Hello ladies and gentlemen. "Long time no see". So I'd say let's get straight into business.
Over the last year we came to find just how much the stories of the tin foil hat adepts were right when it comes to governments snooping into people's lives were real. Quite a lot. From who you call, when, from where,to actively censor the internet in countries deemed as developed, for alleged reasons varying from U.S. national security to protecting the children in U.K.One of the pioneers and ardent supporters in Europe, France, had it's own "drag net fishing" operation too. And as such, with great pleasure I watch people fighting back, knowingly or not. One example of less knowingly started last year,and now it just went insane. And that is the affair of the French president Hollande. Far from being tethered to such news, and even finding them obnoxious in general, I do relish the idea of people in power getting a taste of their own medicine. Everyone is entitled to privacy. EXCEPT when by yourself you decide to place yourself into a position generally known to be associated with tabloid cross hairs.Say you're an actor. The level of your success, as being cast for movies, and how well would they perform in box office or even on pirate websites is dependant on how much people like you. And to be liked you generally need to be known. So like it or not, if you want to be an actor, expect photographers around. Another position like this is reserved for politicians. Granted, once elected you can do whatever you want, but the essence that people placed you in that position remains. You cannot just take,you have to give. So while you take a free house, free all, cars with drivers, travels and fine dining, it is obscene to believe that the people that elected you don't want anything in return. At the end of the day you're deciding their fate. How much do they earn, how are they taxed, freedom of expression and so on. So as a president, you trade your privacy for all the perks and the place in history being it good or bad. If you think otherwise, you're severely deluded. Like being an actor, your job is not mandatory. No one forces you to become president. It's your aspiration and achievement hunger.
In this particular case,it is not even anything trivial. It's not invading a president's privacy to find out if he wears red socks or even if he goes "wabbit huntin" (although not liked by some, in reality not all people will like anyone as a whole).In this case is cheating. A soft, love specific verb for betrayal. So if you're telling me that people that gave you power should not look at what you do,especially when what you do is breaking promises and vows, you're out of your mind. It is a treat of character. How can you be trusted with the future of some people that elected you, people you never met and let's be honest,you most likely don't really give a crap about, when your partner, the person who is supposed to know you better than anyone...who's supposed to be your all, gets hospitalized as a result of your actions? You cannot be trusted. And the public is entitled to know it. You're a freaking president, so rules don't apply in the same manner. You cannot be prosecuted, and if a person kills you, they won't be treated like they just killed anyone. You're special. In this case, a bad kind of special.
To summarize, I do not condone a privacy infringement for a regular Joe, or even for a neighbour that I dislike.But when it comes to people running a country and with a power to impact other lives (see Syria), I think that the lack of privacy is not only not absurd, but it is required.
So, Hollande, when you're not a public figure, do whatever you like, blow up cars and dolls, sign up for Gangbang Weekly, I don't care. Until then, face the probe of whatever journalist for whatever reasons, and see how it feels to be on the receiving end of something you support with zealotry.
Photo:
http://empiresandallies.wikia.com/
