Happy Bastille Day!

**sleeve** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:20 AM

On this day in 1789 angry French citizens, tired of the pompous Bourbon dynasty and inspired by the successful revolution of the Americans against the British, stormed the Bastille prison in Paris.

Long a symbol of oppressive French royalty, the incident was more of a symbolic victory than anything else. There were barely any prisoners inside the Bastille at the time except for one very famous one -- Voltaire. But the incident set in motion the French Revolution, which despite its bloodiness and savagery, laid the seeds for the first true representative democracy in Western Europe.

It wasn't a perfect transition. But four republics, two monarchies, two emperors, and one puppet Nazi regime later, France is one of the premier democracies in the world. Although the French and the Americans don't always see eye to eye, they actually have a lot in common -- a fierce independent streak and an tireless committment to equality for all.

So today, when your former allies in the Revolutionary War celebrate their independence, watch a French movie, buy some French bread, drink an Orangina, read "Candide", listen to Serge Gainsbourg, or do something else French. Or better yet, celebrate the fact that you are free, and that your example inspired others to seek their own freedom.

"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!"

**station82o** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:24 AM

Cool - Happy Bastille Day!

I guess I celebrated unknowingly today, as I watched the film "Chocolat", with French actress Juliette Binoche.

**cigsthecat** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:26 AM

Allons enfants de la patrie...

**sleeve** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:30 AM

"Tyrannie," cigs.

But close enough.

"Le jour de glorie est arrive!"

EDIT: I should note that Bastille Day is July 14, so those of us on the West Coast have a few more hours to go, but France should be already in the midst of ceremony.

**sggg** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:34 AM

Nice thread (except for all the BS about the US

). I studied the French revolution in uni. It was very interesting. Great class.

Originally posted by sleeveboy
watch a French movie, buy some French bread, drink an Orangina, read "Candide", listen to Serge Gainsbourg, or do something else French.[/IMG]

French things are not hard to come by here.... but I'll say that Candide is one of my favourites, I buy fresh French bread nearly every day, Serge is the business, and Orangina ain't half bad.

Je croix que nous devrions laisser Brisco parle français dans cette thread.

**cigsthecat** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:34 AM

sleeveboy said

"Tyrannie," cigs.

But close enough.

"Le jour de glorie est arrive!"

Nope...

"Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

Contre nous, de la tyrannie

L'étendard sanglant est levé

(repeat)"

http://www.copcity.com/anthems/france.html

I thought I remembered it correclty.

**sleeve** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:42 AM

I stand corrected.

Je dois practiquer ma francais, parce que je vais faire une entrevue avec le Corps Etrangere de la Departement de l'Etat en aout.

**Calliander** · 14 Jul 2003, 02:42 AM

Originally posted by sleeveboy
So today, when your former allies in the Revolutionary War celebrate their independence, watch a French movie, buy some French bread, drink an Orangina, read "Candide", listen to Serge Gainsbourg, or do something else French. Or better yet, celebrate the fact that you are free, and that your example inspired others to seek their own freedom.

I did none of those things, because I forgot that today was Bastille Day. Does that make me a bad person?