Ari Siletz

He must have seen this

Left after he saw this cartoon.

Elvis has left the building!!

Darius, your knowledge of the French Algerian affair quite surpasses mine. Looking forward to further historical analysis from you as the Egypt drama unfolds.

Actually Ari Jaan it was the contrary

As much as De Gaulle perfectly handled Revolution at Home in May 68 by taking everyone by surprise, His handling of the Algerian Crisis was far from perfect.

During the May 68 Revolution He eclipsed for two days ... Went to Germany Baden Baden with rumors of preparing a Coup ... Then came back to Paris and made a Radio Speech claiming firmly that he refused to resign and that he would conduct the nation to the end of his term.

That triggered a huge mass protest in favor of De Gaulle in the hours that followed the speech organized initially by Party Members of De Gaulle's camp but to which gradually other members of France's civil society including workers joined spontaneously in what turned out as a patriotic "Rastakhiz" of the nation.

Could anyone else but De Gaulle accomplished such a U Turn  ? Has anyone ever done so since ? On both accounts,  I'm afraid Not .   

I guess The Fact that he chose to speak on Radio and Not Television was a subtle choice which reminded everyone including the young generation that this was the Man of " L'appel Du 18 Juin 1940" aka "The call of 18th of June" where he launched the Resistance movement from exile in London:

On the other hand in Algeria De Gaulle Totally confused people particularly the Pieds Noirs with his  rather infamous and Televised Speech:

je vous ai compris ! 4 juin 1958

It was well greeted when he pronounced the famous words " I Understood You" (Which ironically Ben Ali also used in his last speech only to run away like a coward the same night) which was understood radically differently by the Algerians and the Pieds Noirs. The Former thought he meant "Independance" the Latter's that he meant "French Algeria" with Equal Rights.

The Result was a failed "Coup" in Algeria and a bloodbath which led to the definitive and tragic exile of many French colonials who thought that De Gaulle was suggesting an British Type Commonwealth partnership with Algeria where French and Algerians could live side by side.

That is where I particularly admire the British as opposed to the French in handling the end to their Colonial  rule as they did in India without shooting a bullit where as the French be it in Indochina or Algeria left a bloody souvenier which has left a deep trauma to this day. Including for the Harkis, Algerians who fought for France during WWII and who were never acknowledged except as second class citizens:

Algeria has since earned it's independence ... But still waiting for Democracy.

Credit however should go to  De Gaulle on many levels in handling France's successive crisis' and bowing off stage when he knew that his time had come.

Probably the fact that he loved Theater ( wanted to be a dramatist in his young formative years before choosing a military career) helped.

He is remembered for a particularly famous quote at a Press Conference saying:

"When did I ever betray the French Institutions ? I safeguarded and Restored them. How could you expect me to Start a career as a dictator at the age of 67":

Only time will say if Mubarak in handling the current crisis will go down in history as Egypt's De Gaulle or alas more likely as Egypt's Pétain ...

But then if it can be a consolation to the Egyptian Raiss' current pathetic Oral performance ... 

The Current American Administration's behavior has been less than glorious:

AUTHENTIC FRONTIER GIBBERISH: Egypt's Rebuffs Washington's Speed Up Calls ;0) 

Not to say Even less Visionary:

Kennedy - I am a Berliner - Ich Bin Ein Berliner

Which seems to have inspired both the Shah and Sadat a few years later as a rebuttal to American and Israeli dictates on the Palestinian question. 

Recommended Blog: 

pictory: France's De Gaulle Visits Iran (1963) 

PS/ Sorry for the Editing ... this is really becoming painful under MAC ... 

Great Cartoon Ari.

Apparently he just took the hint. :) Now let's see what the people are going to do with their newly gained freedom. 

Mubarak Karaoke!

Good one Ari.

I wonder what his "Swansong" is!

How about, "Whatch Gonna do When They Come for You?"

Elvis is rolling over in grave!

Everything is sacred

Some banter

Bambi: Wish I had thought of shoe. Just for you though, green thing is a shoe belonging to the  Jordanian salad lady .

Bavafa, Monda: and the entire ME is singing in unison "hit the road ol' Jack and don't you come back no mo' .

Darius: Cool De Gaulle quote. Though Mobarak doesn't have De Gaulle's skill with television. Mobarak treats the camera as a safe barrier between himself and the people while De Gaulle reached out so charismatically black and white became color and 3D.  Also, unlike Mobarak, he did see the inevitable: his "about face" regarding Algerian independence.

Quite a few Stink!

Cute humor, Ari :o)

The Pharaoh Missed his Speech ...

‎"I might have had trouble saving France in 1946 - I didn't have television then." -Charles de Gaulle

"Silence is the ultimate weapon of power." - Charles de Gaulle  

There are a few of these singers in ME that don't get the hint

Mehrdad

engaging!

Good in a cute sort of way!  I was hoping to see some shoes up there, but I guess tomatos will have to do.  What is the green thing being thrown?

:)))

perfect!