A photo of uyghurs in manacles in ChinaA Poem on Uyghur Concentration Camps: ‘All Aboard’ by Cheryl Corey The Society May 17, 2021 Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry 5 Comments . Two by two, the Uyghur stand in long Lines. They carry nothing to call their own, The final destination, a great unknown, A distant, re-education labor camp, To spend their days and nights in toil For state and corporate masters. Kept as slaves Until—that’s if, escaping early graves, They stoically renounce their faith as wrong; Only then might they receive a stamp Approving their return to native soil. . . Cheryl Corey’s recent credits include the current issue of Iconoclast and www.grand-little-things.com. Other publications include Iambs & Trochees, Deronda, The NeoVictorian/Cochlea, The Comstock Review, Mobius, and Time of Singing. In 2007 she received 1st Place for the Dylan Thomas Award and Honorable Mention for the June Kraeft Memorial Award in The World Order of Narrative and Formalist Poets contest. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 5 Responses Joseph S. Salemi May 17, 2021 The genocidal intentions of the Chinese Communist Party towards the Uyghurs are now pretty solidly confirmed. What’s curious is the silence of so many interested parties here in the West about the matter, as if they were wary of saying anything against the proponents of “The New Silk Road” initiative. Reply Cheryl Corey May 18, 2021 Indeed. As I wrote this piece, I found it difficult to capture the true gravity of what is taking place. That story, no doubt, would best be written by its survivors. Despite centuries of war, slavery, and genocide, man’s inhumanity to man continues unabated; and as you point out, Professor Salemi, too many in our enlightened West have selective outrage. Reply Paul Freeman May 18, 2021 I get the impression the Uyghur situation did not initially get the coverage it deserved because they are a Muslim ethnic minority. However, the scale of the ethnic cleansing is mind-boggling and has brought the world up to speed. Thanks for bringing more attention to the Uyghur people’s plight, Cheryl. There was a BBC programme a couple of years back showing what goes on in these ‘Schools of Transformation’. It was scary. Reply Laxman rao May 18, 2021 What Paul freeman says UYGHURS ethnic cleansing and genocide continues, unclaimed by the origin natives of Pakistan, as if they are kith and kin of China and foes forever of India, look at the eradication- the treatment meted with that of Hindus in Pakistan – it’s the same. The silence of Pakistan should be the outrage of human – common voice. Reply hello world May 22, 2021 yeah, I to uygur, In china-East Turkestan Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Joseph S. Salemi May 17, 2021 The genocidal intentions of the Chinese Communist Party towards the Uyghurs are now pretty solidly confirmed. What’s curious is the silence of so many interested parties here in the West about the matter, as if they were wary of saying anything against the proponents of “The New Silk Road” initiative. Reply
Cheryl Corey May 18, 2021 Indeed. As I wrote this piece, I found it difficult to capture the true gravity of what is taking place. That story, no doubt, would best be written by its survivors. Despite centuries of war, slavery, and genocide, man’s inhumanity to man continues unabated; and as you point out, Professor Salemi, too many in our enlightened West have selective outrage. Reply
Paul Freeman May 18, 2021 I get the impression the Uyghur situation did not initially get the coverage it deserved because they are a Muslim ethnic minority. However, the scale of the ethnic cleansing is mind-boggling and has brought the world up to speed. Thanks for bringing more attention to the Uyghur people’s plight, Cheryl. There was a BBC programme a couple of years back showing what goes on in these ‘Schools of Transformation’. It was scary. Reply
Laxman rao May 18, 2021 What Paul freeman says UYGHURS ethnic cleansing and genocide continues, unclaimed by the origin natives of Pakistan, as if they are kith and kin of China and foes forever of India, look at the eradication- the treatment meted with that of Hindus in Pakistan – it’s the same. The silence of Pakistan should be the outrage of human – common voice. Reply
