<div class=text-justify>


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/drrune/23y8wwmxwDDyz9eWASAcyokms5wXsof54eRZsFzbTDk35w7s6KKkiuHBkFZg4qVhZ6Mf2.png)


France is burning, literally. The Macron administration imposed a pensions reform that increased the retirement age by two years, sparking public uproar and causing strikes at the most basic level of French society. Paris and other cities are filled with garbage which angry protesters have set ablaze in clashes against the police. It's doubtful that such rage was the product of the reform, though; far likelier to consider that this was just the trigger of boiling civil dissatisfaction probably predating Macron by a few years or decades.

Social media is blazing with support for this outburst of anger and chilling references to the French Revolution abound. So far, nobody seems to be willing to talk about the real motivations behind this mess and, even more importantly, its consequences. In times of chaos, anything goes and, although the cause of labor unions and the general public seems justified enough, such contexts are ripe for the intervention of all kinds of interests. It's good to remember that the French Revolution gave us Robespierre and enabled Napoleon. The truth is that a collective should never reach the point of frustration when they feel that the only way to be heard is screaming and breaking things, that's a sign of a broken nation and broken nations can't be mended with fire.


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/drrune/243g391HZBF8WhX2YzNGXnxtBGJdkmg7kMaZs627Bhe4JfadrH6MHtzmv164XQVh8iqEp.png)


As a Venezuelan, I see what's happening over there with both excitement and mistrust. **[It was a situation very much like it](https://peakd.com/hive-181017/@drrune/ancestral-lessons-in-my-countrys-process)** which led to the rise of chavismo in my country. I can totally imagine Marine Le Pen or any other populist leader taking advantage of this issue to seize power in a few years and bring France (and with it, the European Union) to its knees.

So why am I excited? Because nothing happens without purpose and this is merely one more aspect of the general collapse of the system we've been using for our civilization. In other words, this has to happen, it's the only way that the French and the world may learn important lessons that can't be learned otherwise, just like our experience here in my country. It may yet bring much toil and many people may yet suffer its consequences, but ultimately, it'll be for the betterment of humanity. I won't cheer for it, but I'll watch it closely.

Like today's Rune says, oppression invites rebellion and the victims often become the tyrants when they can't face up to their trauma and fear. Well, this is how such confrontations take place, especially when the pain and the anger have been repressed for a long time. So, I encourage you to observe how these events unfold but don't get too engaged with the rhetoric of heroism and social justice, the underlying reality is probably much darker and nuanced than can readily be seen at the moment.

---

![IMG_20230322_160738.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/drrune/23tmFznAof2oQRgL8AFshS9VsLgE7pQJLYtQaSdzpFuvDuYF5T42cosjbNDGUFmwnubgM.jpg)

##### <center>Rune of the Day: Tiwaz inverted</center>

Injustice breeds and sustains disharmony, no balance can be attained through mayhem. Focused action requires a clear purpose, distrust those who seek to lead without providing explanations or unveiling their goals. Outrage shuts down conversation, reduces the level of discourse and enables misinformation; only a calm environment promotes honest discussions. Take the time to be silent and observant, make sure your standing is firm before issuing a challenge or risk losing your ground. Oppression invites rebellion and rebellion is often met with punishment; pay attention to this cycle first within you and then around you, true authority need not be imposed and defiance does not imply freedom. Remember, pain and fear that are not acknowledged can turn victims into tyrants.

</div>