I hate to write anything positive about the French. I really do. But I have to mention that in this case we find a Frenchman who some may say is a coward... but I say is a hero. Now, yes, I am not at all a fan of suicide. Not for the least part because of my particular religious beliefs. But, to be honest with you, I find something appealing in the act of this particular Frenchman. In the way he went out.
Here is why: assuming he was not a coward (as in he was just afraid to face the music), his act, though again not to be praised, demonstrates he was capable of shame. And embarrassment. And guilt. That is... he appears to have been... human. It also appears that he was not given to pointing the finger at others for his mistakes. That means he felt responsible for his actions.
I like him. And in particular, I like him because he is dead. I think the US/Britain could benefit from this sort of culling of the herd.
God forgive me. But I really think we would benefit.
Instead, the power-centers are populated with shameless creatures that represent the most base Humanity has to offer.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Oh that Gordon Brown would display such honour after pissing our nation's resources down the drain; but our Caesar is not an honorable man. He understands the word culpability, but only when it is applied to someone else.
Capt. Lawrence Oates killed himself but he died well, with honour and with typical British understaement on Scott's last polar expedition. "I am just going outside and may be some time." Would a Frenchman ever die like that?
p.ilc -
no; but the only difference would be that the Frenchman would mention "la gloire" in his parting remark.
As it happens, France apparently has a higher suicide rate than most other European countries.
In 2006 the suicide rate in France was reckoned at about 11,000/year.
In 2004, Hungary led the league with a rate of almost 50 suicides per 100,000 (men - the figures are lower for women), with France coming in at 26 per 100,000 and the UK at about 12.
In the same year only about 13 per 100,000 Frenchmen died in road accidents (though I admit, the boundaries in this area are blurrier than a French driver's eyesight... it seems that one of their favourite methods is driving off the edge of a gorge).
Whatever you think of the Frogs and their sense of honour, you can't accuse them of not trying to thin out their own ranks.
Post a Comment