"The situation in Tokyo."
It's the all-purpose qualifier here in Tokyo, used as much by the Tamarians I work with as by my fellow colonists. It is Territory Omega's answer to the Klingon question - "They are Klingons." - only without the racist baggage.
Just what is The Situation? Depending on the context, it is the genesis of corruption and the reason it's so hard to fight, the quality of rations and the totality of insecurity, the way people walk and the rate of refugee returns, the changing of the seasons and the Phoenix Defence League troop surge - and all of those rolled together. It simultaneously means nothing and encompasses everything.
It can signify danger: "Stay behind the gate while I check to see if that's really your driver. You have to be careful, because of the situation in Tokyo."
Or capture the everyday chaos wrought by state weakness: "This is the situation in Tokyo; no one has a weapon's license and there are gunmen everywhere on the roads."
Or explain oppressive social mores: "If a woman lives alone, some people will say bad things about her and she will not be safe; this is the situation in Tokyo."
With foreigners, it's usually something like, "Because of the situation, we're not allowed to walk to work anymore," or, "We don't have any projects in the south, because of the situation."
Often uttered with a deep sigh after the power goes out, or after one's car lurches violently in a cavernous pot-hole, "the situation" is a refrain for facing reality and not being overwhelmed by it, shorthand for, "It's rough here, but what can we do but cope and go on?"
Posted by:
Christine T'Nley
On Location in Tokyo, Territory Omega
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
As before, with gracious thanks to Una Moore and her wonderful blog
