“Porton Down”
(Her Majesty’s
Government Chemical Weapons Establishment)
What did you do today Daddy?
Mummy
and me had a lovely time
We
went to the park
The
sun was bright, the clouds were white
The
sky, was Oh! so blue
There
was nice green grass
Beautiful
flowers, big tall trees
Singing
birds and buzzing bees
What
did you do today Daddy?
The Scientist:
I
had a lovely time today darling
I
tested X today, darling
I
wore a pure white coat, black rubber boots and gloves
And
a shiny black mask
I
squirted X on a little white rabbit
And
I watched it kick, scream, bleed, vomit, squirm and die
Nobody
questioned, nobody asked
I
can but wonder why
I
had a lovely time today, darling
I
tested X today, darling
I’m
hungry; I’ll wash my hands and eat now
Ask
Mummy, what’s for tea today, darling.
What did you do today Daddy?
The Workers:
I
had a lovely time today, darling
I
helped make X today, darling
I
pressed a button; I turned a switch; I pulled a lever
I
picked it up; I put it down; I turned it round;
I
inspected it;
I
poured it out; I bottled it;
I
stored it;
I
only typed the work schedules; I only made the tea;
I
only manned the switchboard, anyone can see;
I
lifted it; I moved it from here to there;
Where’s
it going? I know not where
As
long as we are alright, darling, I
just don’t care
I
had a lovely time today, darling
I
helped make X today, darling
I’m
hungry; I’ll wash my hands and eat now
Ask
Mummy, what’s for tea today, darling.
What did you do today Daddy?
Parliament:
I
had a boring time today, darling
I
helped make X today, darling
I
sat in the House of Commons, the People’s Parliament
I
saw the WHIPS today, darling, and voted as was meant
Forgive
me, darling, I’m not bold
I
vote, the way I’m told
I
helped make X today, darling
I’m
hungry; I must wash my hands and eat now
Ask
Mummy, what’s for tea today, darling
What did you do today Daddy?
Everyman:
Today,
as everyday, darling
I
helped make X today, darling
I
conformed
I
paid my taxes
I
obeyed the law
From
life and responsibility, I abstain
From
participation, I withdraw
I
helped make X today, darling
I’m
hungry; I’ll wash my hands and eat now
Ask
Mummy, what’s for tea today, darling
What did you do today Daddy?
The dissident.
Today
I saw news on TV and I despair, darling
In
dissent, I tried once more
To
stop all war
In
hearts and minds, darling
I’m
sick, I cannot think, I cannot bear
Those
Kurdish
children, dead, just lying there
Hear
the protests “We’re not to blame
For this crime committed, in
our name”
Yet,
all are guilty, just the same
I
try each day to stop X, darling
If
I say ‘NO’ I have my say
Taxation,
if I refuse to pay
Will
stop all wars, darling
From
screaming ‘STOP’ my throats real sore
Participation,
tis the Rule of Law
I’m
so tired
I’ll
try and eat now
Ask
Mummy, what’s for tea today, darling.
When I wrote this, I wrote “X” as above. We now know
it to be, “VX”
Its real name isn’t important. What is important, is
to recognize, that in the life of Humankind, it seems, that there will always be an “X”
Throughout my life I have always wondered: How can any
Human being become involved in the filth
and obscenity of the creation and production of conventional, nuclear, or
chemical weapons?
How do they do it? - And - What do they say to their
children when they go home each night; when that child says:
What
have you been doing today, Daddy?
For myself, I am convinced: If you are involved in the
creation of weaponry - in any way - YOU, are always responsible, for what those
weapons do.
Gordonj
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