French Lessons (Our Oldest Enemy)

The American Conservative ^ | January 17, 2004 | Robert O. Paxton

[SkyPilot]

There is one great difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

The former was founded on a Judeo-Christian world view, with rights given to us by our Creator, and responsibilities to Him as well.

The latter was founded on a Humanistic world view, with radical egalitarianism and secular rights as the pillar of existence.

In the years immediately following the American Revolution, America launched down a path of justice, prosperity, and freedom.

In the time immediately following the French Revolution, the streets were literally drenched with blood from the guillotines and gallows.

[ffusco]

Historically speaking, the french have been a treacherous lot for thousands of years. Even Caesar complained about them before deciding "All France must be destroyed."

[FreedomSurge]

Also Lafayette prevented Napoleon from regrouping and fighting to the bitter end after Waterloo.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[sasportas]

And look at what followed in the wake of the French Revoloution. Socialist/communist revolutions across Europe, Nazi socialism, the Russian Revolution.

Christ said you will know a tree by the fruit it bears.

[Earthdweller]

Story of A French Leader?
He justified his heavy-handed rule along philosophical lines not unlike that which those had earlier called for: the need of the people to come under an "enlightenment", an absolute or "despotic" father-figure who would rule the people with an iron fist for their own best interests. He was careful to pay close attention to all the discussions of enlightenment thinking, sponsoring scientific research and giving the appearance of being an earnest contributor to the thinking of the scientists. This was what the ideal of "enlightened despotism" was supposed to be all about. The price to France, a state of economic and intellectual dependency on the massive French system. Indeed, the French state began to slide into economic disarray. They had lost much of their original spiritual character and had become a quite thoroughly political organization. They became closely involved in the political intrigue not only aimed against Protestants but also directed to the rise and fall of particular nations. They were politically astute--and dangerous to work with.


If you think this is about Chirac you may be partially right but it is also a story about the leadership in the second part of the 17th century belonging to France, under the rule of Louis XIV, the "Sun King." During his long and powerful reign (1643-1715) he forced the French aristocracy to surround him at his magnificent palace at Versailles, where he could keep close tabs on their doings; drove the Protestants (300,000 Huguenots) from France--eliminating France's best source of middle-class industrial skill in the process; and built up a grand display of royal splendor in palaces and military organizations (and in wars which used them), which left the French people gasping under the tax load.



Some problems just seem to keep repeating themselves.

Chirac is the model for Winston Churchill's classic definition of an appeaser: namely, one who feeds a crocodile in the hope that it will eat him last.

[Piranha]

I think that was Carthage, not France.

[Piranha]

I think that was Carthage.

[bboop]

"Lafayette died on 20 May 1834 at age 78 and was buried next to his wife in the little Picpus Cemetery in Paris. The soil he had brought back from Bunker Hill Monument was poured over his grave.

The U.S. flag has been flown over his grave continuously for over 160 years, repeatedly replaced when tattered. When the Germans took Paris during World War II the U.S. flag over Lafayette's grave was not disturbed."

[Ciexyz]

btt

[RJL]

Don't want to take up for the French, but a fair rebuttal is that we waited too long in both wars before we stepped in.

I don't accept that as a fair rebuttal. Especially considering that one of the current criticisms against the US by France is that we are "too quick to rush to war."

Not only that, in WWII didn't France surrender in about six weeks? Sending men by troop ships it would longer than that to get any number of men to Europe even if we started shipping them out on day one!

[hinckley buzzard]

"French aid to the American War of Independence is the Francophile’s exhibit number one."

Their assistance was instrumental in the surrender of Cornwallis. However, by the end of the 1700's we were in an undeclared naval war with France, who had stabbed us in the back and begun to prey on American shipping in the New World.

So yeah, their "friendship" was shortlived.
Why single out France for abuse? Because they deserve it.

[ffusco]

Onmis Gallia delenda est.

[Piranha]

Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres. ... Carthago delenda est

[Mark in the Old South]

Correction the name of the book is "Citizens" and is by Simon Schama.

Lafayette was forced into exile, Schama does not paint a very favorable picture of his conduct during the French Rev. The one I was thinking about was Rochambeau. He was imprisoned and barely escaped with his life, it seems they "forgot" to kill him. I am not sure what happened to Gen Luckner and I think Gen Theobald Dillon was in America as well, an angry mob torn him to pieces cut off his leg as a souvenir and threw his body on a bonfire.

[bboop]

He was exiled by France in an Austrian prison because he was an aristocrat. He tried repeatedly to get the French Revolution to follow the American's lead, but they had other ideas. He was freed from prison by Napoleon, fled to ... Belgium/ the United States where he was honored greatly. The French took his (aristocratic) money; the US Congress paid him richly for his help here, where he was considered a Hero of the first rank. Buried in Paris along with his wife and her many relatives who were beheaded.

Thanks for this thread. It forced me to learn more.