We’ll always have Paris, maybe.
No, you must face reality. It is what it is. (screenshot YouTube.com)
The flickering screen.
The closeup
Stark, undeniable truth.
Accepted, but only with hope held out.
Here’s looking at you, Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray
1944.WW II Normandy, France.(Eisenhower Center for Military Hist./military.com)
Normandy. Where many died fighting for the innocent. For freedom, For individual liberty.
Normandy has significance.
This Catholic church in Normandy has even more significance now.
Daily Mail Online: “ISIS knifemen film themselves murdering French priest in Normandy attack”
Well, it’s Catholic. You know, that Lamb of God thing. Peace and goodwill. All are equal. All lives matter in God’s sight. That turn the other cheek.
Schools sometimes taught that the Crusades to the Holy Land were mainly about territorial conflicts, and that the Pope used crusades as a political tool to keep Europe’s rulers in line and doing what he wanted them to do.
Now? Innocents murdered and churches invaded.
Have to wonder if something wasn’t deleted from the textbooks.
Like what happens when opposing ideologies crash into each other? (Which might be tricky seeing our schools/textbooks are mandated to be politically correct and free of religious influence.)
French President Francois Hollande says, “France is now at war with ISIS”.
Nicolas Sarkozy: “Everything is being done to trigger a war of religions”
Alea iacta est
2016 Normandy. Priest’s throat slashed in Catholic church near Rouen. (Daily Mail Online)
Meanwhile the US media is wall to wall reporting of those political smooch fests.
Not going to interrupt the celebrity parades or the Hollywood-style scripted corronation event so long in the promising making. Avoid disappointment and don’t look behind the curtain. (61 speeches Monday. Not one mention of terrorism.)
Nothing of any import is going on anywhere. Nope
It’s all Hillary. Every bloody second.
Apologies, France
Can’t do much about some people.
Why is it so difficult? Some things you ignore at your own peril even if it is inconvenient or off your planned message. (you.tube screenshot)
France was the first country to recognize the Republic of Texas in 1839.
King Louis Philippe sent Jean Pierre Isidore Alphonse Dubois to manage the French Legation in Austin.
There’s quite a bit of French influence around here. People still take French lessons, celebrate Bastille Day, and stand for “La Marseillaise”.
So in the spirit of that long-standing friendship: “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”
“Vive la liberté”
Phil, the Philosophy Mouse of the Hedge.
Discover more from Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
19 Comments
Comments are closed.
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
About three years ago, I began re-reading Bonhoeffer. About a year ago, I re-read German pastor Martin Niemoller’s famous poem. I’d say a little Bonhoeffer and Niemoller are suitable for these times. Here’s Niemoller’s famous quotation:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
LikeLike
Quite appropriate. Just going to sit quietly over here so as not to distract from that…..with my copy of the novel Animal Farm.
Thanks for marching a comment this way
LikeLike
I certainly can’t add to that Shoreacres, the perfect response. Amid despondency, depression, dismay and despair – a lot of d words – we have to keep hope alive. I’m not that good at being happy in the circumstances which prevail in Britain right now, but the more the world wants me to retire or retreat, the more I know we have to march on. Not ‘aux armes’ more arm in arm. Thank you both.
LikeLike
“Not ‘aux armes’ more arm in arm.” Exactly. Ignoring, hiding, covering up the chaos with cotton candy news and fluff isn’t the best path or going to solve any problems. The old phrase “nothing new under the sun” is pretty true. Age old conflicts made worse since people aren’t traveling by horseback anymore and the hodge podge is all stirred together right at each doorstep. The human spirit will continue to soar. Thanks for marching in with perfect comment
LikeLike
What is presented to us as “news” is, in reality, a reflection of what sells media. Sad.
LikeLike
Yeah, media/news/journalism is now simply advertising/ promoted messages to be sold to the highest bidder now or if some event can promise lots of fights and blood so viewers will tune in. Rip Van Winkle may be heading to the back woods with other following? Hope you are out of the woods and back into happy trails. Thanks for sliding a comment into this bin
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope I’m better, it seems to be less of a problem every day – fingers crossed. When I had radiation treatment it left scar tissue in my intestine. If I am not careful, and I eat too much fiber, it stops the intestine. Twice I have had to be hospitalized on IV. For normal folks, as bad as the blockage is, it can be fixed by increasing fluid intake and reducing food intake. My problem is my kidney failure, so I cannot ingest as much fluids as is needed to unblock. That means cutting out food and using Ringer’s over a longer period of time – and that means hospital. This time I cut out bread and increased fluids some and did extra dialysis. It kept me out of the hospital. Nothing is as hard to work through as nausea.
LikeLike
As a doctor friend once told me a long time ago, do whatever you can to stay out of the hospital – people get sick there. You sound like a real mechanic – only this time working on your own engine. Being so observant is a big plus. Take it slow up and down those scary roads. Alway cheered to hear from you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh huh. Well the most important news in the world is the American presidential circus. Why do they need to nominate the glaringly obvious. Don’t answer. I don’t want to know. But, it is about time America had a woman nominee, she lost out last time because black male will always trump white woman. Even Britain has managed two women PMs now. NZ ages ago, Asia, Israel, South Merica. The western world of democracy isn’t as egalitarian as it purports.
But yes, onto the minor murder of the priest in Normandy, the five hostages and the other throat slitting. Minor in the US scheme of things? Europe is not going through a good time. At all. Banking and unemployment problems continue and every week seems to be Midsomer Murders 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
No one wants to know – all sick of being pounded everywhere by it. This whole hoopla nonsense no longer has any purpose other than entertainment like lions in the colosseums – for the shallow and foolish. At one time actual discussions were held about what firm stands/direction/plans fort action would be finalized into the Party Platform and then the best candidate to get that done was announced. Now, fluff.
Your observation is exactly what I thought when Hillary stepped back last time. Less worthy still. Liked her then, but now? (not even getting into her performances over the last few years) to ask people to vote for her because “all women should vote for me”, “It’s historic”, “We haven’t had one of these yet”, “One more glass ceiling to break”. Wrong. Best person for the job used to be the rule, not “we need one of these to fill out the picture and show how advanced in thought we are”
Many potential candidate over the last year or so have looked at the mess and decided it’s simply not worth the bother – and, of course, the system is rigged by money and connections and promised support if favors wil be granted. Existing power structure is destroying us to empower themselves.
So, avoiding the hoopla as much as possible – but it’s seeped in everywhere – replacing real news of real events that should be examined else where in the world. (Please – no one wants your Twitter quips and comments from viewers, or viewer’s video or – forget it…that’s what we’re all doing. Forget major media news – especially US news sources at this time who are so busy tripping over themselves trying to get inflamatory nonsense.) Europe is in crisis. Venzuela, once bathing in money, is starving and crumbling. People desperately trying to find some shelter and a safe place to put their kids to bed. Then there’s the predators using any excuse. And the US is served up clowns and distractions.So infuriating the media is reporting nothing serious here – event after event.
Like you said, August is always bad. When I was little, they blamed it on overheated brains in the heat waves…or a bad moon or something. Not that cooler weather will bring many changes this year. Hang on to your hats (and stay out of crowds)
Thanks for ducking down this alley to chat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Women running for power is still a difficult issue. Trying to write it up, but, oh, it’s summertime, and the weather is fine.
More to the point, apathy rules.
And it’s def dogdays. But batten down those hatches. Hard times to come. Well, they are hard enough already, (greedy greedy bankers) but I don’t see any ease up 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is no longer news or even politics – it’s all entertainment all the time, with everyone playing the crowd.
Thank you for pointing out France’s influence on Texan history, you’ve given me some ideas for my classroom.
I can’t help but come to the conclusion that France is, in some ways, now fighting for its own Independence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once the conventions were rowdy events where a party’s basic concepts were finalized into the party platform which showcased the actions/plans/direction their party and candidate would put into action…and then the candidate was decided (which one fit best the party’s platform ideals)
Now the conventions of both parties are Ta-Da performances worthy of Hollywood, carefully lighted and staged, scripted, bejeweled with selected celebrity-types, and full of showy emotions. The political version of TV’s “America’s Got Talent”
YAWN.
Thanks for that last sentence – that was exactly the point of the post. Those that know history, recognize. And the world turns on. Thanks for spinning a comment this way! (School starts here Aug 22 – hope you’ve got a bit more time!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nope, first day of teaching is Aug. 17th – yes, a Friday, but it’s a half day (thankfully).
I actually have to put hours in my classroom starting on the 3rd.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All that prep takes time – at least they will be paying you for those before the arrival hours. Bet you brain has already clicked into planning gear weeks ago. Actualy the half day on a Friday is a pretty good idea – time to get the annoying first stuff done and to let you see who you’re going to be dealing with – then retreat for drinks/tears of joy or pain? Wishing you the best for the year – your efforts are appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do think that’s why they do the half day. And my brain put some things on the back burner as soon as term ended in May. Now it’s time to move them to the front burner.
LikeLike
Who wouldn’t prefer to enter a long race slowly? It’s all about the finishing with a smile
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our media is almost useless, and what a disservice to citizens everywhere to be so uninformed (on purpose, I think). We seem to get political news and fluff. We hear about the major tragedies around the world and nothing of the day to day trials that shape our lives and futures. A sobering post.
LikeLike
If I see one more video of some outrageous dashcam recorded truck/car wreck from the opposite side of the world on our “national” or “local” news – wait. I won’t. Turned it off. They need to rename the shows during that time frame to reflect their goofy content.
The transformation of factual, non-biased, neutral, news media into something unrecognizable except on the rumor and scandal magazine shelves by the grocery store registers – it is on purpose. The media here certainly is being filtered and directed.
First they let the reading levels fall so low so people find it too hard to read real meaty, factual stories of substance, then they water down the next source of information the TV news stations, and now they are making noise about the internet and what people should be allowed to write and read there. We are being herded and managed. Serious days. Thanks tuning in with a solid comment
LikeLiked by 1 person