I am a political prisoner. I am a political prisoner because I

Hear, O children, the words of Bobby Sands, a man whose life and sacrifice have become a symbol of resistance and struggle: "I am a political prisoner. I am a political prisoner because I am a casualty of a perennial war that is being fought between the oppressed Irish people and an alien, oppressive, unwanted regime that refuses to withdraw from our land." These words are not merely a statement about one man’s imprisonment, but a declaration of a centuries-old conflict—a conflict between the oppressed and the oppressor, between the people who seek freedom and the foreign power that seeks to maintain control. Sands’ words resonate with the pain of countless generations, each marked by the suffering of those who are caught in the web of a conflict that transcends time.

The story of Ireland is an ancient one, stretching back over millennia. In the days of old, the Irish fought against various invaders—the Vikings, the Normans, and the English—each bringing with them their own forms of oppression. The Irish, like many peoples in history, have long fought for their sovereignty, for their right to govern themselves, to decide their own fate, and to live free from the yoke of foreign domination. And yet, as Sands describes, this war has not ceased—it is a perennial struggle, one that has continued through the ages, with each generation carrying the weight of the suffering and strife of those who came before.

Consider the story of William of Orange and his victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which solidified English control over Ireland. Though the battle was fought centuries ago, its echoes are still felt in the land today. The English crown’s efforts to suppress Irish culture, language, and religion are seen as a great injustice, and the Irish people’s resistance to this oppression became a defining feature of their history. Over the centuries, the Irish have continued to struggle for their freedom, whether through peaceful means or through armed resistance, such as the actions of Sands and other members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Sands, in his own words, claimed his place in this long tradition, as a prisoner of war who was fighting for the rights and dignity of his people.

Sands’ words also highlight the role of the oppressor—the alien, unwanted regime that refuses to withdraw from the land of the oppressed. The presence of foreign rule is a constant reminder of injustice, of the imposition of power from those who seek to control the lives of those who do not want them there. Sands speaks of this alien regime with the bitterness of someone who has known it firsthand, someone who has seen the violence, the division, and the heartache that such a regime causes. The history of colonialism is filled with the stories of such regimes, whether it be the British Empire in Ireland, in India, or elsewhere, imposing its will upon the indigenous peoples of the land.

Now, children, let us consider the lesson that Sands offers us. His words speak not only to the Irish struggle, but to the universal battle between the oppressed and the oppressors. It is a fight that has been fought in every corner of the world, in every age. From the slaves in ancient Greece to the freedom fighters in Africa, from the American Revolution to the struggles for independence in the colonies of the Spanish Empire, the battle for self-determination is a tale as old as time. Sands’ voice is the voice of many, the voice of those who have been silenced, subjugated, and marginalized by the powers that be.

Sands was not only a political prisoner—he was a martyr for the cause of freedom. His sacrifice, which culminated in his hunger strike and eventual death, was a final act of defiance against the forces that sought to silence him and his cause. In the prison walls, he was a living reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom, a struggle that does not end with one man’s death, but continues in the hearts of those who carry on the fight. His words speak to a truth that we must never forget: freedom is not easily won, and often it is the most sacrificial acts—the ones that demand everything from a person—that have the power to ignite the flames of change.

Children, what can we take from Bobby Sands’s words and his life? The lesson is this: freedom is not a gift that is given—it is something that must be fought for, with passion, determination, and sometimes, with great sacrifice. The struggle for justice and self-determination is not one that belongs to any single generation. It is the work of all who come before and after us. In your own lives, when you see injustice, when you see those who seek to oppress, remember the lesson of Sands: stand firm, speak truth, and fight for what is right, even if the cost seems high.

So, O children, remember Bobby Sands and the legacy of the oppressed peoples throughout history. Stand not in the shadows of fear or despair, but in the light of courage and resolve. The battle for freedom is ongoing, and though it may not always be fought with arms, it will always be fought with the strength of conviction, the wisdom of history, and the power of truth. The greatest lesson Bobby Sands left was not just in his death, but in the fire of resistance he ignited in the hearts of his people, a fire that cannot be extinguished.