I apologize if this post is a bit free-floating and amorphous. It made me think of several different things:
1) I might be, to some extent, the sort of American this article castigates.
2) I am at times amazed at the slippery cynicism of the French. I heard that they devised the slogan, "Think Left, live right."
3) Actually, I think a succession of very specific events, in France's relations with other European states, made France less idealistic and more cynical: It's idealism made it support Polish independence from Russia in the early 1860's, and it's idealism made it support Italian independence from Austria. and this hurt France: When the Franco Prussian War broke out, in 1870, France was alone (It was alone because it had antagonized Russia and Austria) and was promptly defeated by Germany.
4) I am in awe of the progressive and radical strain in French history, but I recoil when I think of the catastrophe and shame that was Vichy.
5) Like many an American, I am enchanted at what appears to be the way the French are able to celebrate life -- and like many Amercans, and Englishmen too, I am envious of this.
6) I WISH TO G-D THAT I HAD LEARNED TO SPEAK FRENCH IN SCHOOL
There are so many things to address. I don't really know where to begin.
" I am in awe of the progressive and radical strain in French history, but I recoil when I think of the catastrophe and shame that was Vichy." These two things exist simultaneously, neither one cancels the other. That's the way things are. Also when you mention "France" in 3, let's remember that you're talking about the state apparatus, that has little to do with the people, who are usually more radical. Keep it coming!
Fallacy One in this article is the assertion of something on the order of a unified French character, which cannot, by any objective standard, be said to exist, can it ?
I apologize if this post is a bit free-floating and amorphous. It made me think of several different things:
1) I might be, to some extent, the sort of American this article castigates.
2) I am at times amazed at the slippery cynicism of the French. I heard that they devised the slogan, "Think Left, live right."
3) Actually, I think a succession of very specific events, in France's relations with other European states, made France less idealistic and more cynical: It's idealism made it support Polish independence from Russia in the early 1860's, and it's idealism made it support Italian independence from Austria. and this hurt France: When the Franco Prussian War broke out, in 1870, France was alone (It was alone because it had antagonized Russia and Austria) and was promptly defeated by Germany.
4) I am in awe of the progressive and radical strain in French history, but I recoil when I think of the catastrophe and shame that was Vichy.
5) Like many an American, I am enchanted at what appears to be the way the French are able to celebrate life -- and like many Amercans, and Englishmen too, I am envious of this.
6) I WISH TO G-D THAT I HAD LEARNED TO SPEAK FRENCH IN SCHOOL
There are so many things to address. I don't really know where to begin.
Language : start now ? Why not ? Best way to ward off alzheimers and ...ya never know who you might meet.
A tremendously moving short film (2020, France, Guardian produced) you may not have seen : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7uBf1gD6JY&feature=emb_logo.
" I am in awe of the progressive and radical strain in French history, but I recoil when I think of the catastrophe and shame that was Vichy." These two things exist simultaneously, neither one cancels the other. That's the way things are. Also when you mention "France" in 3, let's remember that you're talking about the state apparatus, that has little to do with the people, who are usually more radical. Keep it coming!
Fallacy One in this article is the assertion of something on the order of a unified French character, which cannot, by any objective standard, be said to exist, can it ?