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French Politics – Part One
Of all the great “bon mots” of wisdom my Father imparted before sending me out into the World – the most enduring and effective was : “If you want to get along with as many people as possible, never discuss Religion,Sex or Politics.”
While I have, in the main, adhered to this Fatherly sagess, there have been exceptions.This Religious Rant for example. And, sigh, yes, Religious Rant two, and Religious Rant three. As far as Sex is concerned – there I follow another non-Fatherly pearl of wisdom: “Those who can do, do – those who can’t do, teach.” (Or worse yet, just blah-blah)
I’ve had significantly more success with ranting about Politics. Managing(thus far) to limit myself to this post. However, I’m now about to throw caution, whatever else I can lift, and dear ole dad’s advice to the wind. Yes, dear reader, I really am going to pull back the flap on the tent of French politics.
And, like Politics in any other Western Democracy(Forget for a moment it’s actually a Republic.) – it is a circus. The good news is that like circuses(circi?) everywhere the French “race for the throne” is wildly entertaining.
Unlike it’s imagination bereft neighbours, who like those mighty anacronyms – USA and UK can only manage two(rarely three) pretenders to the throne, France, in the last election trotted out at least thirteen. (More on that HERE.)
The major players warming themselves(and, they hope, voters)up for “game 2012” are as varied and eclectic as the cheeses for which this land is (justly)famed.
Starting at the top(and isn’t that always the best place?) we have the current Napolean – Nicholas Sarkozy. Ruler of all he surveys. And(at last count) 61 cars. (Hey – how can you expect to run a Palace with less?)
“Sarko” – as he’s been annointed by the press, was the Justice Minister during the reign of Jacques Chirac. Now facing “Justice” himself for allegations he padded the City payroll with invisible employees while he was Mayor of Paris.
Monsieur Le President, famous for his Type A”King o’ the Hill” style, dis-endeared himself to many froggies after his election by immediately holidaying on a rich pal’s yacht. And, yes, “Sarko” does have a lot of rich pals. Not to mention his own plane. (We’re talkin’ Boeing here, not Cessna, folks.)
Although History may remember Nicolas Sarkozy for other things, he holds the distinction of being the first sitting President to divorce. Now married to former singer/model Carla Bruni. Thereby assuring the tabloids of an endless supply of verbal and pictorial ka-ka.
A poster boy for the George “dub-ya” Bush flavor of Economics, Sarko’s slash, burn and bury forays – particularly into Social Services have crippled entire programs. And decimated others. Radically changing the structure of the land of Wine, Cheese and Johnny Halladay.
This, understandably, has cause the panties of many to be knotted. Resulting in an approval rating that while not in the toilet, is definitely circling the bowl.
But regardless of his Politics, there is one thing about Nicholas Sarkozy that all French People can relate to. He enjoys a good glass of wine.
More from the thrill-a-minute big top of French politics next time.
Feeling more informed, are we?
THROW ME A BONE HERE, PEOPLE!
What are ya thinkin’?
Wrong, Mr. President
(Authors Note : It’s a rare occasion I comment on non-French events. This is one.)
Wrong, Mr. president. Revenge is not justice.
Justice is the granting of due process to the accused.(Even, and especially, if they are clearly guilty.)
When you short circuit that human right, that’s revenge.
When your revenge takes the form of killing – that’s murder.
Dressing it up in the clothes of “noble purpose” changes nothing. (As you well know)
Murder is murder. Full stop.
Wrong, Mr. president.
And why? Mr. President.You knew that your act would not stop or cripple Bin Laden’s Islamic hotheads. In fact,by elevating Osama to marytrdom,regardless of whether or not you released the murder photos,you inspired and galvanized his followers to commit more “revenge murders” dressed up in the clothes of their “noble purpose.”
But you knew this before the execution Mr. President .So why aggravate an insoluble situation. Why place more lives,Worldwide at risk?
The callous among us would say that it was simply a “trump card” to get yourself re-elected. But I believe you to be a much deeper man than that,Mr. President.
Even though one of your campaign promises was to “get Osama.” Why,Mr. President? Why is any one man more important than the organization he represents.? Clearly,America, and the Democratic party would not crumble and fall if (heaven forbid) you were to suddenly exit the scene.
So, again, Mr. President, Why? Yes, Osama was a “symbol” of Islamic Terrorism. The Bushs’ had Saddam. You had Osama.
But you chose to execute, rather than interrogate your best and only source of complete terror planning information. You preferred instead, whatever “intelligence” you found at the execution scene. Curious, to say the least Mr. President.
Murdering the symbol of a problem, while it makes the killer(s) feel righteous, does nothing to advance a solution to the problem the symbol represents.
Wrong, Mr. President.
Unbelieveable, Mr. President. Your intelligence assaulting and continually shifting post murder explantions. DNA co-operatively donated(years in advance, yet) by the Bin Laden family, burial at sea because no country would have him(Did you ask?),and most shamefully, no pictures.”Seeing IS believing”, especially in this age of images on our portable phones. Is it not?
Your pious spin – “That’s not who we are” – your rationale for not releasing the “grisly” photo of Bin Laden, is doubly pathetic coming from a Harvard Graduate.
The World knows who “we” are, Mr. President. A nation that thumps it’s righteous chest proclaiming freedom, democracy and human rights, yet regularly suspends them whenever it suits “our” purposes.
A nation that scoops anyone off the street,in any country, suspected of terrorism, then imprisons and tortures. Overseas, of course. Because “That’s not who we are.”
“By their actions Ye shall know them.”
That’s how the World knows “us”, Mr. President.
Certainly there are some people who have just fallen off the back of a turnip truck, but the majority of us can see and smell smoke when it’s being blown in our direction.
Wrong, Mr. President.
Did Osama deserve to die? Absolutely!
Did he deserve his day in court? Like the Nazi War Criminals? Like Saddam Hussein? Absolutely!
And if he had been afforded that day, would he have been found guilty and sentenced to death? Absolutely!
“A great day for America.”
Wrong, Mr. President.
A sad day for America. When the leader of the “free world”, the “Commander-in-Chief” of the “War” against Terrorism throws all the principles of freedom, democracy and due process out the window, and descends to the terrorists level.
Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people cheered your revenge murder, Mr. President. My bet is that the Nobel Peace Prize committee was not among them.
Sadly,the jubilant were also,unwittingly,cheering yet another assault on THEIR human rights.
French Riviera Vacation – Part Four
The monks on the island of Ste. Honorat claim that Holy mumbo jumbo has prevailed there for 1600 years. An easy claim to make that not even the superior security forces of the city of Cannes can hope to verify. However ,the numerous ruined chapels scattered throughout the tiny isle lend some “concete” support to the Holy Bros. rant.
Nominally alined with the Cistercienne Borotherhoood, the Honorat Holies have a rare and unusual lineage. Legend has the sects’s beginnings in the Middle Ages. That period of History before the invention of the mobile phone.
It was also an epoch devasted by the bubonic Plague TWICE in 100 years. The obvious result: Many people ascended (they hoped) to heaven. Others, we must assume, to more subterranean destinations.
BOTTOM LINE : Thousands of abandoned children and babies. Who to care for them? You’re ahead of me again, are you not? Yes – the “Holy” orders. Nuns, Monks, and Orphanages in search of tax deductions.
The particular challenge for the Holy Brothers of Ste. Honorat – other than the fact that babies don’t thrive on bread, wine and prayer, was the obvious one: No Diapers! Enter Brother Manus – Keeper of the Manuscripts.
Manus and his Holy team had produced an abundance of bibles. Far more than needed to spread the Holy word on Ste.Honorat. Thus was born : “The Most Holy Order of The Baby Bottom Bible Wipers.”
OK – IT’S A JOKE! – but if you believed even half of one line of that squirrel dookie – I want your name and address so I can sell you a condo on Mars!
The primary occupation of the Ste. Honorati bros.(other than Holiness, bien sur) is the one monks have engaged in before Jesus was even a twinkle in the eye of the Holy Ghost – MAKIN’ BOOZE! And, refreshingly (pun intended) not the usual fermented honey, secret herbs n’ spices hootch.
No Sir! The Honorati offer up a selection of full bodied wine. At equally full bodied prices.(32 euro and rising) The rationale for these price points being the petite plot available on which to produce their liquid treasures.
As you would expect, in addition to their pricy grog, the Holy Bros.regale you with a selection of sacred (paid) souvenirs. Their chant CD, various honeys, herbs, and other local goodies. And, as long as you have your wallet open – they DO accept “donations.”
It would be correct to say that the Monks “own this town”, except for one thing. There IS no town. Just the present modern (as in “has electricty and indoor toilets”) monastery, the ancient fortified one, jutting proudly into the blue Med, and a flora and fauna sheltered resturant. Didn’t sample the grub. Associated with the Monastic dynasty? Hmmmmm?
Although it is the essence of sublime,cool, groovy and just plain ZEN to be present as the Holy ones, foreheads glued to their lecturns drone on in Latin (p.s. – their chanting is fab!)- a much mo’ beddah experience for me is the fortified Holy Palace by the sea.
Not only is it free and are you free to wander through it’s 4 or so floors(I stopped counted after 3) – but at the top there is a (NOT modern – Glory Gee to Beesus!) “Observation deck.” Where you can chill in an equally free plastic or wooden chair. Hyptonized by the deep blue Med. and catch a few rays.
Much smaller than it’s sister isle – Ste. Marguerite – Ste. Honorat sadly lacks the long and comfortable beach access of it’s nearby sister. When you step off the “round the island trail” – it’s onto rocks which dead end into the sea.
BOTTOM LINE : Only bring a book and a bikini if rock lounging floats yer boat.
Being smaller than Ste. Margeurite, and with fewer “attractions” means that Ste.Honorat, in any season, remains the least visited of the two islands. However, in high Summer that means nada. But then, you’d go in LOW season, like DA BG – would you not?
More Ste. Honorat info HERE.
Anything else I can help with?
THROW ME A BONE HERE, PEOPLE!
What are ya thinkin’?
