January Tales Of Wonderland

There was a vision in Drazdy recently.

As if countless crowds suddenly rushed forward, in just one direction — towards the local sea. By the thoroughly guarded object, any accidental approach to which rings the alarm bells on the spot. And all these people were moving silently, ceremoniously and with dignity. A weird procession without any banners or flags. A very determined one though.

Secret services, naturally, are totally in a loss. Shall they disperse those people or announce general mobilization at once? However, the chief pro in dispersals has already arrived. He eyed the crowd and the surroundings through a hole in the fence. And made the verdict: no direct threat. These are simple pilgrims from the East. From some unknown countries. Their faces look bright and gracious. With traces of spirituality. Let them go.

It’s easy to say: let them go! What if it turns out later that it was a non-sanctioned demonstration? And all these gracious and spiritual people had ice-axes and Molotov cocktails under their chlamys? Investigations who missed the threat will start. Epaulets will start falling down. And there will be other consequences. So they decided to catch a “punching bag”. Caught, interrogated.

Have mercy, he begged, what cocktails? There’s a tale around the world of your country being a real social state! The country for living — everyone should see it. Every day ordinary people get gifts from the authorities. Hardly have they managed to finish construction of the new presidential residence with mysterious signs, which the people have dreamed about for so long, that another present is coming — a hospital for 100 million dollars. Like, it was allegedly built for the top bosses, but is in fact available to everyone! So we climbed out of the ice-hole to have just one look at this unbelievable miracle. To feed own jealousy a little. In a good, kind way.

They freed the pilgrim with peace. What could they incriminate against him if his words fully coincided with the ideological vector of the rulers? Given this another thought, the pilgrim was right. We live a good life, our neighbours are envious. Stability and inspiration! And if someone still questions the successes of our country and its unique government, let them spend a day in front of the local TV screens. They will go wild with happiness.

Some shortcomings may happen, right. Not everyone is happy. A pensioner from Brest recently sent a letter, tragically unmatched with the aforementioned ideological vector, to the Belaruskaya Gazeta. “There is no such cynical, horrible attitude to the older generation in any more or less civilized country. The miserly pensions have been practically equalized, and they do not reflect the former level of wages or work experience in any way. They are not charged, but appointed for anything, but not for real work, contribution. In what other countries is it possible that people who have worked practically double pensionable experience, with a decent salary, remained humiliated, poor and absolutely unprotected? “

Surprisingly enough, the ruler did answer all the questions. Long before the letter came. This breathtaking reply was voiced in his New Year’s address to the happiest country ever. “And you, the older generation, will have no time to think about peace and rest. We need you, especially now.”

What a passage! He just knocked them down! Such a template conversation with an answering machine. Wait, you will not be forgotten. Life is beautiful, spring is coming. Everything is wonderful. Where are you, the pilgrims from the East? Come and visit our merry circus! You will be told an uncomparable tale how our beautiful country unbeliavably easily overcame the crisis, planted by the evil enemies. The road to flourishing is clear. Everyone is needed. Everybody’s happy. The people and the party are united. Go forward, grow higher!

Last spring, when mass protests broke out against the clumsy actions of this self-righteous and arrogant power, independent journalists in the streets and squares shot a lot of interviews. Different cities, different people. And the stories are similar. In many respects resembling the one that is set out in a letter from a pensioner from Brest. The protesters laughed at the old “$ 500 for everyone” story and talked about how they have to survive for real wages of $ 300, 200 and even 100. And there was no difference in whether it were retired people or young specialists who received a compulsory appointment together with a diploma, where the caring authorities prepared everything for them, except worthy earnings. And the future, of course.

Writing letters, asking questions to officials is useless. They all have one answer: no money. How come? .. A well-known economist clearly and precisely formulated the topical question: where did the $ 70 billion disappear? Over the past twelve years, Belarus has received loans of $ 40 billion. Moreover, the GDP fell by 30 billion. And after such successes they are going to prosper, staying in power?

Money doesn’t disappear without traces. Especially big money. It just goes from one account to the other. And the eternal reply of the pro-governmental illusionists about the alleged absense of money only means that they somehow miraculously flopped over to those who prepared another breathtaking trick in our hilarious circus.

We are neither the first nor the last to fall into such trap, invented by the allegedly elected authorities. The experience of those who managed to break through it is clear and simple. If you are fed up with the endless crisis, change the management.

And if this seems too difficult and absolutely unacceptable, there’s another way. A simple and reliable one. Visit our merry circle once again, watch the same show of the same old imposters. Traceless disappearance of the money always impresses. If this is not enough, go and see the officials’ hospital for $ 100 million, with a crowd of pilgrims. It’s for the people, right?

However, there’s a point: curious ones, those who want equality should watch out not to miss the sacral sign. It’s at the reception, where old ladies and gentlemen and other discontent pensioners choose to crowd. It’s written there with the Old Church Slavonic letters: “Administration thanks you for NOT queuing after the Leader”.

It’s obligatory both in the hospital and in the country!

Uladzimir Khalip, specially for the Charter97.org