GO FRANCE!!
As an American soldier of French descent, I am often the butt of quite a few jokes from my peers (you know who you are) concerning France surrendering to girl scouts or some other act of utter wimpyness, pointing out France’s stereotype of seriously lacking warrior ethos.
So, I am happy to see the new French President, Sarkozy, speaking boldly in reaction to the Taliban ambush on the French patrol in Afghanistan earlier this month. Sarkozy stated that France was determined to continue the war against terror and that it was an honor to do so (www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/). Maybe France will shake the stereotype of being the world’s most likely country to surrender. Maybe the French will regain their esteem as some of the world’s finest soldiers.
What the heck am I talking about? I hear you out there, with your challenge to name one French war hero. “How about Napoleon”, I say. “He was Corsican”, you say.
Well, take out your pencils and prepare to take notes on a little French Warrior history. Let’s go back to the very beginning of France, when the Franks invaded the disintegrating Roman Empire.
Please direct your search engine to Clovis. This Frankish King, a warrior’s warrior, united the Frankish tribes and gave Rome a final smack down. He and his descendents then dominated the region for several hundred years.
Time again to google. Try Charles “The Hammer” Martel. You don’t get nicknamed the hammer for your carpentry skills my friend. The Hammer, descended from Clovis, was also a butt kicker and taker of names. In fact, he was THE guy who stopped the Muslims from taking over Europe over a thousand years ago. Muslims had stormed across North Africa, turned north, taken over Spain, headed over the Pyrenees with their sights on surrounding the Mediterranean with Islam. All was going well until The Hammer stopped them dead at the battle of Tours in 732. Had the Franks not stopped them it could well have been the end of Christianity and civilization as we know it. For example… no Renaissance, enlightenment, both Western European events that led to advancements in economics, politics, social wellbeing.
So as not to overwhelm you with countless more examples, although I could, take it on yourself to have a look at Charlemagne or Joan of Arc.
One more note on Napoleon before the quiz. You may argue that Napoleon was Corsican, but his soldiers, the warriors of his army were French. France, by the way, took possession of Corsica on May 15, 1768. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica in 1769. Do the math, connect the dots. The Emperor/ military genius…French.
Tony Fournier
