Freedom and Equality

Freedom and Equality
Some Thing Must Have Been in the Air Today

fiction
edward w pritchard

The best knives in the world in the 1780's were from Syria. Many of the fish women working on the Sienne in Paris, France owned at least one Syrian knife and it was usually her favorite. The Syrian knives held an edge a long time, cut cleanly and were perfectly balanced to the hand.

There were 18 women who worked for the West Bank Fish Company. Their day at work started at 6AM and went till 6PM. Six days a week they cleaned and cut fish. The pace was intense, the job was difficult to get, paid well, and the women who could do the work were formidable.

Mr. Monoui was having a meeting with the 18 women who worked for him at the fish company. As usual they were required to attend the meeting and attendance was not paid work. The theme of the meetings were usually the same. The workers needed to work very hard to allow the company to prosper. Mr. Monoui had undertaken a large risk in entering the fish business and starting the company in these troubled times and every day Mr Monoui had to be nimble and agile to keep the company afloat.

Today's meeting ended with Mr. Monoui reading a short poem he had written to his assembled workers. A written copy of the poem was also given to each employee for future study.

One particular line in the poem was notable:

Eighteen [ dix-huit in French] workers depended on the skill, resolve and entrepreneurial ability of one man, the owner Mr. Monoui for their lively hood as do their children and loved ones. Without the owner no fish would be caught, cleaned or shipped.

The implication was that one man, the owner was the patriarch and benefactor of the other 18 workers. All nineteen employees had equal opportunity to excel, but only one took the risk and had the grit to pursue the challenge to succeed.

The workers responded to the poem and today's meeting with anger. Several women had not cleaned their knives for the day and they raised them and shook them at Mr. Monoui. Five or six employees left and went home but the rest of the women began to circle around the business owner.

It was July 14, 1789.

The Syrian knife is perfectly balanced to the hand, can hold an edge for a long time, and cuts cleanly. Mercy shouted Mr. Monoui- Be agile and nimble shouted the cutting workers. There are many of you and only one of me shouted Mr. Monoui. We are one now, all equal shouted the women. Help me gasped Mr. Monoui. Liberty shouted the remaining fish women as they wiped off their knives.

Something was in the air today and the meeting had got out of hand that was sure. The formidable fish women wrapped up their knives and headed for the Bastille to cut some more shouting Liberté, égalité, fraternité, ou la mort!" ("Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death!"),