The huge crowds political parties are able to pull have always impressed me. This might be showing the extent to which we rely on politics to improve our quality of life. We could ask ourselves what immediate personal benefits we do draw from such gatherings. On a long term basis, during meeting we hear from those who ambition to serve us or those who are already doing so.The information we gather help us in making the choice when time comes. Lately, having weighed the capacity of politicians in creating awareness about their parties,their colours, creed and symbols, I had a quite simplistic but not so unrealistic dream. I dreamt about all political organizations coming together for a week at the table of brotherhood and solidarity to create similar awareness about those serious evils which are slowly but surely stealing our humanity.

I saw massive crowds being warned against drugs, violence, reckless driving and their likes by those who they like and trust. They all were happy because they all had learnt something which would be of a lifelong and immediate benefit to them.

Then a sudden bang pulled me out of my deep sleep. A car had just hit against someone pulling a cart filled with metal refuse. The cart driver was not wounded but he was shaking probably from withdrawal rather than from the shock? Prevention being better than cure, would it not be advisable to invest more fund and energy in creating awareness against the evils gnawing our society ? This is a consideration which comes beyond all policies and politics because this is where we determine whether our life in our country will be a dream or a nightmare.

Alain JEANNOT