La Liberté guidant le peuple, Eugène Delacroix, 1830 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Above is Eugène Delacroix‘ Liberty leading the people. Eugène Delacroix is associated with Romanticism. He is, almost undoubtedly, the son of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, a brilliant aristocrat who survived the French Revolution, was Napoléon’s second-in-command, orchestrated his defeat at Waterloo, and fared well under Louis XVIII, the King of France from 1815 until 1830.
Sunday, April 23rd and in its last week of campaigning the contest is a toss-up. The race is coming down to four candidates – the far-right Marine Le Pen [Front National], the independent Emmanuel Macron, the centre-right François Fillon and the left-leaning Jean-Luc Mélenchon who has mounted a late-stage comeback to pull within striking distance of the other three.
Análises & Previsões – Blogs de Traders
Le Pen reinforced: Nicolas Dupont-Aignan
As you have just read, last Sunday, it seemed that independent Emmanuel Macron would be the next President of France. Matters have changed. On Friday, 28 April 2017, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, the President of far-right party Debout la France (Stand up France) reached an accord de gouvernement with Madame Le Pen. (See Le Monde.) Members of Madame Le Pen’s Front national could therefore be elected into office. My poor “douce France” (La Chanson de Roland)!
Members of Marine Le Pen’s Front national may have influenced the results of the Brexit referendum, held on 23 June 2016. The Brexit referendum did not indicate a clear willingness among Britons to sever their ties with the European Union. For all practical purposes, half of Britons voted in favour of leaving the EU, and the other half opposed a separation. The results were too close to be acceptable.
We, Canadians, are veterans in the murky territory of referendums. We’ve experienced a 49% versus 51% “victory.” We have therefore eliminated 50% referendums through the Clarity Act. Such 50% referendums show division and in the case of Brexit, a few voters feared the Migrants. That decision had to be “walked back.”
Since migrants began flooding Europe, nativists, i.e. the extreme right, have been given a voice. It is a repli sur soi. In other words, a number of Britons went into fetal position. And the United States elected Donald J. Trump. Britain is the former and foremost colonial power and the United States has welcomed several generations of immigrants from all over the world. It was a symbol of freedom.
At any rate, last Sunday, it seemed that independent Emmanuel Macron would be the next President of France. As you probably know, on Friday, 28 April 2017, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, the President of far-right party Debout la France (Stand up France) reached an accord de gouvernement with Madame Le Pen, the leader of the Front national. (See Le Monde.) This partnership could result in a victory for Marine Le Pen’s Front national, and we could expect a purge, the return of the death penalty, no tolerance of “otherness.” In short, the Age of Enlightenment would seem an error, or a movement, a mere movement. Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, etc. never envisaged 1793, the “populist” Reign of Terror.
Although Madame Le Pen has avoided using the word Frexit recently, Frexit is on her agenda. Brexit was harmful, but Frexit could deal a death-blow to the European Union. Together, European nations are a force. If Frexit occurs, the European Union may be irreversibly weakened and peace in the world threatened. A United Europe is one of the conditions of global peace.
It other words, we cannot allow ISIL to rule the world. A victory based on a fear of terrorism would not be a victory. On the contrary, it would empower extremists, and extremism is always a mistake. One chooses a middle path, Molière’s “modération.”
Marine Le Pen came to Quebec thinking she would have an audience. Not at all! The Québécois birthrate is so low that we need immigrants and they are Canadians as soon as they arrive. The Quebec shooter (29 January 2017) was an admirer of Madame Le Pen and Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated President of the United States. The cost of housing is very high in Canada, but, if Quebec builds affordable homes and I have anything to do with the process, these homes will be for everyone.
At this point, Marine Le Pen has a chance of being elected to the presidency of France. She’s clever. People may believe she will protect them from terrorist attacks. No! Kindness, acceptance, humility and a smile go a very long way. I’ve inserted an Avaaz video. One has to click on Facebook if need be.
Love to everyone ♥
If necessary, please click on Watch on Facebook ↓ to see the video.
The Marseillais volunteers departing, sculpted on the Arc de Triomphe (Wikipedia)
Hector Berlioz‘ la Marseillaise (Rouget de Lisle)
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle sings la Marseillaise for the first time by Isidore Pils (1813-1875) (Wikipedia)
© Micheline Walker
3 May 2017
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
I wish you well with your housing
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Dear Derrick,
I answered your comment but given the confusion home-hunting has created, I may have forgotten to press the right button. The problem with moving is the work associated with it. You should see my bookshelves: 24 linear feet, six to seven feet high. It should be illegal. I have started to give books to Sherbrooke universities. I have three desks: guest-room, my room, my office. Have a look at my home. The little red car is mine. There have been improvements to the apartment since these pictures where taken. Good wishes, Micheline 🙂
http://www.royallepage.ca/fr/property/quebec/jacques-cartier-sherbrooke/6-2525-rue-de-la-laurentie/5735813/mls26911245/
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Thanks you, Micheline. It looks lovely inside. Is this the new one?
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Derrick, This is the old one. It’s a comfortable space and I have an office. The guest room has its own bathroom. But the building was poorly managed and, consequently, many things are falling apart. The shareholders have yet to realize that they own one ninth of the building; that each share is equal and that we must look after the staircases, the entrances, etc. We rent five apartments that have never been upgraded in 50 years, except by the tenants.
The new place is the following:
https://duproprio.com/fr/estrie/sherbrooke/condo-a-vendre/hab-308-800-rue-de-vimy-225335
This building has an elevator and a swimming poor (salt water). It is absolutely secure. I could retrieve my piano, as the soundproofing is excellent. I would have one bedroom only, but the rooms are spacious. The garage is in the basement. So a little more of my life and dreams.
Take care. 🙂
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It looks lovely. I hope you will be happy there
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Derrick, I think that’s where I should go. It’s lovely and affordable. My cat will love the patio doors. He can look outside as much as he wants and play on the balcony. It’s very private. He can also sleep in one of the bathroom sinks: cats! The apartment has its own laundry room. It’s very practical. Take care. Micheline
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“The Québécois birthrate is so low that we need immigrants and they are Canadians as soon as they arrive.” – can you please provide a definition of “Canadian”, so that the reader looks around and sees how some “immigrants [become] Canadians as soon as they arrive”.
Then, “The Québécois birthrate is so low that we need immigrants” – can you please provide arguments in support of this.
re: Avaaz as authoritative source, please consult this https://alethonews.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/avaaz-empire-propaganda-mill-masquerading-as-grassroots-activism/
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Dear SM, It is so nice to hear from you. Turning immigrants into French-speaking Québécois began the day Quebec declared itself a unilingual province: French (1974). There followed language laws that made compulsory for the children of immigrants to be educated in French. The children of immigrants were in the same schools as Québécois children and friendships developed. Unilingual posting also resulted from the language laws, which I and others consider unacceptable. For details see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_the_French_Language. At the same time, Quebec adopted Martha Nussbaum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Nussbaum. Cultivating Humanity is the current cornerstone of what Ms Nussbaum leaders in Quebec call: interculturalism. See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/quebec-group-pushes-interculturalism-in-place-of-multiculturalism/article569581/
I’ve written a few posts on this subject chronicling the subject from the good to the ridiculous. I’ve a doctor’s appointment and must leave, but my posts may be listed under Canadiana (a page). See Beyond Bilingualism and Multiculturalism https://michelinewalker.com/2015/05/02/beyond-bilingualism-and-biculturalism/
At this point, the language laws are not choking anyone. Quebec’s Premier, Philippe Couillard is repairing mistakes (he’s a neurosurgeon) and encouraging a constant dialogue with “others.” But in the meantime, I can tell you that when I go to the grocery store, I meet people who have come from everywhere and are not foreigners. I’ll send you a note. Again, it was lovely to hear from you. They’d love you in Quebec. Micheline
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Dear SM:
Being treated like “Canadians,” or “Québécois,” means not being treated like a person who does not belong. Here is an example. If an African is buying something I also wish to purchase, I stand behind, until he or she is finished. Nothing gives me, or anyone else, the right to buy my what I need before the person ahead of me is finished choosing what he or she needs. In my opinion, a large percentage of Québécois Canadians turn into maniacs the moment they are at the wheel of car. But they are learning that locals must wait before they help themselves or are served. There was a time, when French-speaking Canadians felt they were inferior to English-speaking Canadians. Well, Québécois and English-speaking Canadians now both wait their turn queuing.
I don’t think my life is much easier than theirs, but I’ll wait my turn. Some people are oafs and will remain oafs, but children are taught that all human beings are the same.
However, I am not in any position to say that my university respected me. Yet, I had the same needs and, theoretically, privileges, as my colleagues. It’s not a perfect world.
Take care, Micheline 🙂
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The “issue”, dear MIcheline 🙂 , is that looking at the Old World, the tendency appears to the opposite – those that belong (“historically” the academically versed would say) are “being treated like a person who does not”. Is that the essence of the multi-inter-etc. philosophy? …. or “that all human beings are the same” – are they indeed? Just look around, or back …. you are, some are oafs (though relative:) concept), but some are quite aggressive, too, of little “respect” to the rest, or sense of balance, or “rights” ….
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Not all human beings are the same in every way. There are very special persons, persons who are intellectually superior to the majority of people, highly educated and highly accomplished. They close doors on that person and are extremely disrespectful. This happens to several immigrants but it is less likely to happen in, say, Toronto. I doubt that it would happen in Paris, the Old World. I lectured in Stuttgart in 2001 and would have stayed there for the rest of my life. I was a scholar, just as I was on a national level in Canada. It’s a long story. Yes, that would be interculturalism. I had rights and you, my dear friend, had more rights than I did.
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Courage, mon amie. The polling companies (pretty accurate in the first round) don’t show any significant increase in public support for Le Pen in the last week.
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David, You may be right. She got in trouble in a major debate that I watched. But given Brexit and the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, I am saying do not vote for Marine Le Pen. We cannot lose a strong Europe and it is possible to keep one’s identity within a strong union. For Marine Le Pen, immigrants are a burden of the native French. They benefit from France’s social programmes. Marine Le Pen was interviewed during a trip to Quebec. She thought proponents of sovereignty(Quebec) would be delighted to see her. They would not see her. They are in favour of immigration and the integration of immigrants. It’s an important election.
I thank you David for your reassuring comment. 🙂
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Dear Micheline, I am glad, you are actively working, academically and artistically oriented, positive and a believer in the good in humans. Yet, with great respect to the above, please note that speaking the language of the land is far not enough to be “of the land”, share the culture, live in harmony with others, work for the common good of the country, etc., etc.. For many the language is not what it is to you :), but rather a means of basic communication, inevitable burden in a foreign land. Multi/Inter/whatever-culturalism are perhaps entertaining exercise in the field of political correctness and of little practical impact on the high towers surgeons look at the crowd from, or perhaps in the exotic grocery store you are lucky to go to, but the common European may not share this opinion …. Indeed, all in its place and time 🙂
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There are no easy answers or quick fixes in the matter of immigration. Leaving one’s country may be one of the worse afflictions a human being can suffer. But Québécois are taught tolerance of others, and I am seeing proof that matters are going well. Yesterday, when I saw my doctor, there were immigrants speaking Arabic (so does the Premier) in the waiting-room (I have my own doctor, but I go to a public clinic with the multitude, no high-power doctors). One young woman was giving advice to the other. Before I left, I told them both that they were gorgeous, which was the truth. Quebec supplies “accompaniment” and tangible help to its immigrants.
I also go to an ordinary grocery store and it is exotic. I see smiles on our immigrants’ face. According to Marine Le Pen, Canada and Quebec are making a big mistake.
Despite the language laws, it is entirely possible in Quebec to spend a lifetime not using a word of French. Would that all Canadians knew that this is the case. If one phones an office, one usually hears, “English will follow.” As well, Québécois have also chosen to make sure their children know English. No one knows what the future will bring, but I believe the path Canada and Quebec have chosen is the appropriate path. In Quebec, immigrants and the natives (Québécois) marry.
We live in an imperfect world.
I had a strange experience. I met an Osama bin Laden look alike in full attire. I worried that he would catch a cold because he was wearing sandals and no coat, but a luxury vehicle was waiting for him at the door. We were buying stationery and stamps. I helped him out.
I think of you whenever I come across people who are taller than you are and are not immigrants, but perhaps the children of immigrants. It’s marvellous, I get help reaching for my Espresso: top shelf. Canada is a country of immigrants and among Québécois many have Amerindian ancestry. I doubt that the French in Canada would have survived had it not been for the help of Amerindians.
In my eyes, you have never been a foreigner. 🙂
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the boy with *TWO* revolvers in great ! ciao .
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Rinaldo,
I had the same reaction. Why two revolvers when one is too many. It’s an extraordinary painting. The lady is Marianne. She has long represented France. In July 1830, the French ceased to be a kingdom. This is a scene from the July Revolution.
Ciao!
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Micheline : have a nice Saturday. Hugs ciao.
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Rinaldo: have a marvellous weekend. Big hugs, ciao.
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Grazie .
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Thank you and have a good week! 🙂
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I blog frequently and I genuinely thank you for your content. This article has really peaked my interest. I will book mark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.|
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Thank you Dania. This was a very serious election for the French and for the world. I feel so relieved. Take care. 🙂
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