Today was a fasting day.
This morning my mother sent me a video of a peaceful demonstration, by environmentalists in Alsace, being broken up violently by riot police, in full body armour, using tear gas. On the same day I read in Le Monde that Mexico's new president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO for short) has decided to refuse to be protected by the State Presidential Security Group. He doesn't like being surrounded by heavily armed goons with black sunglasses and bullet proof vests. In the face of significant pressure from all sides he finally announced that he will have a protection group of 10 men and 10 women who will be unarmed. That's what I call a truly democratic president. AMLO is becoming president of arguably one of the most dangerous countries in the world and one of his first acts is to demilitarise his own security. In these times of populism, anger and violent debate it is encouraging to see that an elected politician can propose a different vision of the state. I will follow AMLO's progress with much sympathy and encouragement. Mexico's northern neighbour could learn something from this example. It would be easier to persuade Americans to give up the right to bear arms if the state itself gave up its own weapons at least as far as all police and security services are concerned (next step would be military). Nothing makes me feel less secure than the sight of armed "security" services.
This morning my mother sent me a video of a peaceful demonstration, by environmentalists in Alsace, being broken up violently by riot police, in full body armour, using tear gas. On the same day I read in Le Monde that Mexico's new president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO for short) has decided to refuse to be protected by the State Presidential Security Group. He doesn't like being surrounded by heavily armed goons with black sunglasses and bullet proof vests. In the face of significant pressure from all sides he finally announced that he will have a protection group of 10 men and 10 women who will be unarmed. That's what I call a truly democratic president. AMLO is becoming president of arguably one of the most dangerous countries in the world and one of his first acts is to demilitarise his own security. In these times of populism, anger and violent debate it is encouraging to see that an elected politician can propose a different vision of the state. I will follow AMLO's progress with much sympathy and encouragement. Mexico's northern neighbour could learn something from this example. It would be easier to persuade Americans to give up the right to bear arms if the state itself gave up its own weapons at least as far as all police and security services are concerned (next step would be military). Nothing makes me feel less secure than the sight of armed "security" services.
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