I am back in the US again. I spent all of last week in Paris.
While there I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker that lives in Paris and is French. I compared rights to gun ownership for self defense as being as fundamental to the basic right to life as printing/publishing equipment was to the right to expression.
Two things struck me. First, they had clearly never thought of self-defense and guns in that way. In their mind a gun was only an offensive weapon.
Second, was the somewhat equivocal position they took on a basic right to life. They were not sure they personally felt it would be right to take another persons life, even to defend their own. The person was not a parent, which certainly changed my view point on that subject some. But I still was a little taken aback by that opinion.
Glad to be back in the US and enjoying my full cadre of human rights again.
After reading your thoughtful, insightful, well measured comments about the cultural, political, moral differences between America and France; only one response comes to mind.
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." - George S. Patton
"We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it." - Marge Simpson
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." - Norman Schwartzkopf
Q: What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?
A: The Army
Sorry Sqlbullet, couldn't help myself.
Welcome Home!!!
Wouldn't want the French to have my back, but enjoy the country. I've never been to Europe without a stop in Paris. Great city.
Hope you enjoyed it.
I go there all to often. Don't have to consult a map that much anymore. Twice a year for a week minimum, sometimes an additional trip.
I do enjoy the food and the people. Just don't like having an ocean between me and home.
Without the French there would have never been a United States.
Welcome back to the land of those who used to be free and still the home of the brave! ::)