The Consent of Shadows

Every day, we are confronted with moral dilemmas that challenge our conscience, and courage, precious as a jewel, stands as the ultimate act of resistance. As complacency spreads and the fear of speaking out stifles voices, there come moments when lukewarmness is simply not an option.

Many, faced with a game that is clearly rigged, choose to look away and play along with this deceitful charade. They cloak themselves in resignation, excused by a feigned ignorance, and wear their masks with deceptive ease. Their gaze, falsely blinded, prefers the convenient adornment of blindness, where compromise gently envelops them, avoiding the tumultuous burden of revolt. They convince themselves that all was well when it was not.

There are silences that soothe and others that afflict. Indignation, far from being an act of daring, should emerge as an obvious response, the first arrow in a liberating salvo. The choice of silence often comes with the excuse that it is neither the place nor the time to speak, when in truth, every place and every moment should bear the truth. So many events over the past years should have sparked our indignation, yet they dissipated in almost universal apathy. How sad it is to see so much courage lost. When a country falters, it is often the reflection of past decisions that, subtly, have paved the way to disaster.

In a world where silence can be interpreted as tacit approval, speaking out, even at the risk of isolation, is an act of courage. These silences contribute to a collective unease, favoring the safety of acquiescence over the pursuit of justice. True bravery lies in speaking out, in the audacity to express oneself even at the cost of ostracism. It is infinitely better to stand alone, resolute and proud, than to passively submit to the crowd.

If our perspective is subjective, it is thus reflective of our stances. Influence, exercised judiciously, must support worthy causes, without pretension or arrogance, but with conviction. It is these consenting silences, these tacit acceptances, the anesthetizing comfort of acquiescence that fuel the gears of a discordant world.

France is shaped by the enriching perspectives of Maryse Condé, with her narratives that weave connections between various cultures and eras; by that of Aimé Césaire, where poetry resonates powerfully for dignity and recognition; by that of Alexandre Dumas, where the complexity of identities and the richness of human interactions are revealed in stories of vibrant universality; by that of Victor Hugo, whose works, imbued with idealism and humanity, reflect the struggles and hopes of an eternal France; by that of François Sureau, who skillfully explores the nuances of freedom and justice. To these visions is added that of Albert Camus, marked by a quest for meaning amidst the absurd, highlighting resilience and individual freedom in the face of existential challenges. This collective vision of France, resisting sad passions, firmly believes in its capabilities, in a nation that refuses to be divided by its differences but strives instead to value what unifies it.

May the fear of others' judgment never stifle your drive. Courage inspires the brave and challenges the timid. A truly united nation cannot tolerate current deleterious policies, nor the false promises of sorcerer’s apprentices whose only projects are to encourage withdrawal into oneself.

The people, while not always right, often have the last word, for better or for worse. Remember this at all times.

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