"Long may it wave"
It is not just the American president who makes apology tours. Consider the case of France's socialist president, Francois Hollande, as he went to Algeria and apologize for its colonial past. In the below blog, Gallia Watch describes France's colonial past with Algeria.
http://galliawatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/francois-hollande-in-algeria.html#links
And he took his mistress with him? Oh well, that's France.
"Bienvenue, Mademoiselle."
No word on whether Hollande apologized for France's surly waiters.
Not being an expert on France's colonial history, I won't venture an opinion on who the good guys and bad guys were here.
What the Hell! It's new years. Let all sing the Marseillaise. I even have it for you in English.
Let's go children of the fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny's Bloody flag is raised! (repeat) In the countryside, do you hear The roaring of these fierce soldiers? They come right to our arms To slit the throats of our sons, our friends! 
Refrain
Grab your weapons, citizens!
Form your batallions! Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood Water our fields! | |
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This horde of slaves, traitors, plotting kings,
What do they want? For whom these vile shackles, These long-prepared irons? (repeat) Frenchmen, for us, oh! what an insult! What emotions that must excite! It is us that they dare to consider Returning to ancient slavery!
What! These foreign troops
Would make laws in our home! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would bring down our proud warriors! (repeat) Good Lord! By chained hands Our brows would bend beneath the yoke! Vile despots would become The masters of our fate!
Tremble, tyrants! and you, traitors,
The disgrace of all groups, Tremble! Your parricidal plans Will finally pay the price! (repeat) Everyone is a soldier to fight you, If they fall, our young heros, France will make more, Ready to battle you! 
Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
Bear or hold back your blows! Spare these sad victims, Regretfully arming against us. (repeat) But not these bloodthirsty despots, But not these accomplices of Bouillé, All of these animals who, without pity, Tear their mother's breast to pieces! 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sacred love of France,
Lead, support our avenging arms! Liberty, beloved Liberty, Fight with your defenders! (repeat) Under our flags, let victory Hasten to your manly tones! May your dying enemies See your triumph and our glory!
Refrain
We will enter the pit
When our elders are no longer there; There, we will find their dust And the traces of their virtues. (repeat) Much less eager to outlive them Than to share their casket, We will have the sublime pride Of avenging them or following them! 
"Ah wunnerful, ah wunnerful, ah"
|
I didn't know the Marseillaise had so many verses. I'm not going to try to memorize them all either.
ReplyDeleteBut there is no question that France indulged a colonial occupation of Algeria. Whether there is any point to apologizing now is another question. I mean, De Gaulle pulled out and its an independent country now, right? What substance does an apology add. Do we expect PM Cameron to apologize for the Boston Massacre, or even the commerce raiders sold to the confederacy?
"Do we expect PM Cameron to apologize for the Boston Massacre?"
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea, Siarlys. How come we never thought of that? Or having the Brits apologize for colonizing us? They could send Prince Charles over here in sack cloth and ashes.
Since Hollande (Sauce) is apologizing, does that mean France is finally going to pay the US its War Debt?
ReplyDeleteThey might raise the debt WE never repaid from our War of Independence. With interest, it probably equals what they owe us from World War I.
ReplyDeleteThat debt Siarlys was paid with the blood of American soldiers who died in WW1 and WW2. How can you put a price on their lives?
ReplyDeleteFindalis, how could you ever equate money debts with blood debts, coming or going, ever? You're a real sicko.
ReplyDelete