Happy Bastille Day (or Not)
Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 07.14.08 | 11:16 AM ET
Which is to say, if you’re French, you may not be too excited about the whole thing. Writes Susan Nagel in the Los Angeles Times: “Although Americans often think that July 14 is as important in France as July 4 is in the United States, the reality is that the holiday is of less and less significance as the years pass. Today, many French citizens, whether their ancestors went to the guillotine or not, do not take part in the celebrations, and for a variety of reasons.” Among them: an aversion to the holiday’s militaristic bent, as well as to displays of patriotism. Fair enough. But Syrian President Bashar Assad has no qualms about partying in Paris.
Photo by Luigi Versaggi via Flickr, (Creative Commons).
Email to friend
Twitter
del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Ma.gnolia
Mixx
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Yahoo! Buzz
Jim Benning is the editor and co-founder of World Hum.
Dave 07.14.08 | 6:54 PM ET
Why is it that they are not excited? Is it the lack of fireworks?