Statehood Day: Workers work while the government celebrates a state that does not exist

"Dear customers, we inform you that the working hours of the commercial facility for the National Day will be as usual" - I noticed the inscription only when I was leaving the market in the block, after I had done my shopping, because it is a holiday, so if it is, they will not be doing anything. But there was a twist: he will do anything.

Then, somewhere in the recesses of the Internet, I came across a detailed schedule of working hours of large retail chains. Everyone is working as if nothing is happening. Then I see that something called the Secretariat for the Economy also announced that sales facilities "may also be closed".

Language is always the biggest traitor: "they can be closed", he says... I guess: "they can be open", because that "can" in my world indicates an exception from the usual state. But it will be an exception when they are closed.

There is a large, very large retail chain that has huge banners on each of its stores inviting people to work for them. And then they list great benefits, but they are not any benefits, but, most literally, parts of the Labor Law that guarantee employees their rights. Those ads irritate me a little, write simply that you respect the Labor Law. That there is a country on the territory of your valued trade chain.

I am one of those who think that retail chains should not work on Sundays and, of course, on holidays. And I am aware that, while the Western world has long considered itself to be living in the late stage of capitalism, we live here in a savage and heartless one, where work on holidays is not even paid extra.

But that's not the only problem. For the New Year, Christmas and Easter, in some places it can be seen that "the facility will not work".

Only for National Day, never. And why? Because not only do we not have a state, but we no longer even believe that it is possible. So, there's nothing to celebrate, is there? It is easier to believe in the Immaculate Conception, and that the crucified Jesus can be resurrected, than that there is a state here and it should be celebrated.

The state has not lived here for a long time, we are aware of that every time we leave the house. Well, whoever needs it, can find it somewhere between the shelves with oil and the refrigerator with frozen vegetables, while before his eyes flashes: action, action, action...

By the way, if you don't know, speaking of the state, today is the last day of the deadline for paying property taxes. To paraphrase the Secretariat for the Economy: you can also not pay. But interest flows, and the house always wins. It makes sense for this country to use a phrase that refers to casinos, because our entire lives depend on how lucky we are. Or, as they would say in Šumadija, as the cradle rocks you, so the shovel buries you.