Sounds familiar, all right. My view is that WWII was America’s Olympics and we’ve been headed downhill ever since we gave ourselves a gold medal. Like an aging athlete sinking into desuetude while basking in skewed memory. The Bomb and our legacy of slavery and hate has only made the descent worse. It’s a pity really-with our former resources and drive we could have been the best, now we’re just lost. Instead of building the next Parthenon we chose strip malls.
Great analysis. I can see the parallels between old France and the current U.S. leaders. Soon the piper will have to be paid and there will be no money left to pay him.
I think you should also take into account that one of the four major volcanoes in Iceland erupted... (I forget precisely what year but maybe 1789.) The resulting blanket-like cloud of volcanic ash, gases, and debris caused crop failure throughout much of Europe and especially in France. French peasants were actually starving. If the Revolution could've been derailed, famine sped it up instead.
This administration and past administration have forgotten about the people paying taxes to support them.we are looking into a mirror of the past that is reflecting its image of our future.
The greed of the monarchy and the ultra wealthy is rearing its ugly head in the image of DJT🫏👑 and the criminal syndicate he has installed as his cabinet members and his offspring.
Hopefully some more of his MAGA followers, will see him as the grifter, thief and liar he is, and leave his cult.
TAX THE RICH SHOULD BE THE CHANT OF ALL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
Thank you Alisa for this beautifully written post.
This is one of the most succinct and accurate accounts I’ve ever read re: the uprising’s origins and final outcome. Is their governance better off than ours today? That’s a toss up. One of the sad truths about revolutions is they hardly ever evolve on the same principles that started them. That requires endurance, commitment, and dedicated community, which is a big ask for average humans.
Curious coincidence, but two nights ago I was explaining this theme about the revolution of rising expectations that was the reality of the French Revolution. It was a revolution led by lawyers, professors, bankers, and professional artisans, who believed they were effectively paying for and running the nation so it was about time the government reflected that reality. The country itself had the highest paid working classes in Europe (most farmers farmed land they owned, and most shop owners, cheese makers, butchers, candlestick makers, and milliners and haberdashers crafted their own wares and sold them in shops they owned), which is largely why there were so few immigrants to French Canada or the British colonies. No "Little Paris" in NYC or French hooligans mixing it up with the German, Dutch, Welsh, or Scots-Irisn immigrants--or the Italians, Irish, Poles later on. Why take on all the hardships of transporting your entire life when life wasn't so bad right here at home?
Great story about Genesis of revolutions. The soi-disant American Revolution was definitely a War of Independence not a revolution, for the gentry who led the way wanted to return to pre-French and Indian War status quo; they did not want progress, they wished to regress. The French, on the other hand, once they got rolling, wanted to transform everything, including education, the calendar, and even convert churches into Temples of Reason, Father Voltaire bless them.
Well, hot damn, girl!! Very insightful, informative, and it ignites something I believe in all of us that are sick to our core with this corruption. Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you again for another truthful accounting and explanations with facts of historical events that are so relevant to our current stressful conditions. I have to wonder if you are a fan of Heather Cox Richardson.
Sounds familiar, all right. My view is that WWII was America’s Olympics and we’ve been headed downhill ever since we gave ourselves a gold medal. Like an aging athlete sinking into desuetude while basking in skewed memory. The Bomb and our legacy of slavery and hate has only made the descent worse. It’s a pity really-with our former resources and drive we could have been the best, now we’re just lost. Instead of building the next Parthenon we chose strip malls.
Ineptitud is his strongest suit
Hot damn. That was a fantastic read.
Great analysis. I can see the parallels between old France and the current U.S. leaders. Soon the piper will have to be paid and there will be no money left to pay him.
FASCINATING HISTORY. Thank you for tying it back to the current happenings in the USA and using language and examples that all can understand.
Wow! Lotta learning going on here
Thank you Alisa for this enlightening and detailed commentary - much of which I did not know.
Brilliant reporting!
Fascinating, Alisa. Much of this is a new perspective for me.
I think you should also take into account that one of the four major volcanoes in Iceland erupted... (I forget precisely what year but maybe 1789.) The resulting blanket-like cloud of volcanic ash, gases, and debris caused crop failure throughout much of Europe and especially in France. French peasants were actually starving. If the Revolution could've been derailed, famine sped it up instead.
This administration and past administration have forgotten about the people paying taxes to support them.we are looking into a mirror of the past that is reflecting its image of our future.
The greed of the monarchy and the ultra wealthy is rearing its ugly head in the image of DJT🫏👑 and the criminal syndicate he has installed as his cabinet members and his offspring.
Hopefully some more of his MAGA followers, will see him as the grifter, thief and liar he is, and leave his cult.
TAX THE RICH SHOULD BE THE CHANT OF ALL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
Thank you Alisa for this beautifully written post.
Thanks you. Incredible writing.
Sterling. Well done. Looking forward to Haiti.
This is one of the most succinct and accurate accounts I’ve ever read re: the uprising’s origins and final outcome. Is their governance better off than ours today? That’s a toss up. One of the sad truths about revolutions is they hardly ever evolve on the same principles that started them. That requires endurance, commitment, and dedicated community, which is a big ask for average humans.
From a friend:
Curious coincidence, but two nights ago I was explaining this theme about the revolution of rising expectations that was the reality of the French Revolution. It was a revolution led by lawyers, professors, bankers, and professional artisans, who believed they were effectively paying for and running the nation so it was about time the government reflected that reality. The country itself had the highest paid working classes in Europe (most farmers farmed land they owned, and most shop owners, cheese makers, butchers, candlestick makers, and milliners and haberdashers crafted their own wares and sold them in shops they owned), which is largely why there were so few immigrants to French Canada or the British colonies. No "Little Paris" in NYC or French hooligans mixing it up with the German, Dutch, Welsh, or Scots-Irisn immigrants--or the Italians, Irish, Poles later on. Why take on all the hardships of transporting your entire life when life wasn't so bad right here at home?
Great story about Genesis of revolutions. The soi-disant American Revolution was definitely a War of Independence not a revolution, for the gentry who led the way wanted to return to pre-French and Indian War status quo; they did not want progress, they wished to regress. The French, on the other hand, once they got rolling, wanted to transform everything, including education, the calendar, and even convert churches into Temples of Reason, Father Voltaire bless them.
Well, hot damn, girl!! Very insightful, informative, and it ignites something I believe in all of us that are sick to our core with this corruption. Can't wait for the next one.
Thank you again for another truthful accounting and explanations with facts of historical events that are so relevant to our current stressful conditions. I have to wonder if you are a fan of Heather Cox Richardson.