MONSIEUR JEANETTE / Christio Wijnhard
Coincidentally, I was talking about this city just before the start of the riots in Paris. It was called the city of love. And lights. At least in the past. When I first went there in the 1980s, it was still like that. Years later, when I went there again for my training at the Art Academy, it was a different story. I thought it was a dirty city. The eye-catchers were too busy and the terraces too expensive. I’ve never been there since. I don’t think it has gotten any better either. But that’s an assumption.
Still, I respect that city. Because of the French Revolution. And the way the people repeatedly demand changes. During the aforementioned revolution, the rule of the nobility came to an end. The people stood up for their rights. They do that again now. Led by students.
Although this is a global phenomenon, the riots in Paris are being labeled as a Muslim and migrant action by that international group of rich, old white men. The truth is that young people worldwide are making their voices heard in multiple cities for the same reason. Because they want different. They rightly want better opportunities to lead a normal life. Something that is becoming more and more expensive.
It is also ridiculous what we have now made the norm. That we dare to call that progress while closing our eyes to the fact that the system does not work for us. It is ridiculous that we strive for this in Suriname. Mainly because we don’t do our best to filter out the mistakes they have made and are still making abroad.
The biggest mistake we make is not sufficiently protecting our nature. The disastrous consequences of this are becoming increasingly visible. Our systems are failing too. At least, that’s how it seems. How are we supposed to feel safe when the KPS makes so many blunders? How are we supposed to feel safe in our health when people keep getting sick? And death from an unknown hospital bacterium?
How are we supposed to take ourselves seriously when we keep voting for political leaders and their parties who only enrich themselves? Who only look at their wallets. Who, despite their age, continue to whine on stages and thus do not give young people the opportunity to bring real change?
I am not saying that we should also riot in Suriname. Storming the DNA building was just a political strategy at the time that didn’t bring us anything further. I also think that Suriname is not ready for a real revolution.
In addition, we adopt just the wrong things. For example, the weak rhetoric regarding migrants is adopted. People swear at Cubans, Brazilians and Venezuelans. People don’t look at why they are highly desirable employees.
I find it painful to see that migrants are also being pointed out in South Africa. That they are even forcibly deported from the country. Fortunately, so far, we have not been indoctrinated to that extent. We are brainwashed. Brainwashed to believe that oil and gas are the way forward while the world is practically on fire due to the extractive industry.
Recently our president made a reference to the book ‘How expensive was sugar?’ I think we have to ask ourselves that question about many things in our country. And in the world. How expensive was the oil? How expensive was the wood? How expensive was the gold? How expensive was the rice? How expensive was the plot? How expensive was the drinking water? How expensive was the electricity? How expensive was the training? How expensive was healthcare? How expensive was integrity? How expensive was honesty? How expensive was it to be social? How expensive was the house? How expensive was faith?
When we will take stock at the gates of heaven. Then we will see that the price we paid was never commensurate with what we got in return. But then it’s late.
