Originally posted by Geforce
Aaah, la guillotine. :p The troubles concerning the French Revolution (dictatorship of Robbespiere and Napoleon), made countries like Belgium opt for a Royal family. In fact, most countries formed in the 19th century (Belgium, Germany, Italy) chose for monarchy, instead of the presidential regimes (US, France) set up in the 18th century. Maybe, one day, the Bourbons will be in charge again. Compare this with the stable British politics, where “democracy” was introduced 100 years earlier, with a bloodles revolution. I’m more and more beginning to appreciate the Anglo-Saxon system of politics.

Problem with French politics, a remainder of the 1789-Revolution, is that there’s a huge difference between the different philisophies (liberalism, conservatism and nationalism, later also socialism) and hence, a gov’t can never be so stable when in a coalition.

Agree with Keltic that a Royal Family, though not democratic in theory, makes things a lot more easy.

Geforce,

You seem to have forgotten the very bloody interlude of Cromwell from 1649. I don’t think Charles I would agree with you about the gentleness of the English subjects in this particular case.

:rolleyes:

Do not think that the Royal family is held as wonderful institution by everyone in the UK. The Queen, her late mother and to a certain extent Princess Diana are/were on the whole accepted, even by people who are no ardent defenders of the Crown. As for the rest, they split public opinion. I doubt there will be a republic in the UK for a couple of generations, if at all, but there is no national consensus about it. Quite a few voices are condemning the Royals (particularly the minor ones and their hangers-on) as an irrelevance, and a damned coslty one at that.

You comments about Napoleon seem to neglect his influence on various French institutions, which are still relevant to this day.

As for thinking the Bourbons or whoever will one day be back as rulers of France, dream on!

One thing the reporter fails to mention is that if you look at the bosom of a lady other than your partner while the said partner is around, your life expectency might be suddenly reduced to a couple of seconds.

Bushmills for me every time (every time I can find it, more like)

Oh dear… According to them, I’m…

Haven’t seen this one but it could be popular amongst the sporty community:

Nike fans just do it.

Originally posted by mongu
Do you have CCTV in these places?

I have no idea to be honest. Might be a good idea, but I don’t know if the quthorities would stump up for the installation/maintenance of one.

Hi Mongu,

In this case, it might be a wanton act which was not perpetrated with the intention of specifically defiling a cemetary. In the incident that occured a few months ago however, the grafitti clearly seem to point to a targeted operation.

Kev,

I think it’s an unspeakable outrage. I can’t find the words to express the anger this piece of news has caused me. Whatever the motives were for the idiots who perpetrated such an act (and I have doubts that they actually followed motives to speak of, as it seems to me they are clearly devoid of any decency, respect and sense of right or wrong) they are low-lives who deserve harsh punishment for descarating the memory of the men who died to liberate France and they are a disgrace to France.

It sounds like this new outrage has also shocked the highest echelon. French Yahoo had the following statement:

“France condemns in the strongest possible terms the desacration which took place yesterday in the Saint Aubert graveyard. This act is utterly unacceptable” a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Office said. “This desacration is an affront to the memory of all the Commonwealth soldiers who died to liberate our country. We want the culprits to be swiftly caught.”

And on English Yahoo:
War veterans minister Hamlaoui Mekachera condemned what he described as “an inadmissible offence to the memory of British, Canadian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in France in World War One and should be let rest in peace on our soil”.

Sadly idiots, bigots and low-lives can always be relied upon to act in such a mindless manner. Some of the fires currently devastating the South of France may have been caused by arsonists. The news is littered with depressing examples of such types of behaviour…

Amongst my friends, family and acquaintances I do not know one French person who would condone the graveyard incident, even those who have not particular fondness for their neighbours from across the Channel. I am sure that in France all but a handful of idiots would agree and unreservedly condemn what has occured. It does not in any way represent France or 99% of its citizens.

I am utterly aghast that some people would stoop to that level and perform such revolting acts. For what it’s worth, I’d like to offer my most sympathetic thoughts.