Status Quo

Status Quo

When analyzing the expression status quo , the first thing we must say is that, in our language , it is incorrect. The Latin expression is status quo , without the final S of the first word. It is also a phrase that does not change when expressed in plural, which implies that the only accepted form is status quo . For example: "The new legislation will change the status quo of the nation , " "Extremist groups threaten the status quo of Middle Eastern countries . "

The status quo is the state or situation of something at a certain moment . The status quo is usually considered as a balance or a harmony : therefore, when the status quo is altered , there is a state of agitation or commotion.

It is very important to take care of the spelling when writing foreign words or expressions, as well as those of our own language, since a small variation can completely alter the meaning or result in a non-existent term. The case of "status quo" instead of status quo is one of the many examples of errors when using Latin expressions, such as "by motus propio" instead of motu propio , or "grosso modo" instead of grosso modo .

The term is often used in the field of politics , especially international politics . An analyst can affirm that the communist regime of Cuba , which has been in power for more than half a century, strives to maintain the status quo . The intention of the authorities, in this sense, is that the distribution of power is not modified. Opponents of the government, on the other hand, want to change the status quo so that in Cuba there is another "order" or "balance" .

The new board of directors of a club , for its part, may try to change the status quo of the institution. For years, the entity did not invest money in works or try to add new partners. The new managers, faced with this reality, decide to apply for a loan to build a new gym and begin to develop a campaign to attract members, altering the status quo of the club.

This expression can also be appreciated in another well-known by scholars of the Latin language: status quo ante bellum . Its most accepted translation is "the state in which everything was before the war" and it is a principle that is used in international treaties to refer to the withdrawal of troops from the battlefield to resume the situation that took place before a determined confrontation.

The most important aspect of this term in the context of an international treaty is that it indicates the annulment of the war in that neither side becomes the winner or loser , whether of economic or political rights, or of lands, regardless of the events that took place until your signature.

A principle that is used in the same context but with a very different objective is uti possidetis iure , a Latin expression that can be translated in the following way: "just as they possess (you) according to the right, so they will possess (you)". In this case, it is resolved that each side provisionally conserve the territory they possess when a confrontation ends, until a treaty determines otherwise.

Within the religious sphere we find the fact that we also speak of "status quo". In particular, it is used to refer to the set of traditions, rules and laws of historical character that have led to determine different patterns, precepts and norms within existing religions. In particular, within several Christian communities is used to mention what are the conditions that should mark what is the operation, for example, of the basilicas.

A clear example of all this is the multireligious community that exists around the Holy Sepulcher, where Greeks, Franciscans and Armenians live together. All of them resort to the use of the aforementioned Status Quo to agree on the use of the aforementioned temple in the conditioning and renovation of it. Thus, in the decade of the 60 all agreed to start the restoration of the roof of the basilica.

Status quo (with S at the end of the first word), finally, is the name of a British rock band . It was formed in 1962 by singer and guitarist Francis Rossi and bassist Alan Lancaster. It should be noted that the name Status quo was chosen only in 1968, since until then they had been called The Scorpions , then The Specters and, finally, Traffic Jam .

They debuted with the song "Pictures of Matchstick Men" that, as in its beginnings, was framed within the psychedelic rock genre and beat. However, over the years they were "turning" towards the boogie rock.

Status quo is considered one of the most important groups in England, as shown by the figures of its sales: more than 120 million copies sold worldwide. Among the most successful and internationally famous songs we can highlight "Blue For You", "In the Army Now", "Ain't Complaining" or "Who Gets the Love?".