I respect the impulse that can make people respond to a humanitarian appeal of this nature. I would suggest that all those who are inclined to do so think very carefully.

A young Iraqi boy named Ali, lost all his immediate family during the Allied air attacks upon Iraq. He also lost both arms. Following a great deal of press coverage, TV and so on, he was evacuated first of all to (I think) Kuwait, and ultimately to the UK where he has been fitted with prosthetic limbs.

While he was in hospital in Kuwait, he was the object of much media coverage - to the extent that he received gifts and toys from all over the world. The TV news story that outraged me the most was that he was so pleased to receive a wonderful gift - a Sony Playstation.
A Playstation - for a boy with no hands. Truly inspired. What genius thought that one up?

"I want to be able to drive a car, God willing," he said.
His uncle also said "He just wants to be a normal boy, God williing".

This song came out of that. I know it's rather harsh, but I was, and still am, angry...

Give Him Time - Steven Clark

There's a boy out playing on a street
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
having too much fun to come inside and eat.
Give him time, God willing, give him time

The boy has dreams he doesn't like to tell
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
He'll be a doctor and he'll make the sick folk well
Give him time, God willing, give him time

Came the missiles, came the aeroplanes
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
And hidden hands unleashed a fiery rain
Give him time, God willing, give him time

The boy is lying, on a hospital bed
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
The doctor says that he'd be better dead
Give him time, God willing, give him time

Across the world, he's on the TV screens
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
Folk send him gifts and money to wipe their conscience clean
Give him time, God willing, give him time

The boy has toys and games he just can't wait to play
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
It's so much harder since we burned his arms away
Give him time, God willing, give him time

So when they call for war to end a tyrant's reign
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
Ask yourself the reason and what they stand to gain
Give him time, God willing, give him time

There's a boy patrolling down a street
Could be yours, God help us, could be mine
He wonders how you tell a victory from defeat
Give him time, God willing, give him time


All the best


Steven