Time to Celebrate?

The so-called Jasmin Revolution started 8 years ago, on the 14th of January, while many regard the revolution as a reason to celebrate, even more feel that not enough has been achieved, or believe life was easier during Ben Ali's regime. Strange, lately some claim the street vendor who started it all off by burning himself ,was actually an alcoholic. As no such assertion was made at the time and for a long time there after, one can regard this as fake news spread by folks with very personal interests. In addition we have countries under a dictatorship rule where those in government would like to see a failed democracy in Tunisia, as they fear the people in their country would want democracy also. I frequently hear: we had more money, we could afford more, buy meat, etc and Ben Ali only took from the rich.... Well, what did he do for the country? Did he build waste disposal or water treatment plants? Did he develop the poor parts of the country, what did he do for the south? Why did he focus on the capital and the coastal areas? Doesn't the south also belong to Tunisia? - The purchasing power has fallen by 40 % since 2014, last year the prices of many products have gone up 3 or 4 times, thus for some of us no longer affordable. One can get by with very little money, but one still needs money. It helps to be flexible. One guy past retirement age e.g. carries out the flowing tasks: unblocking sewage pipes, gardening works, selling raw pastry, collecting plastic for recycling and old bred for animal consumption, beating the drums during Ramadan ("last meals").  Holidays for tourists are offered at unbeatable low prices. With tourists returning there is hope for more employment. The hotels are excellent, the service is good and tourists are really welcomed. Restaurants, small shops of various types, including several in the Basar, have closed and some are slowly opening up again. The beach has very fine sand, the weather is usually good. Unemployment is still high, not just among the uneducated but also among those with a university diploma, really depressing and no encouragement for kids to study. And they really need good raw models. I feel sorry for neglected children, often belonging to big families, the street is not a good teacher. A little boy, approx. 5 years old addressed me in vulgar English. I said: "Oh my god.". He repeated this several times. Shortly afterwards he had a fight with another boy of his age. When the other kid fell on the pavement (no real injury), he again said: "Oh my god." Maybe I ought to teach these children some different idioms. Teachers appear to be more or less constantly on strike and ignorant parents all too often don't understand their responsibility for the siblings' development. So sad, viewing kids damaging or destroying what doesn't belong to them. Usually noone will ask them to make good again, thus it appears to be okay. "They are children, you have to accept it." One of the most stupid sentences I hear and it is very rare to have anyone advising the kids to stop screaming, constant screaming. For them it is normal, what do they do when they genuine need help?