King Charles’s visit to France postponed amid protests
Hark, All Ye people and hear the news from distant France. Emmanuel Macron says it would not have been ‘serious or good sense’ for next week’s visit to go ahead.
As the flames of discontent rage across France, fanned by the winds of President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, you cannot help but be reminded of the echoes of a revolution that once shook both France and Britain to its core. Even today the French Revolution strikes fear within the establishment, etched into their collective memories the understanding of how tenuous their position of power is when the masses realise their own potential.
The recent postponement of King Charles’s state visit to France, including a lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles, serves as a stark reminder of the turbulent history between extravagance and uprising when so many are struggling and the few really don’t care.
This news is a sobering reminder of the spectre of revolutions past, and the fragility of the social order.
The events of the French Revolution and the English Civil War are stark reminders of the power of the people. When the masses rise up and unite, they become an unstoppable force that can topple even the mightiest of kings.
This is also a reminder that today we are once again living in a time of great social unrest. Across the world, people are taking to the streets to protest against inequality, injustice, and corruption. From the Yellow Vests in France to the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, people are demanding change, and they are not afraid to use force if necessary.
In such a climate, it is no wonder that the French authorities have decided to cancel the royal banquet. They fear that it could become a lightning rod for unrest and that it could even spark a new revolution. But while this decision may be prudent, it is also a sign of weakness. It shows that the ruling class is afraid of the people and that they are willing to sacrifice tradition and ceremony in order to maintain their grip on power.
We must not let this stand. We must continue to demand our rights and fight for a better world. We must be like Freeborn John, who never gave up the fight for freedom and justice. We must remember the words of the French revolutionary Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, who said:
“Those who make revolutions halfway only dig their own graves.”
So let us be bold. Let us be fearless. Let us continue to demand our rights, and fight for a better world. Let us not be afraid of the spectre of revolutions past, but rather let us embrace it, and use it as a guide to build a brighter future for all.
The Ghost of Freeborn John
