July, is the French symbol of the end
of the Monarchy and the beginning of
the First Republic. The national
holiday is a time when all citizens can
feel themselves to be members of a
republican nation. It is because this
national holiday is rooted in the
history of the birth of the Republic
that it has great significance.
France
Germany
Italy
England
USA
Holland
Spain
China
happened to be a French. So, when I had addressed to her that same question –
what exactly do you (meaning French) celebrating on the Fourteen of July, she
(trying to hide her agitation of a person who doesn’t know basics about French
revolution) started her story about assault on Bastille etc, etc.
After about 20 seconds I had interrupted her with following:
Yes, madam. I know that on that day some savages had stormed a Bastille prison
and that considered now a starting moment of French Revolution. Shortly after
successful assault they had demolished the building and proclaimed – we are
dancing here! Everybody whose last name began with De was shaking for their life
(and thousand of them not without the reason) because brilliant invention of Doctor
Gilioten had started it’s astonishing performance. Then during couple of years top
revolutionaries started accusing each other of doing the revolution on wrong way
and testing the Guillotine on each other. After couple of more years brutal
dictatorship came to power, which eventually had sent to premature death at least
2000000 French citizens. So, madam what exactly your reading in your
celebration? She spitted out couple of fraises in disgust in French and never talked
to me ever since.
From the bottom of my heart I swear I did not have any intention to offend her.
As a detractor of any violence I am just still trying to understand what they are
celebrating on 14-th of July.
Lynda Wise.
