Greetings, I have been in touch with French friends regarding the on-going protests, and thought some Futurework members might be interested (read emails bottom up):
--------------- LATEST EMAIL IN THIS SERIES: Lawry said: Yes, this makes sense. The USA as the canary in the mineshaft..... In the old days (was it the same in Europe?) the miners would take canaries in cages down into the mines. The canaries would die if there was carbon monoxide present before it reached levels dangerous to the miners, so they could escape in time. But then what is the USA/canary warning the world? What can be the solutions to its warnings? Globalization has created an uncertain monster, and isolationism is, almost by definition, not possible in a globalizing world, unless a society has a great sense of integrity and willingness to pay the cost of a just social system. I dont think the USA has that integrity; selfishness is too accepted (often under the pretense of righteously seeking the lowest price for goods, or ones right to make as much profit as possible). Your description of Jose and Odiles experience of the demonstrations suggests that perhaps France has it (Au barricades!). But the idea of social integrity must be joined by French leaders, including those of the right wings, for it to work. I will be interested in your sense of American society when you come fin dete. Maybe you will be the next de Toqueville. The USA needs a serious look at itself. Laurent ________________________________________ From: Loren Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 12:51 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: France unrest Laurent, Je ne suis pas allée aux manifestations car j'étais trop faible, mais j'y serais bien allée. Odile et Jose sont allés à 1 ou 2, ils m'ont raconté la super ambiance, l'esprit de solidarité et de convivialité qui régnait dans les défilés. Si je travaille au Louvre alors que ça n'est pas passionnant, c'est que je suis sur le chemin de la titularisation ; si tout s'est bien passé jusqu'à début 2007, je serai définitivement intégrée au Ministère de la Culture et je n'aurai plus à craindre les licenciements et tout autre forme de précarité, you see?... Nous [Français] sommes partis pour rejoindre votre [USA] niveau social et c'est pour ça qu'autant de monde est descendu dans la rue, nous en avons bien conscience. Il me semble que la seule classe dirigeante désormais sont les actionnaires. Anne ---------------- EARLIEST EMAIL IN THIS SERIES: Lawrence de Bivort <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> a écrit : Are you much affected by the protests and strikes? I am watching the news from France with growing concern. How can France find a response to globalization that serves all its people. In the US, of course, we have the same challenge, but the idea of collective social responsibility is far weaker here, and the lives of employees generally sacrificed to the interests of employers. _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
