several academics and members of the ethnic minorities who where affected by Powell’s speech.

Prior to the programme having been broadcast, there where calls for the BBC to pull it from the airwaves (the Labour peer, Lord Adonis argued that it should not be broadcast). As a believer in free speech (and having heard the programme) I believe that the BBC was right to broadcast the speech (together with reactions to it). Powell’s views are wrong and (to me) abhorrent. He did, nonetheless voice them and one can not sweep opinions which most people find offensive under the carpet. So I applaud the bravery of the BBC in airing this programme.

Enoch Powell Poet

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In 1968, the late John Enoch Powell, a member of Edward Heath’s Conservative Shadow Cabinet, delivered what has gone down in history as “The Rivers of Blood” speech. In it Powell argued that non-white immigration into the United Kingdom should be halted and that those immigrants already present should be encouraged to return to their countries of origin. The speech was condemned by Heath and led to Powell being dismissed from the Shadow Cabinet.

The decision of BBC Radio 4 to broadcast the speech in full at 8 PM (UK time) on the evening of 14th April, has provoked much controversy (see, for example https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/what-to-listen-to/bbc-radio-4-broadcast-enoch-powells-rivers-blood-speech-first/).

I in no way endorse Powell’s views on race, as can be seen from my poem “Kipling May Regret”, https://scvincent.com/2018/03/26/guest-author-kevin-morris-kipling-may-regret/. However the furore over the impending broadcast reminded me that Powell was (as well as being a politician) a poet of some distinction, http://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cheerful-thoughts-from-enoch-powell.html.

We can (and should) separate a man’s views from his literary output. Consequently, while in no way endorsing Powell’s opinions on race, one can appreciate his verse which does, to my mind have echoes of that of A. E. Housman.

Kevin