At the risk of disrupting the suspense of
this horror story, I have to upload this episode to add reality to justify the
claim of ‘True story’ after having linked my ordeal to supernatural. I was in distress, but part of me still refused
to believe that my near death encounter had been premediated…until my new acquaintance
enlightened me as to the harsh reality of lives of workers in France.
My host was a French couple in a cozy
apartment in Montmartre. The man spoke
several languages and his conversation revealed his intelligence. He seemed a reliable character that I was not
a bit surprised that he had once been elected as a union leader. However, that was the beginning of his
ordeal. He fell victim to a horrendous power
harassment from his superiors. The
French laws have, in fact, factored in this scenario and provide legal
protection for union leaders, but the employers would always find a loop
hole. Of which details I cannot write
here to protect his identity but the harassment got so cruel that he too sensed
murderous intention. Thus he had no
difficulty believing my ordeal to be premediated. The
host continued in a resigned manner, ‘France is divided into two sectors: the
privileged elites and the workers whose lives mean very little to the elites.’
It was not the first time I heard this sad phrase. There had been another French young artist
who said the same thing to me at a party.
I had just arrived in Paris with high hopes while he was uprooting
himself so that his family could start a new life in USA. So long as he stayed in France, his ideas
would forever be crushed by the rich brats who are protected by the extensive
connections of their fathers. His talent
was, however, appreciated in USA. He was
scouted and thus he left the elitist system that let him down behind. I thought it was an isolated case, but one
could not remain naïve for long in Paris.
I was already suffering Sound Hyper Sensitive condition which triggers
palpation at hearing any noise of high or low frequency because Mr. Pride and the
restaurant from Hell did not give a toss about my well-being. My host, the former victim of power harassment,
was also left with a permanent condition which disables him to work at his peak
level.
This encounter has changed my views on the infamous
frequent strikes by the French workers. I
realize that they were NOT lazy bunches making demands at the expense of the
commuters or tourists. They were
desperately fighting for their life, literally.
And their carelessness for details is not because they are inept, but
because the system has robbed them of any hope for a better life. Promotion is only for the rich or privileged, no
matter how well you do your work. To
make their situation more exhausting is the immigrants who continue to hit
their work place. I am aware that my
poor French speaking and hearing make it difficult for the French people who
have to deal with me. Had I been at a
work place, the tasks of teaching me and fixing my mistakes would have been
arduous for my work mates. I vowed to
remember this if I ever caught French people on their bad days. I would still be hurt but this new ‘understanding
of their reality’ would help me forget the pain quickly.
To be
continued.
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