Experience across a wide spectrum of human endeavours confirms that success in one domain may, but need not be, a guarantee of success in others. The reverse is, of course, also true: failure in one does not necessarily spell failure in another.
One of the many Slovak government politicians, who strives with little success to curry favour with the world’s autocrats (just like his party boss), will ultimately make it into the annals—or perhaps more appropriately, the "anals"—in a way he never dreamed of. He will enrich, if quite unintentionally, the national folklore! In short, success often awaits exactly where we would least expect it.
With a little luck, we may yet become witnesses to someone, late at night during a wedding reception in the regions of Záhorie, Horehronie, or Spiš, calling out to the bandleader: "Fiddler, play my song: Ľuboš Screwed the Ram!"
This lively ditty about 'screwing' the ram (of course, "from dusk till dawn"), accompanied by the folk band's musical mastery, will undoubtedly delight the heart of every Slovak, even despite the final verse where the hero "gets upset because his willy stinks."
Granted, this may not be the success the politician had strived for, but success it undoubtedly is. Let us not be envious, and let us grant him his due!
Used illustration: Vojtech Klimkovič: Folk Dance, 1860–1880, drawing, Slovak National Gallery (SNG)
Originally written for groteskne.sk
