"What the French strikers want to ignore ... are the economic facts of the end of the twentieth century: 'global capital,' the 'modern service-based economy,' the 'tough new competitive conditions of the twenty-first century,' all of which, the critics say, can be dealt with only by a more 'flexible' labor market. What the French feel is that for the past half century they have done pretty well by not facing reality -- or anyway, but facing it for one moment and then turning their backs on it for another, in a kind of endless inspired whirl through history. France is a uniquely lovely and supple place to live, and there is a reasonable suspicion here that the British and Americans and the Germans are trying to hustle the French into what is called a liberal paradise, but what no one here is quite convinced is so paradisiacal. Even Bernard Thibault, the secretary-general of the cheminots' union, said not long ago that he was willing to negotiate but that his bottom line was 'Citizens must never be transported like merchandise.' In France though, not even the merchandise is transported like merchandise."
-- Adam Gopnik, Paris to the Moon, 1995
Paris, mon petit chou.
You know I love you for your strikes. I love you for your love affair with the way things have always been. I love you for your complete disregard of the practical and productive in the name of the Good and the Fair.
But, darling, how am I supposed to see you if I can't catch a train? I do hope all will be resolved before December 30th. Then we can celebrate the new year. Bonne Annee! For me? Please?
11/20/2007
pour moi? s'il vous plait?
"What the French strikers want to ignore ... are the economic facts of the end of the twentieth century: 'global capital,' the 'modern service-based economy,' the 'tough new competitive conditions of the twenty-first century,' all of which, the critics say, can be dealt with only by a more 'flexible' labor market. What the French feel is that for the past half century they have done pretty well by not facing reality -- or anyway, but facing it for one moment and then turning their backs on it for another, in a kind of endless inspired whirl through history. France is a uniquely lovely and supple place to live, and there is a reasonable suspicion here that the British and Americans and the Germans are trying to hustle the French into what is called a liberal paradise, but what no one here is quite convinced is so paradisiacal. Even Bernard Thibault, the secretary-general of the cheminots' union, said not long ago that he was willing to negotiate but that his bottom line was 'Citizens must never be transported like merchandise.' In France though, not even the merchandise is transported like merchandise."
-- Adam Gopnik, Paris to the Moon, 1995
Paris, mon petit chou.
You know I love you for your strikes. I love you for your love affair with the way things have always been. I love you for your complete disregard of the practical and productive in the name of the Good and the Fair.
But, darling, how am I supposed to see you if I can't catch a train? I do hope all will be resolved before December 30th. Then we can celebrate the new year. Bonne Annee! For me? Please?
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