Here are some excerpts from French President Nicolas Sarkozy's address to Congess today. Hopefully, his words will echo throughout all Europe. He, a Frenchman, understands better than most what makes America great.
"To the millions of men and women who came from every country of the world and who -- with their own hands, their intelligence, and their hearts -- built the greatest nation in the world, America did not say, "Come, and everything will be given to you." Rather, she said, "Come, and the only limits to what you will be able to achieve will be those of your own courage, your boldness, and your talent."
"The America that we love throughout the world impedes this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance, another chance, because, in America, failure is never the last word. There is always another chance. Here -- in your country, on this soil -- both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That is what constitutes the moral value of America."
"America liberated us, and this is an eternal debt we owe America. Every time, whenever an American soldier falls somewhere in the world, I think of what the American army did for France. I think of them -- and I am sad as one is saddened to lose a member of one's family."
"We need France to be stronger. I am determined to carry through with the reforms that my country has put off for all too long. I will not turn back. I will implement all of them, because France has turned back for all too long. I have come to present to you today a France that comes out to meet America, to renew the covenant of friendship and alliance that Washington and Lafayette sealed in Yorktown. "
"Together, let us be true to their memories. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I say this to you on behalf of the French people: Long live the United States of America. Long live France. Long live French-American friendship!"
I must say, those last few lines sounded much better in French.
Oh, yeah, now you neocons are all for France because Sarkozy is kissing Bush's behind.
ReplyDeleteHe is just your style, just look how he is treating the strikers in his own country.
A few years ago it was Freedom fries and banning French products, and now you are all ready to jump on the French train again. You politicos make me sick!
I see it differently than above. I say finally the French have re-discovered a brain(somewhere between the cheese and snails) after being so pro-EU, anti-democracy scumbags. Zut allors!
ReplyDeleteI loved the whole Freedom Fries/Freedom Toast thing by the way...leave it to the neocons. Welcome aboard Tate! Look, all along the left in America has been telling us that Bush's policies were fraying our alliances abroad. Damage control was in order. One of the reasons, it is said, that we need to elect a democrat in '08 is to "restore our image in the world." But France and Germany, two nations of the cranky "old Europe" of the dour Chirac era have elected new leaders markedly different from their predecessors in their refreshing desire to engage America and Bush.
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