La France Survit! La France Survit!
That's more or less what my French friends and I have been exclaiming to each other. Yes, France survives! Emanuel Macron won the presidential election over Donald Trump-in-a-dress-who-speaks-French.
It's really appropriate that his victory came the day before V-E (Victory In Europe) Day. More than one commentator has said that Macron's ascent is not just a victory for France, but for all of Europe.
I am inclined to agree, though I admit I'm far from being an expert on such things. I am just happy that enough people didn't fall for the nonsense about making their country "great" again or "bringing back" jobs that were lost to automation rather than outsourcing.
For now, I am willing to take victory wherever I can find it--and celebrate. Vincenzo Nibali has the right idea:
That's more or less what my French friends and I have been exclaiming to each other. Yes, France survives! Emanuel Macron won the presidential election over Donald Trump-in-a-dress-who-speaks-French.
It's really appropriate that his victory came the day before V-E (Victory In Europe) Day. More than one commentator has said that Macron's ascent is not just a victory for France, but for all of Europe.
I am inclined to agree, though I admit I'm far from being an expert on such things. I am just happy that enough people didn't fall for the nonsense about making their country "great" again or "bringing back" jobs that were lost to automation rather than outsourcing.
For now, I am willing to take victory wherever I can find it--and celebrate. Vincenzo Nibali has the right idea:
Now if we could only get a viable progressive party to break the stranglehold of the Republicrat duopoly. It's like asking if you like Coke or Pepsi. WHO CARES! They're virtually the same. Now is the time for a third party in the US. Damned French. I'm so jealous.
ReplyDeletePhillip--I couldn't have said it any better!
ReplyDeleteActually VE Day is not celebrated in Europe. However, the day is a holiday, but it is called "Europe Day". It celebrates the signing of the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, which was the founding document of the European Coal and Steel Union that expanded and grew into the European Union. It is a symbol of reconciliation in Europe after the war. How, if you think about it, could the EU celebrate the military defeat of one of it's founding members by other members? Five years after the war, to the day, Germany was invited to enter the community of Europe in a spirit of peace and cooperation.
ReplyDeleteSo it is perhaps even more appropiate that Macron's victory was one day before the celebration of European unity and reconciliation.
Leo
Leo--I didn't realize that May 9 is the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Thanks for pointing that out. And Macron's victory at least keeps its legacy intact, for now.
ReplyDelete