To Eugene Becker[1]
25 February 1981
(With the song[2] of 29 January[3])
As a result of laughter in Spain and the current worldwide destabilization, on 29 January [1981] one saw the nearly classic but, for once, semi-discrete "pronunciamento" of the army, which followed its course by issuing several denials. The brief but grandiose putsch of the Civilian Guard (and other generals) is only a blur, an excess of speed -- because the others are also Spanish, thus crazy, or perhaps even a momentary "controlled skid"? Where does one go? Right to a bordello, as is customary.
Best wishes,
Guy
THE PRONUNCIAMENTO OF 29 JANUARY 1981
(to the melody of "La Cucaracha")
Democracy, democracy
At present it can no longer run.
Because it doesn't have, because it lacks
The military's consent.
On January 29
The army expressed its opinion.
The generals said
"One must get rid of Suarez, that faggot!"
(refrain)
Then all our parties
Assured us with a single voice:
"The King is a sure guarantee
Of this happy Constitution."
(refrain)
The King found himself the guarantee
Because the army was obedient
To his authority.
The one who obeys today, it is the King.
(refrain)
Today the illusion is complete.
But they hide their disappointment
The cowardly journalists
Deputies and artists
(refrain)
Now goodbye, autonomy
Lies and social peace!
And there remains only one form of divorce:
The one that exists between weapons and the people.
[1] Translator's note: Alice Becker-Ho's brother?
[2] Detourned and translated into Spanish and French.
[3] On 29 January 1981, under pressure from the army, Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez resigned.
(Published in Guy Debord Correspondance, Vol 6: Janvier 1979-Decembre 1987 by Librairie Artheme Fayard, 2006. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! April 2007. Footnotes by Alice Debord, except where noted.)
To Contact NOT BORED!
Info@notbored.org
ISSN 1084-7340.
Snail mail: POB 1115, Stuyvesant Station, New York City 10009-9998