Posted on 03/25/2006 11:24:00 AM PST by aculeus
PARIS, March 24 -- Outside the Grand Palais museum, people stood in line for hours in biting cold this winter to see the city's most popular art exhibit -- Mélancolie , a collection of paintings and sculptures evoking depression, sadness and despair.
"It doesn't surprise me that this exhibition is such a success," said Claire Mione, a 20-year-old Web site editor who joined the rush to the show in its closing days. "Melancholy is an overwhelming feeling in our society right now."
Many French agree. In art galleries, on bestseller lists, in corporate boardrooms and on the streets, the country's outlook has become so morose that President Jacques Chirac has urged citizens to stop the "self-flagellation."
By almost every measure this society holds dear -- political, economic, wine exports, art auctions -- France is losing its global dynamism. The recent demonstrations by angry young people across the country are just the latest symptom of angst and fear in the national psyche.
"France is divorced from the modern world of the 21st century," said Nicolas Baverez, author of a top-selling book, "New World, Old France." It describes a country so fearful of letting go of outmoded traditions -- including a hugely expensive cradle-to-grave welfare system -- that it is being shut out of the global marketplace. "We're at a very dangerous turning point," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
May be seeing a D day mirror view, in which it is the French on the Normandy beaches trying to get on allied ships to flee France.
Maybe Jimmy Carter can lend a helping hand with their malaise. Or move there and wallow in it. Pack a sweater, sir.
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
I've heard people say that the French don't have a sense of humor - they are fascinated by Jerry Lewis-style slap stick comedy and have a firm handle on the absurd, but no real sense of humor. So they don't even have a Colin O'Brien or David Letterman to joke them back to reality.
I suspect we are witnessing the preliminary signs of the fall of the Fifth Republic.
If we are smart we will keep our "we told you so" to a minimum and reach out to the French and them a chance to reclaim a position as our friend and ally.
Of course, a little "I told you so" is just human nature.
"...a country so fearful of letting go of outmoded traditions -- including a hugely expensive cradle-to-grave welfare system -- that it is being shut out of the global marketplace"The problem is simple. So is the solution:
Marxism does not work. And it requires an oppressive totalitarian government for its implementation. This has been proven time and time again. And it is obvious to anyone with an I.Q. higher than room temperature--without having to try it!
However, fools like the French--and many in America too--are determined to keep trying it!
On the other hand:
Capitalism generates prosperity and wealth consistently and repeatedly.
The U.S.A. is the greatest, most powerful, and richest nation the world has ever known--because of CAPITALISM!
Furthermore, the U.S.A. offered France the solution to all their problems in the person of President George W. Bush.
The French refused his leadership and ridiculed him--the very leader who could have brought them solutions and prevented the catastrophe that looms over them.
Instead they choose clowns like Chirac and Villepin to be their leaders!
Too bad they have been so foolish! We tried to help them!
But it's hard to feel sorry for people who can see the train coming and just won't get off the tracks! All we can do now is put our fingers in our ears and squeeze our eyes shut!
ITS OVER People. Now is your last chance to visit Paris (personally I'll pass)
Clemenza is deeply saddened...
Agreed
Marvin the paranoid android must have been french.
"Life? Don't talk to me about life."
Now thier all going to talk like that. Another reason not to go to France.
I don't disagree ... however, if we continue to lose our manufacturing base, export jobs overseas, and turn into a service industry economy; eventually, sooner than later, we will lose our leading role in the world economy and end up resembling some south American country such as Brazil.
But who will be de Gaulle in the Sixth Republic?
I might regret saying it, but I'm sorry I cannot make it to this exhibit.
But what comes after? I don't think France has any more Charles DeGaulles up their sleeve.
"But who will be de Gaulle in the Sixth Republic?"
If it's Le Pen, we're in for some serious hand-wringing in diplomatic circles.
"Is Le Pen still of much significance?"
Up until the recent riots by Muslim youths, as well as the current riots by disaffected socialists, I'd say no. The French historically have had a strange trait of lying back, allowing things to get out of hand, and then going to draconian excess in response, once a response is deemed necessary, though. Jean-Marie Le Pen would be just the type to capitalize on that sort of situation.
Un Américain demande à un Japonais : " Si la fin du monde était annoncée pour le mois prochain, que souhaiterais-tu avant ?" Le Japonais lui répond : " Sans aucune hésitation devenir Français " "Et pourquoi donc ?" lui dit l'Américain . Et le Japonais répond : " Parce qu'ils retardent de 20 ans."
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