History Channel: The French Revolution

History Channel

[Borges]

Did anyone catch this the other night? The common attempt to link the American revolution and the French was certainly not present here. The differences couldn't be more blunt. Robespierre, Marat and the rest of their gang were nothing less then brutal totalitarian mass murderers.

[TXBSAFH]

I HATE THE BLASTED FROGS!!!!!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I've always maintained that the French revolution was the first comunist revolution.

Marx was a latecomer.

[CzarNicky]

One of the historians wrote a book called "In Defense of Marx".

[Cincinatus]

Yes, I've watched about half of it. Excellent, so far. No mention yet of Burke and the founding of modern conservatism -- no doubt this is extensively covered in conjunction with the desciption of the Terror.

[Cincinatus]

Yes, I've watched about half of it. Excellent, so far. No mention yet of Burke and the founding of modern conservatism -- no doubt this is extensively covered in conjunction with the description of the Terror.

[N. Theknow]

The French have always been revolting.

[SF Republican]

Yes, interesting; when the frogs have no concern (armed enemies) they are very tough, think of those royals with no protection, think of the Nazi collaborators, etc. as long as their enemy is defenseless they can be brutal; second, they kept giving the french so much credit for this first revolution in the world that gave people the power over the monarchy when I could almost swear the American Revolution was about 15 years earlier

[rudypoot]

I dont remember any American parading a head on a pike down the streets of Philly.

The most famous instrument of the French revolution was the guillotine. The most famous instrument of the US revolution was a piece of paper.

[SMARTY]

I was going to watch it to see if the production even bothered to describe the Revolutionaries' vigorous efforts to 'deChristianize' France in their overall effort to break with the Monarchy and everything associated with it (and also to rob the church). Of course I gave up on History Chanel long time ago, toooo many commercials. Was the 'deChristianization' campaign even mentioned. Also, ours was the grandaddy of all Revolutions which preceded and served to jump start the French vesion. Lots different in many, many ways.

[Borges]

It was very much mentioned. Along with their efforts to change calenders and establish worship of the 'Goddess of Reason'.

[Conan the Librarian]

"YEh...they stink on ice!" Louis XVI

[philsfan24]

i think they did an excellent job with it. in addition to the french revolution, watching it gave me the sick feeling that i was witnessing the birth of modern liberalism. they even attempted to start their own religion. the goddess of virtue? yikes! what a screwed up country.

[Borges]

I'm guessing it was to excuse him from the atrocities commited in his name. I'm a big believer in personal responsiblity and don't blame a bitter, cranky journalist for Lenin, Stalin and Mao's crimes. I blame them.

[Atlantic Friend]

"Yes, interesting; when the frogs have no concern (armed enemies) they are very tough, think of those royals with no protection"

Excuse ME ?? Oh, those poor royals, who had written to their foreign counterparts asking them to please invade France and free them, which they did. Read about the battle of Valmy, for example. No armed enemies ? Pull the other one, it's got Liberty Bells on.

"think of the Nazi collaborators"

Think also of those who fought them, whether in uniform or not, and those who helped fight them. 200,000 French soldiers died in WW2 (about as many as US troops in Europe), and 1 civilian was shot every 2 hours for acts of sabotage, being in the Resistance, or just hiding and feeding downed Allied aviators. Don't you think these people could be extended a little courtesy and respect ?

[ghitma]

I saw the show and the common links I saw were between todays liberals and Robespierre. Robespierre controlled the press and tried to destroy the church. Sound familiar. He tried to replace the church with the "Supreme Being of Reason", which was himself. What a difference between America and France. How many innocent people were killed between Robespierre and Marat?

[Vaquero]

"The people love me......PULL!"

[Petronski]

I loved the part when Robespierre took power and revoked the "Rights of Man." LOL



Also, one of the historians used language like "advancing the historical process" or some such dialectic codewords and I yelled "Marxist!" at my television. About half-an-hour later, he got a screen credit as author of "In Defense of Marx." LOLOL They're so predictable.