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This is from a friend of mine in Paris. Her English is sometimes a little wobbly.
This is her point of view on whats happened in the last 3 days..
-----------
Manifestation against Le Pen / Facism, Paris 22nd April 6pm
I went yesterday with a friend of mine. I would have leave the
manifestation after 20 minutes if she hadn't be there. All this youth in the street. All these people from left, from right. Communist, anti-racist, green, students, workers. You could think they will all get united against fascism. I was expecting a manifestation colourless. Just to say no.
But it was without thinking of how french people were, and still are.
Big heart, but small brains! They need to find somebody guilty of what's happening. For some it is Jospin, for others Chirac, for others people who didn't go to vote Sunday, for others all of them. But, of course, nobody say "it's my fault" or "it's our fault".
We need to build a new constitution, a new Republik. It's revolting that
Chirac will be president in France for another 5 years even if the
justice has got enough proof of his dishonnesty to send him to jail. But
he's got immunity...and will have more or less 80% of votes the 5th of
May.
It's revolting that people who shouted loudly in the street yesterday
"No to the facism", who fight against the ideas of the National Front,
acted like these people, insulting the police, because, it's known for a
fact (didn't you know???), all policemen are ba****ds and racists. How
did we arrive there??
I went to the manifestation to say each person is different, we can't
associate a group fo person just because they're Arabs, or Black, or
even English...
...And I heard people judging all policemen as facist. Which credibility do they think they've got by acting like the ones they're fighting?
Where is the lesson we need to learn after allowing Le Pen being present
in the 2nd turn of the presidential elections in a country, heart of the
occidentale democracy according to the Ivory Cost (??)?
I wanted to say to you that we are loads ready to fight properly, for a
real democracy, with a president who won't be a thief nor a facist.
We are loads to be ashamed because we didn't vote on Sunday, so sure the
2nd turn would oppose Chirac and Jospin. We are loads to be ashamed because we have been waiting for years to see somebody who would interest us in politic.
Instead of saying loudly what we wanted.... We left the political life,
thinking it would live without us. It doesn't for the best reason: we
are our country's future. This gave us the will and the strength to participate really at the building of a new politic. With new men and women. We're fed up with old rotten things who are under the politic lights since we were born.
We want the France colourfull as she is now. But we don't want the same
politics to guide us nor decide important things without thinking or
consulting the people. We are ready to fight for a real democracy, for freedom, for tolerance,for a strong France, all together. When the changes will happen, Le Pen will just be a bad, scary souvenir.
You can say around you that the "Fall of France" according to the Times
isn't there yet. France still got a heart, which is beating for each of its children, whatever the colour, whatever the origin, as long as they are building a democracy.
This is her point of view on whats happened in the last 3 days..
-----------
Manifestation against Le Pen / Facism, Paris 22nd April 6pm
I went yesterday with a friend of mine. I would have leave the
manifestation after 20 minutes if she hadn't be there. All this youth in the street. All these people from left, from right. Communist, anti-racist, green, students, workers. You could think they will all get united against fascism. I was expecting a manifestation colourless. Just to say no.
But it was without thinking of how french people were, and still are.
Big heart, but small brains! They need to find somebody guilty of what's happening. For some it is Jospin, for others Chirac, for others people who didn't go to vote Sunday, for others all of them. But, of course, nobody say "it's my fault" or "it's our fault".
We need to build a new constitution, a new Republik. It's revolting that
Chirac will be president in France for another 5 years even if the
justice has got enough proof of his dishonnesty to send him to jail. But
he's got immunity...and will have more or less 80% of votes the 5th of
May.
It's revolting that people who shouted loudly in the street yesterday
"No to the facism", who fight against the ideas of the National Front,
acted like these people, insulting the police, because, it's known for a
fact (didn't you know???), all policemen are ba****ds and racists. How
did we arrive there??
I went to the manifestation to say each person is different, we can't
associate a group fo person just because they're Arabs, or Black, or
even English...
...And I heard people judging all policemen as facist. Which credibility do they think they've got by acting like the ones they're fighting?
Where is the lesson we need to learn after allowing Le Pen being present
in the 2nd turn of the presidential elections in a country, heart of the
occidentale democracy according to the Ivory Cost (??)?
I wanted to say to you that we are loads ready to fight properly, for a
real democracy, with a president who won't be a thief nor a facist.
We are loads to be ashamed because we didn't vote on Sunday, so sure the
2nd turn would oppose Chirac and Jospin. We are loads to be ashamed because we have been waiting for years to see somebody who would interest us in politic.
Instead of saying loudly what we wanted.... We left the political life,
thinking it would live without us. It doesn't for the best reason: we
are our country's future. This gave us the will and the strength to participate really at the building of a new politic. With new men and women. We're fed up with old rotten things who are under the politic lights since we were born.
We want the France colourfull as she is now. But we don't want the same
politics to guide us nor decide important things without thinking or
consulting the people. We are ready to fight for a real democracy, for freedom, for tolerance,for a strong France, all together. When the changes will happen, Le Pen will just be a bad, scary souvenir.
You can say around you that the "Fall of France" according to the Times
isn't there yet. France still got a heart, which is beating for each of its children, whatever the colour, whatever the origin, as long as they are building a democracy.
It appears that the french are in a lose, lose situation. I would preferr it if chirac gets in rather than le pen, but we will have to see what we happen.
And that's how Far Right groups get in.
Happened in Berlin in 1930's, happened here with the BNP getting seats and is happening in France.
Apathy.
Nobody cares or pays attention, "Ah it'll fix itself, I'm too busy watching tv/playing video games/looking out for myself", and it causes a feeling of disinfranchisement.
All it takes is for a bigot to step up and say "Look at the state of this country, and it's all their fault! (pointing at foreign nationals) and you have a mob willing to pound the foreigner for the fact that their own lethargy caused the loss of the things they like.
It's the simplest and oldest trick in the book:
"It's not your fault you have a crap job. It's not your fault you haven't gotten everything in life you want whilst doing nothing yourself...it's those damn dirty foreigners"
And before you know it, Right-Wing parties are in control and there's not a damn thing you can do about it.
Race-Hate is the easiest excuse and solution for making a bunch of people feel better about the fact they've not got much themselves.
Happened in Berlin in 1930's, happened here with the BNP getting seats and is happening in France.
Apathy.
Nobody cares or pays attention, "Ah it'll fix itself, I'm too busy watching tv/playing video games/looking out for myself", and it causes a feeling of disinfranchisement.
All it takes is for a bigot to step up and say "Look at the state of this country, and it's all their fault! (pointing at foreign nationals) and you have a mob willing to pound the foreigner for the fact that their own lethargy caused the loss of the things they like.
It's the simplest and oldest trick in the book:
"It's not your fault you have a crap job. It's not your fault you haven't gotten everything in life you want whilst doing nothing yourself...it's those damn dirty foreigners"
And before you know it, Right-Wing parties are in control and there's not a damn thing you can do about it.
Race-Hate is the easiest excuse and solution for making a bunch of people feel better about the fact they've not got much themselves.
The lowest turnout in a long time.
Situations like the one in France make you realise that you do have a voice, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is.
Its too late to cry over something you didn't make the effort to change.
Situations like the one in France make you realise that you do have a voice, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is.
Its too late to cry over something you didn't make the effort to change.
Interesting read.
What I took from that, especially the end, is that voter apathy meant nobody bothered to vote against this situation.
They assumed it would just fix itself.
And, as we've seen, that doesn't work like that.
Which, once more, brings me back to my usual battle-cry of "Get involved for chrissakes. Take a side, but get involved".
The old Jewish proverb "Get involved. Doesn't matter what side but do not become an observer"
Otherwise you're left with a situation you don't like but can do nothing about.
What I took from that, especially the end, is that voter apathy meant nobody bothered to vote against this situation.
They assumed it would just fix itself.
And, as we've seen, that doesn't work like that.
Which, once more, brings me back to my usual battle-cry of "Get involved for chrissakes. Take a side, but get involved".
The old Jewish proverb "Get involved. Doesn't matter what side but do not become an observer"
Otherwise you're left with a situation you don't like but can do nothing about.
This is from a friend of mine in Paris. Her English is sometimes a little wobbly.
This is her point of view on whats happened in the last 3 days..
-----------
Manifestation against Le Pen / Facism, Paris 22nd April 6pm
I went yesterday with a friend of mine. I would have leave the
manifestation after 20 minutes if she hadn't be there. All this youth in the street. All these people from left, from right. Communist, anti-racist, green, students, workers. You could think they will all get united against fascism. I was expecting a manifestation colourless. Just to say no.
But it was without thinking of how french people were, and still are.
Big heart, but small brains! They need to find somebody guilty of what's happening. For some it is Jospin, for others Chirac, for others people who didn't go to vote Sunday, for others all of them. But, of course, nobody say "it's my fault" or "it's our fault".
We need to build a new constitution, a new Republik. It's revolting that
Chirac will be president in France for another 5 years even if the
justice has got enough proof of his dishonnesty to send him to jail. But
he's got immunity...and will have more or less 80% of votes the 5th of
May.
It's revolting that people who shouted loudly in the street yesterday
"No to the facism", who fight against the ideas of the National Front,
acted like these people, insulting the police, because, it's known for a
fact (didn't you know???), all policemen are ba****ds and racists. How
did we arrive there??
I went to the manifestation to say each person is different, we can't
associate a group fo person just because they're Arabs, or Black, or
even English...
...And I heard people judging all policemen as facist. Which credibility do they think they've got by acting like the ones they're fighting?
Where is the lesson we need to learn after allowing Le Pen being present
in the 2nd turn of the presidential elections in a country, heart of the
occidentale democracy according to the Ivory Cost (??)?
I wanted to say to you that we are loads ready to fight properly, for a
real democracy, with a president who won't be a thief nor a facist.
We are loads to be ashamed because we didn't vote on Sunday, so sure the
2nd turn would oppose Chirac and Jospin. We are loads to be ashamed because we have been waiting for years to see somebody who would interest us in politic.
Instead of saying loudly what we wanted.... We left the political life,
thinking it would live without us. It doesn't for the best reason: we
are our country's future. This gave us the will and the strength to participate really at the building of a new politic. With new men and women. We're fed up with old rotten things who are under the politic lights since we were born.
We want the France colourfull as she is now. But we don't want the same
politics to guide us nor decide important things without thinking or
consulting the people. We are ready to fight for a real democracy, for freedom, for tolerance,for a strong France, all together. When the changes will happen, Le Pen will just be a bad, scary souvenir.
You can say around you that the "Fall of France" according to the Times
isn't there yet. France still got a heart, which is beating for each of its children, whatever the colour, whatever the origin, as long as they are building a democracy.
This is her point of view on whats happened in the last 3 days..
-----------
Manifestation against Le Pen / Facism, Paris 22nd April 6pm
I went yesterday with a friend of mine. I would have leave the
manifestation after 20 minutes if she hadn't be there. All this youth in the street. All these people from left, from right. Communist, anti-racist, green, students, workers. You could think they will all get united against fascism. I was expecting a manifestation colourless. Just to say no.
But it was without thinking of how french people were, and still are.
Big heart, but small brains! They need to find somebody guilty of what's happening. For some it is Jospin, for others Chirac, for others people who didn't go to vote Sunday, for others all of them. But, of course, nobody say "it's my fault" or "it's our fault".
We need to build a new constitution, a new Republik. It's revolting that
Chirac will be president in France for another 5 years even if the
justice has got enough proof of his dishonnesty to send him to jail. But
he's got immunity...and will have more or less 80% of votes the 5th of
May.
It's revolting that people who shouted loudly in the street yesterday
"No to the facism", who fight against the ideas of the National Front,
acted like these people, insulting the police, because, it's known for a
fact (didn't you know???), all policemen are ba****ds and racists. How
did we arrive there??
I went to the manifestation to say each person is different, we can't
associate a group fo person just because they're Arabs, or Black, or
even English...
...And I heard people judging all policemen as facist. Which credibility do they think they've got by acting like the ones they're fighting?
Where is the lesson we need to learn after allowing Le Pen being present
in the 2nd turn of the presidential elections in a country, heart of the
occidentale democracy according to the Ivory Cost (??)?
I wanted to say to you that we are loads ready to fight properly, for a
real democracy, with a president who won't be a thief nor a facist.
We are loads to be ashamed because we didn't vote on Sunday, so sure the
2nd turn would oppose Chirac and Jospin. We are loads to be ashamed because we have been waiting for years to see somebody who would interest us in politic.
Instead of saying loudly what we wanted.... We left the political life,
thinking it would live without us. It doesn't for the best reason: we
are our country's future. This gave us the will and the strength to participate really at the building of a new politic. With new men and women. We're fed up with old rotten things who are under the politic lights since we were born.
We want the France colourfull as she is now. But we don't want the same
politics to guide us nor decide important things without thinking or
consulting the people. We are ready to fight for a real democracy, for freedom, for tolerance,for a strong France, all together. When the changes will happen, Le Pen will just be a bad, scary souvenir.
You can say around you that the "Fall of France" according to the Times
isn't there yet. France still got a heart, which is beating for each of its children, whatever the colour, whatever the origin, as long as they are building a democracy.