Somewhere on the road to Hope
Note: A continuation to “Journey to Hope from Destruction”
Listen, child, listen to the words of the Earth. They carry peace, knowledge, and wisdom. Connect with where you are from, and hear the voices of your ancestors. For the sake of your future, you better listen.
What happened to those people whose reality has been robbed? A new system, a new text, a new republic. These were the hopeful words addressed to them. After years of division, the reconciliation brought some fruits, there were six plus one, bringing all the perspectives, time was now to rebuild the land of the river that swallows other rivers. But was the page really turned? Could the people really believe in a new beginning?
On their left, the neighbor was already at work. Despite the trauma of the 100 days, they were prospering, emerging as an oasis in the middle of the dark continent. Who could ever imagine that? The wise said that the sons of the forest only needed a piece of wood to defeat the elephant. Little was known about the means, of course, the end justified them, they said. Little was known about the betrayal, the slaughter, and the rape. All that can be said is that the neighbor understood well the system; to survive, the only way is exploitation. Brotherhood, sisterhood, and family, all collapse, only bilateral, wealth common, and other complicated terms remain. It does not matter where what is being sold comes from, what matters is who is selling it. This sacred principle has been mastered by the neighbor, well taught by the Benefactors.
Ashamed by the progress of the neighbor, the new man in power had to react. Son of the self-proclaimed and late revolutionary, he had to honor the legacy of his ancestors. At least, that is what the people were fed with. For 18 solid years, the reign was confused and confusing. All was done to hide any reminder that the old wound hadn’t healed. More impressive though was the sophistication of the puppets, they could now say things without being told to do so. Their consciousness sold, they did not need orders anymore, and they did it all willingly. Who can blame them? They too understood the system. Only the mass of people did not get it, yet they still wanted to feel heard.
Change they wanted, change they got, just a different version. As strong as concrete, he rose, the man with no past, with no father, but with a mouth. Some rebuked that choice, but the words of the new man were irresistible. Who could resist someone who gives things for free? Who could resist the positive masculinity champion? Who could resist all the promises, especially after such a crazy decade? They all believed. Then crises came and they started to doubt.
Nobody should be blamed for their decision to survive. Is it a sin to hope for the best even when your womb is being emptied in front of the whole world? Is it an outrage to pray for the rain of peace in the middle of the arid desert of chaos and bullets? All these people have done was to exist, but what could the world be without them? In a few more years, we will find out. Can we say that their reality will forever be in the hands of others to manipulate? Does the word “hope” really mean anything to them? Will it ever translate into “resistance”?
The Earth is crying, thunders are roaring, and nature is in rage. Listen to it children, learn from it. Our time will come soon, but these stories should continue being passed down. One day, God only knows, our people will enjoy peacefully the fruits of their lands. Until then the forest, the mountains, and the rivers will fight. Until then the leopard, the lion, and the buffalo will fight. Until then the brothers, the sisters, and all our people will fight.
