France is hurt, France is trying to heal

‘Les Gilets Jaunes’ (The Yellow Jackets) is a French movement – revolution as some may call it – which began after the French government decided to raise fuel prices.

This movement has inspired many other foreigners such as British, regarding the Brexit but also as far as in America.

When did it start?

It started in November 2018 but started to come together in October and have been impressively regular ever since. It kicked off as a big passive demonstration on Saturdays, but really got furthered and became destructive demonstrations week after week. They become part of history as it is the longest-running insurgency since 1789, and the most serious social movement since 1968. Whether it is raining, sunny or snowing, there wasn’t even a slight lack of commitment.

Why is France so despised by foreigners?

Truthfully, France might not lose tourists, but it did lose some respect from other countries. Emmanuel Macron [political profile] is undergoing a very hard time for his career as the French people want him to give up the presidency, which would lead to suppressing the V^th Republic thus creating the VI^th Republic. Macron is seen as “too young” for this role and said to have “sold dreams to the people, and everyone believed him as he is roughly the same age as us” said Bérangère Henry, 42 years old living in Belfort, France.

“I really can’t imagine how we are perceived abroad…” with a cracking voice-tone, Nathalie Prévos, devastated 47 year-old-lady living in a small town in Mandeure, France shared her opinion on how impactful this movement has been in France.

Is this movement really necessary?

There is no doubt that the motives of the demonstrations are comprehensible and fair. However, was the way of expressing it right?

As much as we’d all like to live in a love-and-peace world, such a demonstration is often likely to get violent and impacting on people’s mind and the country’s ambience. But as many people sadly thought, the brutality and heartless behaviour that some have used to express their anger was quite shocking and unnecessary. So far, this demonstration can count a minimum of 10 deaths. The destruction of public goods, the fires, the fights, the confrontation against police officers weren’t reflecting on how most people wanted to get their message heard. But there is no demonstration that will be taken seriously without a certain dose of violence.

Being all aware of the consequences, all the damages will be repaired with the money from French citizens taxes, repaired by the French people who also were revolted by the whole price rise but who did not decide to destroy public goods or even, personal goods. “I agree with the manifestations, but I blame people for having me to repair their damages”, Jacques Perreira said, living in Paris.

France isn’t living its best part of history. Indeed, it started off 2019 with revolted, exhausted and desperate French citizens. Emmanuel Macron isn’t leading the country as French were hoping he would. But in a more professional and journalistic view, he also suppressed about 76 journalists’ freedom of speech and from doing their job. Which reflects more and more why his position is questioned and his capability of leading a country.

Sam Tabahriti