A Red Flag / Un Drapeau Rouge

Society, Uncategorized 1 Minute

A Red Flag

A Virginian mayor in America said a six year-old child  shooting a teacher at school raised a red flag. What number of red flags should have been deployed in all the schools, buildings, shops and streets at a time when multiple shots were fired? On how many people and over how many years?
No need to fool anyone. A red flag is a warning sign. What happened isn’t an alert to danger.  Everyone in the world is fully alarmed at the thought of these fatal events. No need for flags. Of any colour. The shots, the world has heard them.

Un Drapeau Rouge

Un maire Américain en Virginie dit qu’un enfant de six ans qui a tué sa maitresse devrait faire lever un drapeau ‘rouge’ haut. Le drapeau ‘rouge’ est un signal d’alarme. Combien donc de drapeaux faudrait-il avoir levé haut dans les écoles, les rues, les bâtiments et les magasins, lorsque multiples coups furent tirés. Sur combien de personnes, pendant combien d’ années?
Ne vous-trompez pas.  Ce qui s’est passé n’est pas une alerte au danger.  Le monde entier fut conscient de tous les  évènements. Plus besoin de lever haut aucun drapeau. Les coups de feu, le monde entier les a entendu.

Published by Yayi-Australie

I am a French-born Australian linguist who loves writing about multicultural experiences. Taught English in Zambia and Papua New Guinea, gained a Doctorate with UPNG. In Western Australia I worked with migrants and Indigenous communities in Kalgoorlie and Roebourne. In charge of Amnesty International WA, then moved to Adelaide. Short-listed by The Human Rights Commission for the Literature NF Award for the anthology I edited with the Multicultural Writers Association of Australia, I later published my memoir. Volunteered with the Writers Centre, became active with PEN.

Published