Juillet 14 - La Fete National
Posted by
lifeinparis
Posted on: 07/14/08
Juillet 14 - La Fete National
Today is the national holiday, much like July4th. I've never been here in France to celebrate this day and it's really been quite a celebration. People have been wandering the streets of Paris watching Parades, and waiting for firecrackers. There were some differences though, the Parade was strictly Military, no large floaty balloons. One marching band led the line of military personnel and vehicles down the Champs Elysee. The mood was bizarre as my french friend kept pointing out how we were there to celebrate the killing machines. He also kept talking about how much Petrol (gas) Americans use in comparison to the rest of the world. And it made me want to talk less about the grand 4th of July Parades we have in the states. I was on the defense, but in some ways, I just can't argue away the fact that the American lifestyle in general has been pretty extravagant over the last 40 years. I can argue that we are on the verge of change, while France is still following in our bad example. But it's hard to gage how much Americans really are willing to change. I know many who are having money problems right now and learning to scale back and live simpler. I know many my age (30's) who don't want to climb the corporate latter or possess finer things... but rather want to contribute to society in a meaningful way. This responsibility to society doesn't just stop at National level, but involves a global scale as well.I also know many who still think beaucoup about what they can buy, consume, earn, and pay little attention to the cost. I have no judgement on this as I'm constantly being called on out in this mentality by my life here. I feel as though I'm living more simply than ever, and yet I tend to still leave the lights on or appear callous to my french friends about the problems with the environment. I told Alexandre today that he was being "lourd" - heavy, lecturing, fixating on the subject of the global petrol issue. But one thing he said keeps sticking in my mind - he said that if China decided to live the way we have, that the rest of the world is screwed. Since we've used 1/4 of the world's oil and we are no where near as numbered. If they decided to live our lifestyle, the rest of the planet would be out in in the cold.
I've never thought about it like this. It sounds really harsh, like our extravagent lifestyle was a selfish choice. I've wanted to thinkour past has not been selfish, but rather what any country would have chosen given the success we've had. We really were ignorant of the impact our consumtion might have on others. Though maybe this the definition of selfish, not caring about others.
Regardless, I don't agree with his ideas of what might happen globally if china wants to live the American lifestyle of the past 40 years.I believe in the power of humanity and in Americans to put alternate energy sources to good use and be off Petrol in 30 years time. Maybe it'd be a bit rocky waiting for this, but I know Americans to be pretty resourceful.
Am I being too idealistic with Americans? Am I being too optimistic with the changes that seem on the horizon for America? Perhaps there are still many Americans who are unaware of the responsibility we have to a global community.
Further, Am I being too optimistic to hope that the changes on the horizon could be for the whole human race, the whole planet, not just one country?
As it's Bastille day, I'm reminded of how difficult change can be. This day commemorates when the citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille Prison to release what they thought was hoards of political prisoners who wanted an end to hunger and oppression. They were tired of a upper class that enjoyed all the benefits while the lower class did all the work.
The aggressive act worked in that they successfully took control of the Prison and launded the French Revolution in 1789. However, in reality there were only 7 prisoners, 4 of which had written bad checks.
While the revolution seems like a good idea in principal, it relied heavily on propaganda and be-headings. And soon the citizens of France grew tired of this violence, and another revolt overran the tyrannical leaders of the revolt, and so on and so forth through out last 300 years as the regime changed back and forth from monarchy to republic - both systems giving much the same results. And what has changed really? France has one of the most socialist systems in the world, and yet many claim still that the wealth in the hands of the few.
As my friend was talking today, I was forced to wonder if all the facts and figures he produced were truly accurate. Given history, us commoners rarely know what's actually happening at the top. And propaganda works both ways, even in the pro-environment camp. When it starts illiciting a fear response, a condemning attitude, a reason to feel separate, isn't at the moment morphing into the age old human plague?
I want to believe that our world can change. That our governments can start cooperating with each other, sharing resources and ending wars. I want to believe in this, but I also don't want to be naive.
Something I can believe in is the power to change my life as an individual. Somedays it's seems just as impossible as changing world politics. Today in fact it does.. as my mind seems bent on bad habits of thinking.
But as I watched the fireworks from my balcony, I was reminded that just when things look their worst, they usually get better. Relief comes in the most unexpected ways. And I don't want to spend la Bastille day comparing France to American (cause the US of A baby will win every time:) I'd rather watch the lights in the sky, feu d'artifice, something the chinese invented years ago and experience a few moments of peace.
lifeinparis
6
share
subscribe
contact
subscribe
RSS
Leave a Comment