Looks a whole lot like a revolution. Reuters / Stephane Mahe
Annabelle Timsit, Quartz: French history has never seen a protest like the yellow vest movement
France is a country that’s no stranger to protest movements—from the massive student demonstrations of 1968 to contemporary union-led strikes. But during the “yellow vest” protests that rocked the streets of Paris this weekend, protesters reached further back in their history, to the era of the French Revolution.
Protesters marching along the Champs-Elysées on Saturday (Dec. 1) could be heard chanting slogans like “We are running the revolution” and “Macron to the Bastille.” The Arc de Triomphe bore a message in spray paint: “We have chopped off heads for less than this,” a reference to the death by guillotine of king Louis XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette.
Are the yellow vests modern Jacobins fighting contemporary tyranny—or are they something entirely different? Quartz spoke with Danielle Tartakowsky, a history professor at Paris 8 university who recently published a book about the French state, about how to contextualize the yellow vests within France’s history of protest movements. According to Tartakowsky, the current demonstrations are unlike any other, marking an important shift in France’s political landscape.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: This is my must read post for today. As to what is my take .... after reportedly weighing declaring a state of emergency, French President Macron realized (especially when the riot police removed their helmets to show their support for the protestors on Sunday) that he and his government had lost control of the situation. So what does a politician do in such a situation .... say you are are compromising, and hope for a better day in the future. So will French President Macron be successful in ending the protests with this delay .... I doubt it. This is just a delay. French President Macron is still dedicated to achieving his policy goals and agenda, and he is not going to be deterred. The only thing that he is giving is a six month grace period, and if I was in France, I will be getting ready for the next round of protests.
On a side note, Richard Fernandez's commentary is spot on ....
.... What appears to be happening to Macron is “a preference cascade”. Something everyone knows but keeps to himself that suddenly emerges when people suddenly realize that everyone is thinking the same thing.
Outwardly the conventional wisdom: high taxes, crippling Green regulations, open borders were unassailable, seemingly universally held. But under the surface the peons were seething while the riche were oblivious because they could afford to be.
Macron, the media — nobody saw it coming. Nobody really predicts anything. Pearl Harbor, Hitler’s invasion of Russia, the fall of the USSR, 9/11, 2008, Brexit or Hillary’s loss. The really important info is not what you know but what you’ve ignored.
5 comments:
I think this is a new revolution. Since visiting New Brunswick and working with some French Canadians this year I can say I have nothing but respect for them. They stand up for themselves and protect their values..... and have no problem fighting when conditions call for it. The French will be the last standing in the death of our civilization. How Ironic.
Fuck oil
It's not just the fuel, immigration, green regulations. It's the neo-liberal changes to the labour code, social safety net that has many, many people in France pd-off.
I recall a certain French leader telling a certain Saudi leader that he was "worried" about a thing this certain Saudi leader is accused of doing. Now the French leader is dealing with this. Perhaps he needs to rearrange his priorities and be less concerned "worried" about what the leader of another country does or doesn't do.
As I understand it, many died in the French Revolution including the French leaders. While this is does appear to be a serious problem for France, I think it is a bit premature to compare this to the French Revolution.
I do understand the need for sensational headlines to draw in readers but it does distract the casual reader from getting a true understanding of the story being reported on. Essentially such hyperbole is unhelpful. Perhaps this could become like the French Revolution but I don't think this situation is anywhere close to that right now.
Didn't France pretty much tear itself apart during its revolution? If so, I'm not sure a new one would be desired.
As I recall, this same French leader has incessantly insulted a certain US president. He also expressed a need to "defend" against the US. There's no possibility of an American attack on France or western Europe. This can only mean he wants to use the EU army he wants to create to invade America or is seriously considering it. In this case, they would need to "defend" against American counter measures.
It really does look to me as though the French leadership including Mr. Macron really do need to rearrange their priorities. As a suggestion, I'd suggest focusing on the needs of the French people and to help grow the French economy.
If France has an entrepreneurial spirit and healthy business culture, I'd suggest the Trump approach of tax cuts and regulatory reforms that have worked fabulously well for America. Unfortunately they seem determined to do the exact opposite!!
In other words, they may need to put the planned EU army and the planned attack of Ameruca on hold. It's also not going to be a good idea for them to insert themselves into the affairs of a middle eastern country they do not understand. Essentially they should "worry" about the French people instead of the policies of another country that they can't begin to understand.
So, does the world feel more like 1914 or 1789? I can see both. Neither is good.
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