Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Status Quo

France. A lovely country. Nice people, great food, enviable weather. One of the nation’s main sports is complaining. About the economy, racism, food, sports, work, people... everything. They have a natural gift to ask for more and better, whatever the situation. Historically you can see that Europe’s Modern Era came mostly from France. “Le siècle des lumières” lead changes that turned the World into what it is today, for good and for worse.
By then people were aware of that changes implied re-adaptation from all interveners. Back in 1789 the Bastille fell due to the lack of bread in Paris. The city rioted for food and took down monarchy. They knew that only a turmoil will make a difference - and it did. The French say “On a rien sans rien” which means “With nothing you’ll get nothing”. And that’s what they get today while only complaining. Of course this behaviour is common all over the World and not only in France. The desires of change are mostly never followed by an action to actually perform a modification of the desire.
Everybody works in order to sustain oneself even if one is not really happy. Sometimes somebody speaks up but he or she will be quickly taken down in order to avoid a global reaction. Vain responses as people are afraid of changes and to challenge authority. In industrialized countries nobody moves nowadays because they hold on to the little that they have; a house, a car, some money at the end of the month, just a glimpse of something fair and equal. Rarely the real deal. In the end complaining still exists and there is a refusal to risk the crumbles obtained so far. Giving a little something to the masses was the smartest move by the economy rulers - they knew that the masses only move when they have nothing to lose. Or someone crazy enough to take the risk of losing crumbles and win back his dignity as a human being. Making a choice. As the Italians say: “Better to live one day as a lion than one hundred as a sheep”.

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