What You Will
When we all play our roles, but slip a little? Then life becomes a comedy. At least according to Shakespeare. He knew how to send roles into a skid.
*Twelfth Night*, or *What You Will*, describes exactly these kinds of role-playing games. Viola slides first into a male role, falls for a Count, who promptly falls for a Countess, who in turn falls for the messenger — that is, for Viola. And so the role becomes a tube that all three peer into, to no avail.
Roles and their games are tingling and immensely appealing. Whoever starts to grow bored with their usual role, or wants to discover something entirely new — switch to acting. Or simply play for the sheer fun of it. The role doesn’t particularly mind.
“Does this play no role?” Oh, but it does. More or less, the role one takes on — or hijacks — can set things rolling. On the weekend of July 4th, roles were partly reshuffled in Germany, Canada, and the United States.
In Erfurt, the AfD — Alternative für Deutschland — was supposed to hold its party convention undisturbed. A party officially designated as far-right and hostile to the constitution. Well, in a democracy, even the far-right are permitted to assemble. The same right applies to the rest of Germany’s citizens. Tens of thousands blocked the access roads to the venue — largely peacefully. Two groups, two different roles.
One of the world’s oldest democracies, the United States of America, turned 250 years old. Also around July 4th. A quarter of a millennium. That deserves more than a backdrop. The current administration has also put on quite a production, filling the roles of those responsible. The direction went to enormous lengths to translate the USA and its condition into image and sound. For over a week now, the show has been running. The “State Fair” in Washington, announced with great fanfare. And people travelled in from all states to — no, actually, they didn’t. The grounds distinguished themselves with green lawns, crumbling sets, and a stage with falling structural components. No screenplay could have invented a better stage design for the condition of the United States.
And what was going on in Canada? The national side put up a brave fight. Until yesterday, July 4th, 2026. The team conceded two goals that stripped the sweet Maple Syrup dream of a FIFA World Cup victory of its role. But Team Canada — that is, the Canadian population — pays the squad the respect it deserves.
Three events, three roles, one weekend. All three are peering into one tube or another.
I love role-playing.
