The French Revolution

[The OD]

We were in Biarritz in October 2007 and watched the Rugby World Cup semi-final between France & New Zealand in a large bar with several big screens.

The place was jammed, mainly with young French people, and the crowd spontaneously broke into La Marseillaise several times during the match. They also belted it out a couple of times after the final whistle to celebrate the French win.

I couldn’t imagine an Irish crowd singing our national anthem in a similar fashion.

Thats because its utter sh*i*t, both musically and in content.

Before I am accused of hating Ireland, I find most anthems to be so, nauseating noise at the best of times.

Except for the French of course, great stuff!

[Thac0man]

One day stoppage, most of France unaffected. Vive la petite vacation!

[BoyInTheHood]

Dot,

Do you mean Indymedia the site or rather (more) independent media sources such as this or any other blog etc.

While France is often regarded as La Republique its worth remembering that it was a monarchy for nearly 70 years of the last 200 odd.

Its a very rigid society and what I have heard from French people and those working under French management is thats its business practices are a bit antiquated with the management being God and everyone else being very much beneath them. True of everywhere I know but in France its seems they have a different class of a-holes in management. Anyone can corroborate that?

I hope the left does bring some change to that country but they will need to be a bit more cognisant of reality this time rather than the airy aspirations of 68 or end up with a whole new round of Daniel Bendit Cohen's an

I totally agree and confirm with pleasure. Being French myself I'm actually happier to be here paying PAYE and giving out because of the state of roads, or trains/buses being late, instead of being in deep jacksh***t over there being mobbed or attacked in the street.

In France you've no chance of getting a half-decent job unless you're a graduate of one of the top-notch business schools and other lemming factories, for which you have to be an aristocrat or pay a lot... All in all, I think times are bad, the global economy is in dire straits, etc, but when it come to street riots, burnt cars, and anarchy, let the experts roll it out! The same could never happen here in Ireland I reckon.

Heard many were arrested yesterday by the way (many things you wouldnt see ot hear of on TV here), but there wouldnt be enough gards here to keep order in a 2-million-people demonstartion... so dream on and be proud!!!