We can do better should not just be words, it should be our goal!

28.06.2020

A long time ago a dear friend of mine, a writer, told me that when you send your writing into the cosmo it stops belonging to you and becomes the readers interpetation.

For many years I did  not publish anything because I did not want people to change the meaning of my writing when they began to have their own opinions.

This was long time ago before I started fighting for better situation on behalf of the poor and those who were not able to lead proper lives when they became senior citizens in Iceland.

You would assume that in the country, where everything seems to be ok and the scenery is beautiful, there would not be any poverty.

Sadly there are poor people in Iceland, just like in any other countries.

There are people who live under poverty and don´t have food on their plates every day of the month.

There are people in Iceland that don´t have a proper home, and some don´t have work, many of the homeless are well educated people that have lost their ground during some disaster and there is no way for them to get back on track.

This cannot be! you might say

Sadly, this is true, I wish it was not.

Sadly many Icelandic people have left their homeland and now live abroad simply to survive.

Those, many of them, have families in Iceland and friends, and they miss them every day of the year.

You would think that one of the riches countries in the world would take care of their people, all of their people. Sadly, that is not the case. Sadly, the rich, the few percentages are the one who suck all the money to themselves and don´t give a damn about the poor ones.

Is it possible to change this situation?

I believe it is.

I believe that we, the common people, can if we stick together. If we are united we can concur the world.

The reason I began writing about the situation in Iceland, many years after I left the country to live abroad, is that I feel it is my duty to fight.

Sometimes I get scolded for my writing. Sometimes I get thank you for my writing. Sometimes I don´t get any response at all, but it is worth it.

I can go to bed in the night and know that I have at least tried.

A couple of days ago there was a fire in the capital of Iceland and a house where foreigners lived burned. At least 3 lost their lives. The others are homeless. Greedy people stacked those foreign workers into a house where the conditions did not fulfil human beings needs. Too many people lived in a tiny space. Too many people had to pay a lot for this unhuman way they had to accept. The nation is devastated today because of this accident.

Sadly, not much will change. The greed will continue. The poverty will continue.

But, let’s hope that those who lost their lives and those who lost their homes will be a symbol and encouragement to the people in Iceland to rise up as one and demonstrate. We can do better, should not just be words. It should be a goal.

Hulda Björnsdóttir