| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Yesterday, July 14 was Bastille Day. The French equivalent of our Independence Day. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité! | ||
| Blake |
Mass mob riots that resulted in mob slaughter of wealthy folks. Not something I'd celebrate. Nothing like the American Revolution. "Egalité"? Socialism by guillotine. | ||
| Crusty |
Well; I guess it's better that the Aristocracy can have all the luxuries they want while the peons are literally starving to death. Bullshit. | ||
| Aesquire |
It's a fundamental difference in philosophy. The American revolution was based on the idea that government can be evil and must be controlled. Because men desire power. The French revolution was based on the idea that government is perfectable. And was used by power hungry men to kill their rivals. Both revolutions threw off the chains of hereditary aristocracy. A good thing in both. America's gave us more freedom. Because we limited the power of government. France's gave them "The Terror" because they did not. Still........ a celebration of throwing off the chains is the good part of Bastille Day. A warning of the evil of men too. Don't forget either part. It's important to remember both. | ||
| Aesquire |
And don't forget May Day either. Throw off the chains of the aristocracy. Then the Republic was murdered by the Communists. Who became the new aristocracy. And then they murdered millions. | ||
| Aesquire |
If you don't remember history others will screw you. For example......."fat cat bankers" means we want to steal your wealth and blame others. Usually the Jews. You do remember where that goes? Many do not. That's why there are riots in Europe. ..... run by evil men for power. | ||
| Aesquire |
This will explain far better than I. Yes, It is great to celebrate the overthrow of a dictator. No matter if that man is called a King By The Will Of God, or Presidente. | ||
| Blake |
Sorry to poo on your well-intended thread Crusty. The Révolution Français wasn't 100% absent merit; it's just a peeve of mine when it is equated to the American Revolution. | ||
| Crusty |
That's O.K., Blake; my July 4th thread devolved into an argument about Arabs and Jews killing each other in the Middle East. Shit happens.* * If it didn't, nobody would have invented flush toilets. | ||
| Aesquire |
Big cheer for Thomas Crapper! Man saved more lives than any human I can think of. Lister, Pasteur, Salk...... The French Revolution was in a time of famine. Climate change. And a sea change in political theory. Unfortunately it ended as most revolutions in history with evil men exploiting the situation. Russia's followed a different path to ruin but in both the founders of a free nation got killed by those who want to rule. We are the luckiest people on Earth that our experiment in self rule followed a different path. It's still a celebration of freedom. | ||
| Hootowl |
"We are the luckiest people on Earth that our experiment in self rule followed a different path." Looks to me like we're on the same path, albeit at a much slower pace. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Just remember that, ironically, your revolution would have failed and it's leaders hung as terrorist insurgents, were it not for the French. I love history, don't you? | ||
| Aesquire |
True. And today we have even more reason to revolt against taxes and the King than back then. When did the terror stop and a stable....not killing your rivals....government emerge? Post Napoleon? Asking for the local point of view. | ||
| Blake |
Innes, It is true that France was a solid ally for the American rebels. It's also true that the majority of signatories to the Declaration of Independence suffered much. Most were not spared. Thankfully, some were. |
