Protests

So, every night for almost a week I have ignored my desire to pick up a camera and take the metro a few stops to the site of the protests going on downtown.  Joshua (otherwise known as "the voice of reason") informed me that this was not a good idea.  Anti-austerity protests have become the quintessential European experience lately and I just wanted to see what one is like.  On the other hand, on Saturday a small minority used the protests as an excuse to indulge in vandalism and rock throwing and so, right now, Piata Universitatii may not be the safest place in the city.

A quick read of a news article will fill you in on the basic facts.  The popular minister of health disagreed with the president over health care reforms and then resigned.  Protests ensued.  The next day Basescu (the president) abandoned the reforms because the medical community opposed them.  Still, protests grew and spread to cities throughout Romania.  Today, day five of the protests, the minister of health has been reappointed.  He was willing to withdraw his resignation because the legislation he opposed had been scrapped.  Now people are still protesting, but they are protesting year-old austerity measures, age-old government corruption, and any other pent-up frustrations they have.  The conflict that sparked the protests has been resolved, but the flood of discontent it unleashed has not yet abated.

It's so good to rest in the truth that God is in control and He is good.  Because no government can give people what they want.  All our politicians are just as flawed and sinful as us.