Liberté, égalité, fraternité

[OldGreyEagle]

Yes, a most happy and wonderful Bastille Day to you all. Today is Bastille Day remembering when the peasants of France rose up against the imperial absolutist monarchy that gave "let them eat cake" from their Queen.

 

The peasants were plain folk who were out to just "stick it to the man" or Le Homme, as it was France. The power of the people is often overlooked.

 

Always thought this was a powerful statement:

 

What gives you the right hey you

To stand there and tell me what to do

Tell me who gave you the power

To stop me from livin' like I do

Remember if you plan to stay

Those who give can take away

Don't bite the hand that feeds you

 

Just one time I'd like to be somewhere where

None of your clever lies fill the air

I'm tired of your frozen smile and your voice of tin

Just might all gang up on you

Turn the knob and do you in

 

Remember if you plan to stay

Those who give can take away.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you

 

This never ending power play

"Tween Jealous greed and vicious hate

Is grinding us like giant millstones

But it can't be our only fate

It's time we got our heads together

And let'em know that we're awake

 

Those in the dark, you know they're no longer blind

They're breakin' from your strangle hold on their minds

Those that can see don't need no one to cross the street

Be careful who you're pushin' round

They just might find you obsolete

 

Remember if you plan to stay

Those who give can take away.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you

[Vicki]

OGE, I never fully understood the French Revolution until a few weeks ago when I visited Versailles. Standing there in the cobblestone plaza, looking slightly uphill from the bottom of the approach, blinded by the gold glinting from everywhere and the sheer size of the place, my first thought was, "this couldn't stand." The profligate use of resources combined with the blatant disregard for and oppression of the folks who supported the whole thing was obscene. I had just never appreciated the magnitude of it in a visceral way before that moment.

 

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you" indeed.

 

Vicki

viva Smith and Friedman!(This message has been edited by Vicki)

[WAKWIB]

A song from one of my favorite rock bands, RUSH, expresses those times eloquently:

 

BASTILLE DAY

There's no bread, let them eat cake

There's no end to what they'll take

Flaunt the fruits of noble birth

Wash the salt into the earth

 

But they're marching to Bastille Day

La guillotine will claim her bloody prize

Free the dungeons of the innocent

The king will kneel, and let his kingdom rise

 

Bloodstained velvet, dirty lace

Naked fear on every face

See them bow their heads to die

As we would bow as they rode by

 

And we're marching to Bastille Day

La guillotine will claim her bloody prize

Sing, o choirs of cacophony

The king has kneeled, to let his kingdom rise.

 

Lessons taught but never learned

All around us anger burns

Guide the future by the past

Long ago the mould was cast

 

For they marched up to Bastille Day

La guillotine claimed her bloody prize

Hear the echoes of the centuries

Power isn't all that money buys

 

[evmori]

What! No pie!

[OldGreyEagle]

Ah, but John Kay's poetry has stood the test of time

[packsaddle]

A lamb her thirst was slaking,

Once, at a mountain rill.

A hungry wolf was taking

His hunt for sheep to kill,

When, spying on the streamlet's brink

This sheep of tender age,

He howl'd in tones of rage,

'How dare you roil my drink?

Your impudence I shall chastise!'

'Let not your majesty,' the lamb replies,

'Decide in haste or passion!

For sure 'tis difficult to think

In what respect or fashion

My drinking here could roil your drink,

Since on the stream your majesty now faces

I'm lower down, full twenty paces.'

'You roil it,' said the wolf; 'and, more, I know

You cursed and slander'd me a year ago.'

'O no! how could I such a thing have done!

A lamb that has not seen a year,

A suckling of its mother dear?'

'Your brother then.' 'But brother I have none.'

'Well, well, what's all the same,

'Twas some one of your name.

Sheep, men, and dogs of every nation,

Are wont to stab my reputation,

As I have truly heard.'

Without another word,

He made his vengeance good--

Bore off the lambkin to the wood,

And there, without a jury,

Judged, slew, and ate her in his fury.

 

La Fontaine

[Twocubdad]

I really do appreciate

the fact you're sitting here.

Your voice sounds so wonderful,

but you're face don't look too clear.

So barmaid bring a pitcher,

another round or two.

And honey --

 

 

 

WHAT? Is there some rule this has to be high-brow poetry?

[SSScout]

Ye sons of France, awake to glory,

Hark, hark! what myriads bid you rise!

Your children, wives and white-haired grandsires.

Behold their tears and hear their cries! (repeat)

Shall hateful tyrants, mischiefs breeding,

With hireling hosts, a ruffian band,

Affright and desolate the land,

While peace and liberty lie bleeding?

 

To arms, to arms, ye brave!

The avenging sword unsheath,

March on, march on!

All hearts resolv'd

On victory or death!

 

Whoa...Sounds better in the French.

 

 

"You played it for her, and you can play it for me"

 

 

 

[acco40]

la Nation, la Loi, le Roi!