Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
And the prompt photo, which this week is provided courtesy of Roger Bultot.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below.
© Roger Bultot
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Democracy
On July 14th France celebrates its national day.
Barriers surround the Champs-Élysées.
Across the country, in every town, there are similar defences, manned by armed security forces.
Nice 2016 looms large.
Does anyone believe that the War on Terror is being won?
In the French capital something even worse takes place.
Those responsible for our protection have an additional task.
They prevent entry to anyone whose clothes are predominantly yellow.
The Gilets Jaunes are still stubbornly supported here.
But this is clearly state abuse of power, censoring their own citizens’ rights.
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.
Boos and whistles greet Monsieur Macron.
Sound Bite Fiction 
Governments fail the people more and more these days, becoming fat and lazy and rich like the royalty of old. And when people hurt…
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The pendulum swings again. Just when you think the state of affairs is evening out. A good story well written, C.E. —- Suzanne
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The pendulum is swinging further to the extreme right than ever before, I think, Suzanne. As I mention elsewhere, the excuse ‘for your security’ is being used by too many governments to impose restrictions on individual liberty.
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Ah, history, don’tcha just love it. There are no answers.
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Or perhaps there are, Patrick
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It is truly a sad state of affairs when government does everything to shut freedom of speech and rights of the people. Sadly this does not only happen in France.
Well done, Sir.
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A universal problem, I agree, as our governments move further and further to the right, using ‘your security’ as an excuse for eroding our rights and freedoms.
Thank you for your comment, Dale
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It’s a very fine line between keeping order and brutalizing protesters. Even following orders gives people a choice to follow with thought and consideration, or to use it as an excuse for brutality and power games. At least in a democracy. (I’m also referring to your comment on my entry this week). It’s far from a black and white situation.
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Lines can be blurred, I agree, but the removal of basic human rights is, as far as I’m concerned, very black and white. It is not for any government to dictate what people can and cannot wear, and peaceful protest is fundamental to a healthy democracy.
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I agree with the protests, but not with the symbol. My government forbids to wear swastikas or other Nazi symbols, and I stand behind that. Symbols are strong.
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I am somewhat confused now, Gabriele, there are no swastikas or any other Nazi symbols involved here. The only identifier is the colour yellow, which comes from the yellow safety vests (gilets jaunes) that all motorists in France are required by law to carry in their cars. This is not a right wing movement, quite the reverse, this is a populist of the people for the people protest.
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My remark was more of a general nature, not directly related to the yellow jackets. I agree with the right for peaceful protest, as a human right, that is what I meant. But I also understand if certain symbols are banned. Like the swastika in my country. I doubt that the yellow jackets are a strong enough symbol for such measures (yet) especially since they combine so many different demands and tendencies. I’d not call them a peaceful movement though, after all the arson and destruction, call for police to kill themselves, and antisemitism, especially in the beginning. According to our media, both, the far left and the far right are involved. Still, all of this doesn’t justify the over-the-board violent response by the authrities. So my agreeing with you about the human right issues hasn’t changed but I still claim that this is far from a black-and-white situation.
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Interesting to read this from the comfort of another red-white-and-blue country mad to display the power of the state over symbols, as if the destruction of symbols could suppress the ideas that underlie them. Our president was supposedly inspired by one of Macron’s Bastille Day parades to park a tank or two to the vicinity of this year’s 4th of July (independence Day) parade. Unheard of!
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Like peas in a pod, aren’t they?
And soon Boris will join this collection of power-crazy egomaniacs.
What a comfort!
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Applause for a powerful piece of writing, CE.
We need, somehow, a way of preserving and promulgating liberal values in the face of oppression. Teachers will be in the front line, I suspect, with writers close behind. The trouble is that democracy – while being the least-worst system of government – no longer seems adequate to cope with the modern world. But what could replace it?
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Thank you so much, Penny.
In my view the problem with our democracies is that they have all, perhaps inevitably, been corrupted by, and are now controlled by, the world-wide oligarchy of the mega-rich.
Time for the revolution?
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The world seems to be in a state of protest right now, but fighting for ‘freedoms’ is our obligation as citizens. (At least in my opinion). It’s certainly part of life here in Hong Kong. I found myself in the middle of things the other day and let me tell you pepper spray is not comfortable to the eyes. I like your second to the last line!
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Thank you, Brenda, we are very much in agreement here.
I find it unutterably sad that probably the greatest national motto is being so abused.
And, Brenda, please stay safe.
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Sad but becoming a fact of life everywhere.
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But, my good sir, is it a necessary fact of life?
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one could only wonder where the world is heading. are we really ready to drain the swamp?
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My thoughts exactly, sir, but the controlling factions remain unperturbed as their wealth grows with unrest.
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War on terror is an ideological war. Difficult to win. Not possible to win the mind either. It is kill or be killed. Sorry state.
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To my mind the war is already lost when individual freedoms are removed by the state.
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Removal of individual liberty cause or effect?
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The world is going mad, its contagious, yellow is an ace colour, to curtail it is bananas which ironically are yellow
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Thank you, sir, for your injection of much needed humour!
But we agree with how things are moving.
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It seems the whole world has gone crazy. You captured that in your story.
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Thanks, Alicia, perhaps it is time for us to resist more.
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Tu n’aurais pas des origines françaises ??? 🇫🇷
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Rire.
Non, madame, mais tu sais comme j’adore ce pays.
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The world has gone nuts. How many people have the yellows killed? Blown up? Yeah their the real enemy of the people…
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They’re*
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Well put, Tannille, they are a non-violent movement ‘of the people for the people’.
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The elite aren’t happy, heaven forbid they have resistance…
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Such a wonderful country, such a complex history and social mix. The ongoing battle between the State and the people shows no sign of abating, though I think Monsieur Macron may not survive beyond the next election.
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It is a great country, Iain, but somehow here, as in a couple of major anglophone nations, the government is moving to the right.
Propaganda is a powerful tool.
And the president is merely the mouthpiece of his financier masters, cf Boris and the hedge funds.
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When the sitting government orders the police force to remove all traces of yellow and arrest its carrier/wearer on the Champs Elysees or vicinity, one can reasonably wonder about its mental health and its fundamental understanding of the Declaration of Human Rights.
And so it was that, July 14th this year, cops knifed yellow balloons, demanded removal of yellow T-shirts, pins, and whatever. Absurd. ‘Strategic neutralization’ included pre-emptive arrests.
After the parade the LBD-40 and gas grenades came out again to clear the Champs Elysees.
Welcome to the Free Democratic Republic inspired by 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and A Brave New World,
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As you know, Em, human rights are less important to our leaders than control.
The events in Paris are ‘insupportable’ and yet ignored by what we used to call the ‘Free Press’.
But, of course, the same money controls the press, our governments and, increasingly, the minutiae of our daily lives.
Thank you for your contribution, Em, much appreciated.
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You are saying so much with this – had to read the piece a few times. Well done.
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Thank you, Colline.
Daily, all over the world, individual freedoms are being taken away ‘for your security’.
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It seems that power corrupts, yellow for ever
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The Gilets Jaunes are fighting against the absolute corruption of absolute power.
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I love the observation that Bastille Day is celebrated with barriers
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This irony is lost on the state, Neil, much as the erosion of freedom is ignored in the Land of the Free.
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Dear CE.
Chaos runs rampant…sadly everywhere. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think, m’lady, that chaos would be preferable to totalitarian control.
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