The power of the crowd

The masked guy is sitting alone in the office looking out of the window through the shades. He is the one that they call "February". Except from his clothing and the gun, he doesn't look like a criminal. He is wimpy and moves around like a shy biology teacher. But still, together with 10 other people, they are keeping 54 hostages for three weeks.

The office door opens and the one that they call "April" prompts a hostage to get in with a polite push, he then leaves the room closing the door behind him. The hostage looks tired but not abused. He is silent and uncomfortable.

February is still watching outside. "Did they tell you why you are here?" The hostage clears his throat. "They said we have to do 'the talk'". February leaves a small laugh out of his nose. "I believe you misunderstood Mr forty-three , they said that YOU have to do 'the talk'." He extends his hand and shows him a little piece of paper that he holds between his pointer and middle finger. He picks it carefully, it has 43 written on it with a pen. "One hundred million euros Mr forty-three , one hundred million euros". He turns his head to him "do you remember our exact request?". "One hundred million euros, in real money, split into ten parts of ten millions. Then they have to be given to ten organizations against world hunger. And ten lawyers…" February interrupts him. "Ten lawyers with ten documents that describe that these money legally belong to those charities after deposited". He is still looking out of the window "And all that in just a month". He pauses. "And what was the response forty three?" Forty-three takes a moment, "The government doesn’t negotiate with terrorists". February takes a deep breath, "The government doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. Word-by-word" he repeats slowly while exhaling.

He continues to look out of the window and there is an awkward silence in the room. He turns towards forty three. "But do you know what is this all about forty-three?" forty-three shrugs "An attempt towards the end of the world hunger I guess?" February laughs so hard that forty-three jumps a bit shocked. "World hunger? Hahahaha, not at all my friend! Come here, come look out of the window a bit and I’ll explain to you". Forty-three goes amongst the desks and stands next to February "Look out there! Look! In a country that doesn’t negotiate with terrorists, a country that decided to be passive on such a request, the people decided to take charge. Why do you think we asked for real money? To give them the chance to be part of it. From day one they started gathering around the building with their money on their hands, thousands of them. Slowly slowly they started to organize, accountants came with fold-able tables to help. Lawyers started the paperwork. More and more would come to give their money. This continued the whole day. The next day, the same accountants and lawyers came with their computers and their little lunch boxes to continue their work. And more people were coming. And the more people were coming, the more people were needed. And they were hungry, so the little mobile fast food buses came. Day three you could see the first tents. People started living in the park, they took it really seriously."

His eyes are big and he is talking with passion. "But then, then they made a real mess. So the next day they brought a cleaning crew. They have been cleaning everything every morning since then. They also brought mobile toilets, they showed them on the TV, sparkling clean. And all this in the first week, without guides, without laws and commandments, only common sense. And look at it now! Look at it! Like a little village. They have food, they have split the working areas from the living areas. They have cleaning services. They have an IT department to support the administration. Last week someone had a heart attack and the same day they made a little doctors tent. On the other side of the building they have a little drive in. The IT nerds were doing LAN parties. One group is doing Pilates every morning. Some hippie teacher started a daycare. What's next if they stay a week more? A gym? A book club? A school?" He pauses again, he really sounds fascinated. "People left their jobs, their lives, to come and be part of this, not only to give their money, but also their time and skills to make it possible. And if you look closer, each one individually, you will see that there are all kinds of people down there. From the accountants, the lawyers and the doctors, to the teachers and the cooks and the cleaning personnel. People from all working classes, all races, all different. Each one with their advantages and disadvantages. Individually, they are nothing, all together, they are the average human being - a million times. Fucking-amazing-average-human-being." He pauses again.

Forty-three seems also excited, he turns to February "But did they make it?" The question gives him a big smile. "Did they what? Did they? HAHhahaha… They even have a stretch goal! They saw the numbers and they knew even from last week that they would make it. And they did! Two hours ago. And now they want to support more charities. They are unstoppable! And now millions of them gathered around waiting for us to tell them that they did good. All the streets are full as far as your eye can see." They take a moment to appreciate the crowd, forty-three turns to February again "So that is what it is all about? Teaching people that they have the power to make big changes?" February sighs. "Well, I wish it was, but no, this they knew already. This was never about praising them. It is about lecturing them." "Lecturing them? About what?" February takes a serious voice. "About ignorance. About ostrichism. About apathy. People suffer all over the world every day, and as we see here, it would have been very easy to help them, if people cared enough. But they don't, they only care about their immediate surroundings. The 54 people that are stuck in here for three weeks, while other people suffer for life. They could do it any time. But they didn't. And maybe, they won't even do it again. And that is where you come in forty-three. You will go out of this window and you will tell them that their success on the task is the proof of their failure in life. "Why me?", "Because you are special forty-three.", "What? I am not special at all, I am just…" February interrupts him. "I don't care what you are, you are no more special than any of those people out there. And that is what makes you so special for this. Because they will listen to you. You are one of them, and now that they are united, they will listen to someone that is one of them. They will take you seriously. So go now, take the microphone, stick your head out of that window and give them "the talk". They are waiting for you.

Fucking-amazing-Mr-forty-three.