More Procrastination

Premiers rendez vous de manifestation pour le mardi 4 avril
67 - BAS-RHIN Strasbourg. Manifestation à 14h, Place Kléber.

I note that I'm a bit behind in my blogging: nothing about the "Stop CPE" demonstration a week ago; nothing about the Conseil Constitutionnel's favorable opinion in the CPE's legality; nothing about Chirac's surreal speech Friday evening, nor about the reactions, commentaries, and analyses it generated. For good measure, I should also include some facts and ideas from relevent books and articles I've read.

But first, are the trains running today? Can I go to Strasbourg to demonstrate if I want to (and hurry)? Actually, that is one thing I wanted to say about the strikes and demonstrations last Tuesday: the SNCF has exemplary customer relationship management in such cases. The altered schedules are posted the day before. For instance, they currently announce

• TGV to/from Paris : 2 of 3
• TGV in Province (not Paris): 1 of 3
• Thalys (international express trains): normal service
• Eurostar (to London) : normal service
• LYRIA (Paris – Zurich – Lausanne): Service Normal
• TGV Paris – Genève : 4 of 7
• ARTESIA (France – Italie) : Service normal
• ELIPSOS (France – Espagne) : Service normal
• . . .
• and the list goes on and on

Meanwhile, I think I've de facto chosen not to go: I've missed the last train that arrives in Strasbourg before 14:00.

Why march?	Why not march?
To avoid any apparent weakening of support that might encourage Chirac to think his manoeuver worked.	Doubtful effectiveness.
It is a nice day (blue sky, not rainy like last week) for a stroll through Strasbourg.	Tension and confrontation could well rise, since Chirac signed the law into effect despite the massive demonstrations of popular opposition and weak business support.
I think this law is bad, not just the CPE, and should not have been railroaded through.	I think trying to cling to the CDI "entitlement" is futile, and I do not share that goal with the other demonstrators.
Favoring employment of the young could make it even harder for the less young to find or keep employment.	I'm not under twenty-six, and although I could (again) demonstrate as a parent of under-twenty-six year-olds, they themselves aren't demonstrating.
My good character and serious and thoughtful demeanor might improve the tone of the crowd, and reduce the likelihood of transformation to a mob.	I dislike the attitude of many demonstrators: what does beer have to do with it? This is not a party, a festival, a sports event. Different protocols for different events. Demonstrating is a job to be done well.

Conclusion: I hope enough others attend today that my absence will go unnoticed.

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Tags: CPE | France