Fidgety Knitting

Heading for a Showdown

Yes people I live smack dab in the middle of the OK Corral (following along from my western theme of Friday night's John Wayne Roundup gone WAY THE FUCK wrong). Never one for being a shrinking violet or anywhere else but the center of it all. Nope not me.

So now that I am back to watching the international news... I know that you all are hearing about the unrest and dissatisfaction being expressed here in France about the youth employment law (CPE). Since I have also gotten some curiosity questions on it here is my 3 run-on-grammatically-incorrect-sentences rundown of the issue.

Yes there are people of all persuasions (I am admittedly left, but tolerant) and many say that the French need to liberalise their market to be more like the captialist market economies of the US (instead of the state/dirigiste system that France was built on), they surely need to adapt a bit more to the international/global system- but so do lots of other places, including the US. But the US isn't a golden model that ensures job growth, this law is not addressing the serious issues in the French market, it targets an already precarious and disadvantaged sector of the population, you don't tamper with other countries fundamental founding father principles lightly, and one of the major issues in this law that gets no recognition is that anyone under 26 during the first 2 years of employment could be fired with out cause. That is simply wrong, and unacceptable; the least they deserve (when there aren't a lot of other jobs out there waiting for them, and they don't get full unemployment entitlements) is to be fired with just cause. Not untraceably for potentially discriminatory reasons, which is the main issue the youth that this law was intended to help (in response to the riots of November) are subject to.

So today despite everything else, and his I am going to have two days of conciliatory meetings to see if that will shut them up strategy... Ministre de Villepin has stated that the law is going into effect and everything is set up for a showdown. The guns are pointed and later this week there could be a general and national strike. Personally while the strike can make life in and around town shitty, I am all for it. I don't think the law is a pancea, I do believe it will do more harm than good, but also for another and I think important reason. This form of protest and organised striking in response to governmental action ensures in a way that the public are involved in their future and their country. In my opinion that prevents the apathy I see rampant in the US and concerns me the most. So I will put up with a strike so that this country can run their exercise in TRUE democracy.

And really de Villepin has balls, I have to give him that. Now I don't think he is doing it for the right reason, but you know when they clang you can't ignore that sound ching ching happens. He is standing up to look "strong" in relation to Sarkozy for next year's Presidential election. Yes boys and girls we are back to the politics of pissing on territory for impressional values. God I miss studying/analysing this shit. Granted he went about this the wrong way (no concertation nor discussion, even in the Parliament, which are BIG NO NO's here in France) and underestimated the youth sentiments and especially their opposition. He is also betting that the protests of last weekend were the worst of it and that by putting things into effect it will die down. One chancy bet if you ask me. Should a public strike starts up this week (particularly in transports) it is going to get fun people lots of fun!

Oh wait I have show down knitting too! Leave it to me to weave a theme! I didn't work in evil empire marketing for nothing!! Yup I am happy to report that I am zooming along on my Cutaway knitting. This is going to be the PERFECT (and hopefully not itchy alpaca) Spring little black cardigan sweater. That is should Spring ever get her act together and show up...

The sweater bits are getting closer and closer to being DONE. I have one front done up to an armpit. Then I decided to start front two so that I could be schizophrenic, attempt to feel like I was going faster, look like I had done more and avoid having to use any brain power to do decreases for the armhole and vneck at the same time. What can I say, I was low on reserves last night and not in the mood to rip. I didn't take a picture either because these bits NEED blocking so it is jut a bunch of black rolls as we speak. And I am not photographically talented enough to make those images interesting. One day I will be I hope :)

I have started front two, asked the Oracle of this lovely pattern a tech question (cause she is the Techknit Goddess) and will be running with it tonight. Showdown dates are to try and get the parts up and done (sans finishing and extra ribbing) by Friday so that I can hit the TBM on Saturday. crazier things have happened and if there is a Metro strike I sure will have more knitting time! (Well that is if I can put my reading down, I am currently re-reading the Feminine Mystique again. If there is a list of books I would suggest every human should read, this would be on the top of it. The book amazes, astounds, enrages and resonates with me more and more. Support Women's History Month, take the time to pay hommage to the late Betty Friedman and read :)

Let's see what this doggie has in her :)

Posted by Stinkerbell at March 21, 2006 01:21 PM | TrackBack