November 12, 2068 ...
The strange thing is that although we all rush to the celebrations as always, few have really
wanted to celebrate the anniversary, reducing the event to one of the many opportunities to party.
Forty years ago, in fact, November 12, 2028, our city was born: Nova Minsk!
Of course, as you see it today, that adjective "new" brings a little smile. But then we really wanted
to build a new city, new opportunities, new people: we were really excited about that name ...
NEW Minsk!
The feeling of positivity is breathed everywhere: even though I was born recently, I still remember
the atmosphere imbued with the spirit of initiative and desire to grow, corporations rushing to get
into the city, in what seemed like a new Eldorado.
It doubled in size in just a few years, people became richer and the new districts became even
more beautiful, everyone looked to the "new" city as a point of arrival.
Already, a point of arrival. And as such, everyone wanted to try their chance in that wishing well.
But New Minsk had become rich and you had to live like the rich, and what if you were poor?
Well, if you're poor you are usually snubbed by the rich, but not in New Minsk: here everyone
has a chance!
The magnanimous corporations gave us a job to keep our hope alive, then, in return for this hope,
we rushed immediately to sell our dreams and our lives.
Gradually, however, in some, the hope began to falter, leading them to seek shelter in the old part
of town. Yes, the dear "old" Minsk.
Over time, more and more people crowded into the old Minsk, but the new districts grew larger
and larger, gradually swallowing up the old part of town until they disappeared.
We were told that it was the only solution. No decent man would want to live in a modern loft with
views of a shack for the homeless. And then, the homeless could entertain strange ideas, such
as entering and stealing food, you did not want to create dangerous tensions, we were told it was
for the safety of all.
Do you understand now, the origin of those walls and those checkpoints scattered across the
various levels of our city?
But they must have made many people happy. Thus, the greatest supporter of checkpoints has
made a career: today he is prime minister and named Deckard.
Only the first ten levels, with more than twelve million souls ... I mean people: souls I think there
are far fewer.
But then, in reality, no one has any idea how much we are trying to survive at the twelfth level or
die at the lower ones, certainly for none of us, the word "new", has any magic left.
In fact, today, we are actually closer to the legendary Mincz the Giant who, in these areas, was
grinding stones to make flour.
Thus many, just like him, even if they go to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of our city are
actually forced to eat dust in order to survive.
Even the station I work for was born in that period and its name stands for: NEW ERA NEWS -
the newsletter of the new era!
It 's funny that, finally, it has remained one of the only media that is still being distributed at
almost all lower levels: is it because the name still gives some hope?
I do not know, but just in case I want to be part of this hope!
Isaac K. Wells