Seance I: Shakespeare on crisis
Q. Dear William thank you for your valuable afterlife time. We are here to discuss with you today the most significant play on stage today, the ambiguous economic crisis.
A. All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players
Q Some of them surprise us from time to time. For example Mr. Papandreou when he went public with his idea on going to a referendum. What is the question, in your opinion, that would have been finally put to the Greek people?
A. To be, or not to be: that is the question.
Q. And in the unwise vote of “to be” wouldn’t the Greeks have to face Mr Thomsen?
A. Death is a fearful thing.
Q Therefore they would avoid their immediate death, you say…So you expect they would have gone with a “to be” in the end
A. Expectation is the root of all heartache.
Q. Indeed. You see, Mr Thomsen said that minimum wages should go to 150 Euro to reduce unemployment. I wonder whether he read the statistics that most unemployed in Greece are graduates and post graduates.
A. How well he’s read, to reason against reading!
Q. Some bad tongues say that he insists in the wrongs of the first bailout, just to support his reputation..
A. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.
Q. Do you perhaps know what Mrs Merkel told to him in their private meeting?
A. “Such as we are made of, such we be. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
Q. So she is the only one with an insight to the situation. And what was Mr Sarkozy’s answer to this?
A. “It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.”
Q. Really? I never knew him to be an astrology fan. And what is your response to his posture?
A. It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
Q. But is there William a true escape for the simple people from these policies?
A. Men shut their doors against a setting sun. Now is the winter of our discontent. Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.
Q. They should try therefore to bring a change?
A. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action. Talking isn’t doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.
Q. But what about the police repression and the law implications?
A. In time we hate that which we often fear. Lawless are they that make their wills their law.
Q. You should watch your words now with the ACTA,PIPA and SOPA coming up…
A. If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent.
Q. Yes I agree as to the matter of censorship. But is it really ethical to share music?
A, If music be the food of love, play on.
Q. Let us get back to the economy. Is capitalism in a critical stage? Some say that the everyday life has changed…
A. Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Q. And how can we fix it?
A. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. Love to faults is always blind, always is to joy inclined. Lawless, winged, and unconfined, and breaks all chains from every mind.
Q. You have a humanistic approach…
A. There’s place and means for every man alive.
Q. But the politicians say the austerity is a one way road
A. They do not love that do not show their love. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Q. Is the latest bailout program going to succeed? Did you read it?
A. Boldness be my friend. For my part, it was Greek to me. Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart. For I can raise no money by vile means.
Q. Will the average desperate man rebel in the end?
A. Having nothing, nothing can he lose.
Q. Of course… So how do you see the future Is change to be seen in the horizon?
A. I am not bound to please thee with my answer. How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Q True.. Dearest William one last comment on the afterlife
A. Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
Q. Thank you very much, now join me and the rest of the contributors.. let’s drink to a better world!
A. Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.
