The Official Bastille Day Thread
 

I just wanted to take this opportunity to remember French Independance Day -- The anniversary of the storming of the Bastille and the symbollic end of the French Monarchy.

:)

Yah! Bastille Day is cool!

:cool:

When I was in college in Athens, Ohio, there was this big old concrete building that was divided up into women's apartments.

Everyone called it The Bastille.

As far as I know, it was only only stormed by certain fraternities.

...the last war they won. :D

This year it's my parent's 25th wedding annivesary as well!

And it was only because it was against other French folks ;)

Actually, France back then was a very powerful country with some great ideas. The US owes them a lot for that. Especially the French at the time of the First Republic and the French Revolution. Today, much has changed to strain the relationship between the US and France. I think France has really been hurt by its national egotism -- the Maginot line will be a lasting monument to that.

There are many French who are very brave people and were even willing to resist the Nazi occupation in WWII. Vichy France of course is almost inconceivable.

In recent days though, I think their egotism has really come back strong. It's far too often that as an American, I'm thinking "What the hell are these people smoking?". Of course, I'm pretty sure they think the same thing about us.

It's a nice place to visit at any rate.

Whatever it is, it defnitely ain't grown in California, I'll tell you that.

Maybe the French civilians can fight on the country's behalf, since their military's weaponry consists of two slingshots and a bunch of white flags.

Two words that describe the French military perfectly: Maginot Line

But why celebrate Bastille Day when you could celebrate my birthday instead??? :) :cool:

I'll have a drink or twelve in your honor tonight :D

Mmmmmmm...let's eat French pastries all day long!

Let us eat CAKE!

My professor made a funny about the French yesterday. Said the only Naval battle they ever won was during the U.S. War for Independence, hee hee. It is a class about military history, so there will be more jokes about France for sure.

Joyeux Jour de la Bastille à tous!

(NutBrnHair, I love your idea!)

It's my sister's birthday too. :)

hooray for bastille day!

Vive La France!

Making out with French guys during your HS graduation trip to Cannes is definitely the way of the cougar.

ROWR. ^-^

Question I always asked the new recruits that engaged in France-bashing:

"If the French military is so pathetic then why are the majority of military terms French?"

They still like to fight even though they don't always win? They have a lot of spirit? The terms sound better in French?

Perhaps it is due to Napoleon, I heard the main reason he was defeated at Waterloo was he was cocky and put out a book with all his tactics. He also had syphillis...

Sheet Sheet Fayre our Sheet

There's always the ever-favorite:

Why are the streets of Paris lined with trees?

So the Germans can march in the shade....

I'm celebrating my sister's birthday instead... for another 17 minutes.

they did pretty damn good holding off the Germans in WWI.

I have pictures of the Bastille...it's really not all that exciting.

But then again, after stopping at every Chateau, Cathedrial, Museum, and generally historic site, nothing like that is all that exciting anymore...it all starts looking the same!