Today, 14 July 2005, I would like to slap anyone and everyone who has ever betrayed the ideals of the French Revolution and its beautiful motto:
LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ
That's an awful lot of people...
Thursday 14 July 2005
Remember the Storming of the Bastille?
Today, 14 July 2005, I would like to slap anyone and everyone who has ever betrayed the ideals of the French Revolution and its beautiful motto:
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Does Robespierre get slapped? Just askin' xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat if I didn't really mean to? *ouch*
ReplyDeleteYou may slap anyone you like, M. Maximilien would probably slap you back, though.
ReplyDeleteThose who never betrayed the ideals they fought for can be counted on the fingers of one hand, can't they?
Hip-hip-huzzah for L'Incorruptible!
ReplyDeleteAnd a slappity-slap-slap to modern-day politicians who believe only in their own profit and self-interest.
I so agree with the statement you made in the comment to R. I just came back to Ukraine and I feel like slapping Yushenko for not following up on his promises.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read Hertzen's From the Other Shore? It discusses the revolution of 1848 and the corruption of ideals. Your post made me think of it, especially since I was rereading it on the plane yesterday.
Great site, J! Your insights are fascinating.
V, I haven't read the book you mention, I'm afraid: as I said to someone else recently, I've become less and less able to read theoretical texts. Old age, you know. I just have gut feelings and go with them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliments - much appreciated. :-)
Could you suggest someone else who would be better than Blair, N? I can't think of anyone just now, but I'll slap him for you too, just because life in the UK is getting more difficult by the day.
Well, I'd like to slap all of my fellow Americans who forget the deep inspiration our founding fathers got from so many French patriots and writers. And the people who are just randomly and ignorantly anti-French. Some crap is just too much to listen to politely, and then NOT launch into a mini history lesson. A mini history lesson punctuated by slapping, that is.
ReplyDeleteNot even war brings out heroes (among political leaders) now.
ReplyDeleteOh, you might enjoy it. It is very literary, as Hertzen's poetic prose is wonderful, even in translation from Russian.
ReplyDeleteThe French flag is one of the six flags of Texas. Most of the local Mexican bakeries in fact have primarily French pastries as Mexico was also ruled for a time by France, which is why El Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. It's more of an American holiday than a Mexican one.
ReplyDeleteSuch fascinating comments! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWar is not seen as being an occasion for heroism these days, but as something shameful, which it very often is. I don't think there have been heroes since the Second World War.
I'm not sure being "cute" is enough to make a good PM. I don't want to discuss the Bush-Blair relationship; all I know is that we who live in the UK hoped for a better life under Labour - after suffering under Thatcher for 18 years. It hasn't happened, but I can't think of anyone better than Blair at the moment (nor can anyone else, judging by the results of the last election).
Texas has *six* flags?! I had no idea. Interesting. Thanks for the info, Atreau.