Revolution - ... when?

Years ago, I heard a joke, which until today is still in my mind; The most important jewish thinkers and their philosophies. First came Moses, and said that "Everything that is important comes from the mind". Then came Jesus, and said that "everything that is improtant comes from the heart". Followed by Marx, stating that "everything that is important comes from the belly" (Notice, that physically the level goes down each step). Then came Freud proclaiming that "everything of importance comes from the genitals". Finally came Einstein: "Everything is relative". A joke is a joke, yet somewhat, I see a certain line in the story, which came across during todays conversation.

During the truck demonstrations in Bratislava for the past few days, we happen to talk to many different kinds of people. All very supportive and - fortunately - of good mind. Somehow one asks oneself, why is a nation so passive, while every one you meet is sufficiently critical? On Facebook, we find currently more than 54 thousand followers, (and still counting) when arriving at the site of the demonstrators hardly 20 of them are to be found.

Mr Fico's government has for many years a cummulative record of controversies, which would instantaneously make any decent western citizen his jaw drop on the ground. Causes of hording wealth, covering up in a case of battering of a young Hungarian student girl, which until today is unsolved and dodgy. Illegally handled tenders. School reforms which are merely wasting of time and resources instead of managing a true reform (for improving education). A Minister of Justice with drug mafia connections, becoming the boss of the Supreme Court (against regulations). A coalition partner, using vulgar languange to minorities to a police-officer, without being reprimanded for it, Up to the two recent scandals.

Any decent society would have sent these politicians behind bars. Yet nobody hardly attempted. Opposition is paralysed, far from united, and things go on day by day in the old fashioned way. Why is then this truck drivers demonstration suddenly a trigger for - albeit through virtual channels - a relatively massive popular movement (for the time being)?

No matter, how destructive Fico's policies will show in future, this is still too abstract for society to realise. The fact that truck drivers pointed at dramatical increases of e.g. food in your local supermarket makes people suddenly see the dangers.

From biblical times on, we know (at least for those who truly read the Holy Book) how important it is to support your neighbour in need, the elder, etc. It is the foundation of Judaism and consequently Christianity. Yet it was neither this Biblical given nor the Humanist movement that moved masses to revolutions, but rather the fact that famine and misery. The belly (stomach then). True, the French revolution was indeed sparked from a shortage of wheat - thus no more bread. Marx motivated masses, who were suffering in the dark and dangerous factories as a result of the uncontrolled expansion of industrial technology. So from the head, heart, the stomach seems prominent enough.

So despite of immoral behaviour, will Slovakia only get on their feet when it will directly affect their wallet or shopping-cart? Let's hope that somehow, they can see a bit further beyond this limited horizon and realise the long term value of the fruits of a moral government. And the government comes forth from society.

MS