Happy Bastille Day!

[Steven_Draker]

http://thedepartmentofnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bastille-day-landscape-copy1-660x427.jpg

 

http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bastille-Day-Paris-02.jpg

 

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[+ WilliamM]

Amazing.

 

I have been in Paris in July, but never on Bastille Day. Seeing five or six operas at the Opera Bastille does not count.

[robberbaron4u]

Vive le Roi!

[gallahadesquire]

Vive les Rienes!

[whipped guy]

Vive la différence!!!

[Guest]

Oh, for God's sake, you're a week early, Steven. And then one wonders why people call them "French" fries?? To paraphrase Milo Perrier's famous words from Murder by Death, you're not a Frenchie, you're a Belgie!

http://www.quotes.net/mquote/65074

 

Anyone calling them "french" fries in my house is going to be wearing those fries!

http://media.vocativ.com/photos/2015/01/Belgian-Prime-Minister-FB1938032568.jpg

With a nice serving of mayonnaise to go along with it:

http://www.levif.be/medias/3420/1751073.jpg

 

Keep it up, and pretty soon they'll be calling them "French waffles"!

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/eggo-french-vanilla-waffles-40328.jpg

[Guest]

Vive le Roi!

 

Though I think I prefer one of the Princes (Amadeo)

http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/cut_princeamedeo.jpg]

 

http://like.philenews.com/data/prince%20amedeo.jpg]

 

http://40.media.tumblr.com/dbc0e23ed616795bb52b36eae918e726/tumblr_mvrs6b79Ma1rp574ho1_500.jpg

[+ quoththeraven]

Bastille Day reminds me of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, which includes the storming of the Bastille, which in turn reminds me of all the very good reasons why the French revolted against the aristocracy as well as the Reign of Terror that followed. Great oppression is often followed by unmitigated violence. While the second is brought on by the first, both do a lot of damage to the fabric of society.

 

By comparison, the American and English revolutions were positively genteel.

[whipped guy]

I have been in Paris in July, but never on Bastille Day. Seeing five or six operas at the Opera Bastille does not count.

I'm certainly jealous about that!

Bastille Day reminds me of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, which includes the storming of the Bastille, which in turn reminds me of all the very good reasons why the French revolted against the aristocracy as well as the Reign of Terror that followed. Great oppression is often followed by unmitigated violence. While the second is brought on by the first, both do a lot of damage to the fabric of society.

 

By comparison, the American and English revolutions were positively genteel.

YES! I have always thought the same thing! Plus, then think of what subsequently transpired with the rise of Napoleon etc. and the entire continent of Europe bring thrown into turmoil. Then fast forward to Charles X, and he blew it as well which resulted in the Revolution of 1830. The intentions of of those that stormed the Bastille were certainly noble but what resulted is hardly worthy of celebration.

 

Given the aftermath I have always wondered why Bastille Day is such a big deal. It's just an excuse for a day off from work, a parade, and fireworks. That it occurs in the summer is a plus as well. Every country has their big holiday and for the French I guess this is it. Hopefully they enjoyed! Though I doubt that they roasted hot dogs on the grill as we do for Fourth of July.

[Bargara Leatherboy]

Viva la France

[mike carey]

A couple of years ago the advertisers for Citroën here saw fit to release advertisments emblazoned with 'Viva la Revolution'. At least they didn't say 'revolución'!

[+ quoththeraven]

I'm certainly jealous about that!

 

YES! I have always thought the same thing! Plus, then think of what subsequently transpired with the rise of Napoleon etc. and the entire continent of Europe bring thrown into turmoil. Then fast forward to Charles X, and he blew it as well which resulted in the Revolution of 1830. The intentions of of those that stormed the Bastille were certainly noble but what resulted is hardly worthy of celebration.

 

Given the aftermath I have always wondered why Bastille Day is such a big deal. It's just an excuse for a day off from work, a parade, and fireworks. That it occurs in the summer is a plus as well. Every country has their big holiday and for the French I guess this is it. Hopefully they enjoyed! Though I doubt that they roasted hot dogs on the grill as we do for Fourth of July.

 

Bastille Day is to France what Independence Day is to the US. But there was more internecine bloodshed as a result of the French Revolution than the US one.

 

For all of the US's failings (slavery chief among them), we've never killed a king, we've just rebelled against them. Presidents have been assassinated, but not at the behest of the population. Yet even England felt the need to execute a monarch for political reasons. So did France and Russia. What happened in those countries mostly differ as to how many other people's blood was shed and what happened afterward.

 

Then there's Guy Fawkes Day -- celebrating a revolution that didn't happen.

[notforme]

via the worker's revolution even though it was a class failure

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

Vive le Roi!

 

This is how we celebrate Bastille Day in the cradle of liberty - Philly

 

https://www.easternstate.org/bastille-day