Sarkozy: America, je t'aime

[Geoffrey S]

A step forward. As long as it survives Sarkozy's volatile nature...

If it wasn't for the French, we would have never beaten the British.

If it wasn't for the Americans, France would not have been liberated, atleast for a while.

Interesting as such historical connections may be, I always fail to see what they mean beyond rhetoric for polticians' speeches. It's good to remember and acknowledge, but not so much to derive some modern day meaning from relations between countries in a past where both were significantly different from their modern selves. In this case, it's quite harmless, less so in other places in the world where nations/ethnic groups claim to have some justification for various nasty acts in the past, with the other side seemingly always able to come up with some earlier justification.

[woad&fangs]

I don't know what to say other than

[Louis VI the Fat]

I for one shall always respond to this with a firm vive les Etats-Unis d’Amérique! Et vive l’amitié entre la France et les Etats-Unis!

Et vive le Texas!

Interesting as such historical connections may be, I always fail to see what they mean beyond rhetoric for polticians' speeches. It's good to remember and acknowledge, but not so much to derive some modern day meaning from relations between countries in a past where both were significantly different from their modern selves. In this case, it's quite harmless, less so in other places in the world where nations/ethnic groups claim to have some justification for various nasty acts in the past, with the other side seemingly always able to come up with some earlier justification.

Good points. The whole visit was heavy on symbolism. 250 years of Lafayette, Yorktown, World Wars, Normandy. I am always a bit wary of too much symbolism - more often than not it is invoked to mask lack of substance.

But states need symbols too. It gives a sense of direction, focus and unity. Even something as simple as a rowing team needs colours, cups, legends, clubsongs. These are unifying instruments. To help members get a sense of belonging.

I must say I personally am not indifferent to the specific symbolism of this trip. 'Normandie' does mean something to me. As does the story of Lafayette, who gave up comfortable position, fortune and title for America's call of, or: for, liberty. And an appeal to the shared values of the twin sister republics of the Enlightenment is always a rallying cry for me.
So to me, yes, there was something special about seeing Sarkozy give a speech of this nature under the portraits of Washington and Lafayette, portraits which to this day hang in the House of Representatives.

I wallowed in it, to be honest.

My point was: Your President spoke pretty words, that were appreciated by the US audience, but they remain just that: pretty words.
My actual question then, is: What will those words translate to, in terms of actions, if any?

The short answer: Sarkozy's pretty words are as good as America's pretty promise to stand up for democratic values anywhere.

There will always be an Abu Graibh, a september 11 - 1973 style, cynical lobby groups misdirecting America's foreign policy. Similarly, France will always be...France. Nations don't change much.
For people as well as nations goes that behaviour is a better predictor of behaviour than words.

Should have been in Frankfurt

No! In Vienna! "Ich bin ein Wiener..."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Followed by his travelling to the good old Austrian town of


'Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ******!!' Ich bin ein ****** Austrian!'


*runs before the wrath of the mods*

[Geoffrey S]

But states need symbols too. It gives a sense of direction, focus and unity. Even something as simple as a rowing team needs colours, cups, legends, clubsongs. These are unifying instruments. To help members get a sense of belonging.

That, I can wholeheartedly agree with. Although the present is not totally defined by the past it is always well worth remembering that everything has a history, that nothing should be taken for granted lest it be lost.

As an aside, and a minor rant, at times I find the willingness of modern European populations allow that which makes them unique to fade away far more worrying than the influence of immigrants on a nation's culture; that people see such a minority as a threat to what has developed over centuries illustrates all too clearly where the threat to national identities really lies.

[Fragony]

A step forward. As long as it survives Sarkozy's volatile nature....

Haven't drowned yet? Bring an extra pair of socks tommorow

This case rhetoric means a lot, it's about a declaration of love comming from France. France has always feared a hyperstate and was an annoyance just for the sake of it.

[Papewaio]

America was in WWI?

My god Watson its true. Maybe they were in WWII too.

[LittleGrizzly]

I wouldn't say its too much of a shift, US and France were hardly enemies before this, I would say its a positive move as even though there are differences on policy the basics like democracy and capitalism remain the same.

These are the countrys that need to represent a United front in trouble spots around the world like Iran and Sudan.

[Strike For The South]

TO little to late

[Papewaio]

TO little to late

A bit harsh. The US did eventually enter into both WWI, WWII and did help Texas fight for independence. Should let bygones be bygones.

[KukriKhan]

Monsieur le président de la république made a fine speech, citing our mutual sacrifices on behalf of freedom, on the eve of the US's Veterans Day.

So when will the Legionnaires arrive in Baghdad?