The tragedy is great, but the self-reproach seems absurd:
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Pope Francis has described the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Italy as a “disgrace”.
‘‘The word disgrace comes to me,’’ the Pope said during an audience, calling for prayers on behalf of the dead and their families. ‘‘Let us unite our efforts so that similar tragedies do not happen again. Only a decided collaboration among all can help to stop them.’’
The ship carrying African migrants to Europe caught fire and capsized on Thursday off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, killing at least 133 people as hundreds were dumped into the sea, officials said.
In fact, the boat people may have set fire to their own vessel:
It is thought that some of those on board set fire to a piece of material to try to attract the attention of passing ships, only to have the fire spread to the rest of the boat.
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There is much to admire in this Pope and much to regret in this drowning. But the Pope’s reaction reminds me of the Jean Raspail’s brilliant and brutally confronting 1971 satire (or indictment), Camp of the Saints, describing how Europe, frozen with self-loathing, greets an Armada of one million boat people sailing in to help itself to the riches of the West:
Continue reading Lets set the boats on fire so they don’t have to…!
















