ArcaNuova · Satire · Democracy · Language
The Bathrobe and Democracy
A satire about political fog, criticism and the reassuring certainty that a 360-degree turn reliably ends where it began.
Citizen: My grandfather always said: “Never again war.” Back then even a joke could become dangerous. Today the methods have different names: account cancelled, platform blocked, proceedings opened. The packaging changes. The desire to silence criticism proves remarkably durable.
Politician: We have initiated a holistic 360-degree turn in domestic policy that is simultaneously directed forward. This means that we learn from the past in order to return to where we came from. Only better.
Citizen: A 360-degree turn brings us back to exactly the same point. That is precisely what worries me.
Politician: Democracy is not only inside, but also outside. Unless we make it very clear that we are defending it, democracy will face the challenge of remaining the democracy it ought to be.
Citizen: Democracy does not need protection from jokes. It needs protection from people who want to ban jokes.
Politician: Words have an effect in reality. If they are not properly contextualized, they may be misunderstood. That is why it is sometimes better to think certain things quietly rather than say them aloud.
Citizen: So freedom of speech remains fully intact. One is merely not allowed to use it.
Politician: That is your interpretation. And interpretations, as we know, can be problematic.
Citizen: Should I put my bathrobe ready, just in case?
Politician: The fact that I am right is already demonstrated by my standing here without any verifiable schooling while my future is nevertheless perfectly secured. In a higher world organization whose name I cannot pronounce, but whose meaning I will gladly explain to you.
Citizen: Then the bathrobe is apparently not a punishment, but the prescribed uniform.
Politician: Only if you have nothing to hide.
This dialogue is satirical.
It is meant to make people laugh and perhaps think a little. Any resemblance to living politicians, authorities or international organizations would of course be purely coincidental.
After all, coincidences exist only in the eye of the beholder.
And in the end the beholder is probably responsible for that as well.
In a bathrobe.
And should anyone ask who is responsible for this text: ChatGPT did the dirty work. In a bathrobe.
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