Literature, justice, laws, evolution, society, understanding, Robert Badinter, Montesquieu, Aimé Césaire, Negritude, human rights, education, history
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Abstract
The text discusses the impact of literature on society, highlighting its role in shaping laws, challenging injustices, and promoting understanding and evolution.
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[...] Another major advance in the humanity of our country is the abolition of the death penalty. Again, the camps were opposed with arguments: 'The guilty must pay for their act', 'killing is a violation of the fundamental rights of human beings' or life for a life'. On the eve of the vote to abolish the death penalty in France, Robert Badinter made a speech to the National Assembly that changed French society forever. Thanks to his literature, to his speech where every word was weighed and laden with feelings, he managed to bring the majority of deputies to his point of view and ensure that 'French justice will no longer be a justice that kills' Of course, it's not just this right that has been influenced by literature: all our rights, duties, and laws are written down. [...]
[...] This quote therefore echoes our phrase 'All literature is a border assault'. In fact, if two parties do not understand each other, it can lead to conflicts, to frontiers. Literature is therefore a force that allows us to bring down the barriers whether between individuals or, for ourselves. There have been many moments throughout our history where literature has fought against what separates men. The most striking example for me is during the abolition of slavery. Indeed, as far back as we can go, we all come from Homo habilis. [...]
[...] But literature, more than facing our fears, serves mainly to build ourselves. It doesn't matter who we are, in what socio-professional category, through literature we can experiment, have our first experience of what we like or what we don't like. Not everyone has access to all activities, but someone who lives in a place where it never snows can, through their favorite novel, discover the splendor of a white Christmas; a little girl can dream of a flying princess dress to the rhythm of the waltz . [...]
[...] Without it, we would not be able to cure more and more diseases every year, and we would not be able to develop the technologies that have now become vital to us. Literature is the origin of each of our actions, and especially of our evolution. Thanks to it, we inform ourselves, we debate, we progress and we transmit. To the question 'All literature is an assault on the frontier' I therefore answer yes, it fights against injustices and ignorance to forge a better future. [...]
