Re: Is the French revolution over?
- From: FACE <AFaceInTheCrowd@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:04:07 -0400
On Sat, 14 Jul 2007 22:38:25 GMT, in uk.politics.misc "DVH"
<dvh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, wrote
Your most sweeping generalisations are requested, please.
On 14 July 1789, the fall of the Bastille opened an age of liberty,
equality, and fraternity.
Was 9/11 the end of that age? The idea of equality is under assault, liberty
is being circumscribed by governments, the socialist idea of fraternity was
smashed by Thatcher and Reagan.
Only a few years ago, Zhou Enlai observed that it was too early to say what
the effects of the French Revolution might be. Would he say something else
today?
"First, the people tried to enter this fortress by the Rue St.Antoine, this
fortress, which no one has ever penetrated against the wishes of this
frightful despotism and where the monster still resided. The treacherous
governor had put out a flag of peace. So a confident advance was made; a
detachment of French Guards, with perhaps five to six thousand armed
bourgeois, penetrated the Bastille's outer courtyard, but as soon as some
six hundred persons had passed over the first drawbridge, the bridge was
raised and artillery fire mowed down several French Guards and some
soldiers; the cannon fired on the town, and the people took fright; a large
number of individuals were killed or wounded; but then they rallied and took
shelter from the fire
...meanwhile, they tried to locate some cannon; they attacked from the
water's edge through the gardens of the arsenal, and from there made an
orderly siege; they advanced from various directions, beneath a ceaseless
round of fire. It was a terrible scene ... The fighting grew steadily more
intense; the citizens had become hardened to the fire; from all directions
they clambered onto the roofs or broke into the rooms; as soon as an enemy
appeared among the turrets on the tower, he was fixed in the sights of a
hundred guns and mown down in an instant; meanwhile cannon fire was
hurriedly directed against the second drawbridge, which it pierced, breaking
the chains; in vain did the cannon on the tower reply, for most people were
sheltered from it; the fury was at its height; people bravely faced death
and every danger; women, in their eagerness, helped us to the utmost; even
the children, after the discharge of fire from the fortress, ran her and
there picking up the bullets and shot;
...Serene and blessed liberty, for the first time, has at last been
introduced into this abode of horrors, this frightful refuge of monstrous
despotism and its crimes.
Meanwhile, they get ready to march; they leave amidst an enormous crowd; the
applause, the outbursts of joy, the insults, the oaths hurled at the
treacherous prisoners of war; everything is confused; cries of vengeance and
of pleasure issue from every heart; the conquerors, glorious and covered in
honor, carry their arms and the spoils of the conquered, the flags of
victory, the militia mingling with the soldiers of the fatherland, the
victory laurels offered them from every side, all this created a frightening
an splendid spectacle. On arriving at the square, the people, anxious to
avenge themselves, allowed neither De Launey nor the other officers to reach
the place of trial; they seized them from the hands of their conquerors, and
trampled them underfoot one after the other. De Launey was struck by a
thousand blows, his head was cut off and hoisted on the end of a pike with
blood streaming down all sides. . . . This glorious day must amaze our
enemies, and finally usher in for us the triumph of justice and liberty. In
the evening, there were celebrations."
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/bastille.html
.....And a good time was had by all........(De Launey had no comment, though he
had a good view of the festivities.......)
FACE
.
- References:
- Is the French revolution over?
- From: DVH
- Is the French revolution over?
- Prev by Date: Re: Germans having a baby boom
- Next by Date: Re: Strange goings on at tescos....
- Previous by thread: Is the French revolution over?
- Next by thread: Re: Is the French revolution over?
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
