Désarroi, déjà roi*?
I read an article in BBC yesterday, it was about the increasing popularity of the extreme-right party, Le Front National, in France. Its supporters is slowly rising in number, lured by the promises thrown by its front man, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Now, Le Pen is the man who once boldly stated that gas chambers in World War II was just "a point of detail", strongly opposed to immigration and, of course, an out-of-closet rascist. Back then when I lived in Europe, he was just someone who shouted for wolves, nobody really listened to him. He was the butt of all political jokes then.
But he changed all the domesticated dogs into wolves. Spinning everything, he played with the basic insecurity that the frenchs always had: jobs. Pointing his fingers to immigrants, accusing them to steal jobs, cuddling the old-school people and waving his middle finger to the youth who really cares. Which is really a problem, because Europe has a good health plan, thus people live longer. Hence the olds outnumber the youngs.
And they would listen to Le Pen. And they would all, God forbids, vote him.
But the problem doesn't stop there.
The other candidats are not exactly good. According to a good friend of mine, Nelly, they are just people who don't consider the youth's expectation. Just some puppets for their own party.
So who are they voting for this April? Anyone but Le Pen.
What does this mean? They're voting for the sake of preventing the bad guy from winning the race.
Why do we have to care about that?
Because it mirrors everything that we, as Indonesians, have experienced with our own political climat. We never really voted someone who really cares about us. We voted someone for the sake of preventing, not believing. And it's sad, really.
My friend said that she cried when she had to choose Jacques Chirac. She did vote him not because she believed in him. Her real candidat was already drowned into the abyss of politic wargames.
Is it really democracy?
Is it really freedom when your shouts is surpressed by the whispers in the parlement building?
Maybe it's time to move our lazy ass and do something about it.
Like a highly political french hip-hop group, Supreme NTM, said, "Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour foutre le feu?" (What are we waiting for to start the fire?)
The question would be, what can you, me, we do?
I can't really tell for the time being. I'm just guessing that we could do something within our own field. I mean, since I work in advertising, all that I can really think I could do is, you know, doing Public Service Announcement ads to support any good political cause. But the thing is, is there really someone who would start that movement out there?
If there is one, if you knew that that kind of cause exist, please contact me, I would be more than happy to lend my hands. Even for free. Pro bono.
Because freedom matters.
Oh, and I have another project in mind that I would unveil as soon as it solidifies. Until then, walk toward your dreams, guys... see y'all.
* Dismay, already king?
Now, Le Pen is the man who once boldly stated that gas chambers in World War II was just "a point of detail", strongly opposed to immigration and, of course, an out-of-closet rascist. Back then when I lived in Europe, he was just someone who shouted for wolves, nobody really listened to him. He was the butt of all political jokes then.
But he changed all the domesticated dogs into wolves. Spinning everything, he played with the basic insecurity that the frenchs always had: jobs. Pointing his fingers to immigrants, accusing them to steal jobs, cuddling the old-school people and waving his middle finger to the youth who really cares. Which is really a problem, because Europe has a good health plan, thus people live longer. Hence the olds outnumber the youngs.
And they would listen to Le Pen. And they would all, God forbids, vote him.
But the problem doesn't stop there.
The other candidats are not exactly good. According to a good friend of mine, Nelly, they are just people who don't consider the youth's expectation. Just some puppets for their own party.
So who are they voting for this April? Anyone but Le Pen.
What does this mean? They're voting for the sake of preventing the bad guy from winning the race.
Why do we have to care about that?
Because it mirrors everything that we, as Indonesians, have experienced with our own political climat. We never really voted someone who really cares about us. We voted someone for the sake of preventing, not believing. And it's sad, really.
My friend said that she cried when she had to choose Jacques Chirac. She did vote him not because she believed in him. Her real candidat was already drowned into the abyss of politic wargames.
Is it really democracy?
Is it really freedom when your shouts is surpressed by the whispers in the parlement building?
Maybe it's time to move our lazy ass and do something about it.
Like a highly political french hip-hop group, Supreme NTM, said, "Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour foutre le feu?" (What are we waiting for to start the fire?)
The question would be, what can you, me, we do?
I can't really tell for the time being. I'm just guessing that we could do something within our own field. I mean, since I work in advertising, all that I can really think I could do is, you know, doing Public Service Announcement ads to support any good political cause. But the thing is, is there really someone who would start that movement out there?
If there is one, if you knew that that kind of cause exist, please contact me, I would be more than happy to lend my hands. Even for free. Pro bono.
Because freedom matters.
Oh, and I have another project in mind that I would unveil as soon as it solidifies. Until then, walk toward your dreams, guys... see y'all.
* Dismay, already king?
posted by rangga @ 12:02 PM
3 Comments:
At 2:56 PM,
Anonymous said…
Gandhi said: Be the change that you want to see in the world.
you've taken the first step to change (patting your back).
question is: how far will you go? is lending a hand when someone asks for it enough? or would you believe in one party enough, to fully support it and get involved? what if that party never surfaces or does not even exist? what will you do next?
ps. this is not an attack, they're merely questions. cos i'm curious :)
At 9:01 AM,
LavanyaLea said…
it's v sad indeed, similarly we have the British National Party over here, which is growing stronger everyday, though it's not like they'll win the election or anything... bt still.
At 3:53 AM,
rangga said…
irma (yeah yeah, I know you... hehehe), the thing is to try to get myself more involved to the good cause, something that might eventually change a thing or two - hopefully more -. It's the snowball effect that I'm expecting... start from small thing to create something big.
I see this problem is getting global, unfortunately. But, adeline, we surely could do more than hope sometimes... the question is are we willing to go through the shites to eventually reach the gold? :)
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