I am because we are

I know you may be fed up with me talking too much of Madonna on that blog, since a few weeks. but that woman has some interesting messages to share. And I can't prevent myself from suggesting you to listen to that interview about her film I am because we are.

Here are a few words from Madonna, taken from this interview :

I often feel that we’re the one that have it wrong. In spite of all the devastation they have a sense of community and extended family that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

I don’t have that joy and I don’t have this kind of appreciation. I do in moments but not on a regular basis. I think that comes from really living in the moment without a lot of distractions, which we have so many of. And not knowing if the next day is going to come . I think complaining, feeling sorry for yourself, being bored, those are luxuries people in Malawi can’t afford.

J'ai souvent la sensation que nous n'avons rien compris. Malgré la dévastation, ils ont le sens de la communaité et de la famille étendue, comme je ne l'ai vu nul part ailleurs.
Je n'ai pas cette joie et cette manière d'apprécier les choses. Enfin, si parfois, mais pas de manière naturelle. Je pense que cela vient vraiment du fait qu'ils vivent sans beaucoup de distractions, contrairement à nous qui en avons tant. Et ne pas savoir si demain viendra. Je pense que se plaindre, se sentir désolée pour soi-même, être las, ce sont des luxes que les gens du Malawi ne peuvent pas s'offrir.

Well, it makes me think back of all the sadness we see on people's faces in the streets or in cars. This morning, when I took up my car to go to work, I saw a man next to me, sad and irritated because there was a small jam. On his car, on could see "Je roule au naturel" (I drive green), and I added to myself "ben ouais, mais t'es pas détendu" (for sure, but you'd better be more cool with life).

What Madonna says is true and could be summed up this way :"the more we get, the less you are". When will we understand, that more important than all the technical stuff proposed every where in our countries, is the ability to smile to someone you cross in the street, to try to drive or behave with respect to one another?

OK, I'm not gonna tell you I'm a saint. I'm not. I sometimes get mad when people lack of repsect for myself. And it's only because I'm so much fed up with living with those strange people environning me and behavoring as if we were not alike. What does brotherhood mean in our world? If you got a problem, people try to f*** you more as those awful birds flying around corpses. Couldn't we change and try to be more human ?

OK, enough for today. But think about what Madonna said. If we paid more attention ot one another, we probably would feel less alone and depressed.

Enjoy the rest of the day. Here, in the south of France, bad weather, between wind and rain !

Géraldine