Joie de France

By Rod Dreher • October 16, 2012, 4:46 PM

Matthew: “Mom, you know what I hate about France?”

Julie: “What, honey?”

Matthew: “Nothing.”

That’s what Dad loves to hear. That photo above is my son Lucas, 8, with his new friend Leon, the son of old Franco-Dutch friends of Julie’s and mine. Just two little boys scampering down the street having a blast together. I can’t even tell you how satisfied that makes me, and how happy I am to see my children fall in love with France and the people they’re meeting here.

Leon’s dad and I are taking the boys to Normandy, to the D-Day beaches, on Thursday. And then my children will know something else about the bonds between this great country and their own.

Posted in France. Tagged France, friendship, Normandy.

10 Responses to Joie de France

Clint says:

October 16, 2012 at 5:32 pm

Dad and his troopers fought their way from Normandy to Paris,where dad led the first allied troops ,his 38th Cavalry Recon troopers into Paris through grateful liberated Parisian crowds on his way to his mission target,Notre Dame Cathedral.

Dad’s quoted in the book, “Is Paris Burning” reporting in, in front of Notre Dame Cathedral and France awarded him The Croix de Guerre.
Myron Hudson says:

October 16, 2012 at 6:39 pm

I lived in France for a year (long time ago) and found the people there to be more like us than any other type of European. Note that I do not say that their Government is, but the people are. And outside of the cities, they are a nation of farmers. When I run into the French in my travels I find them easy to get along with and generally less critical of the US than some other Europeans.

Ironically, the demonizing of them for refusing to follow us into Iraq covered up their main area of disagreement and instead painted them as cowards. Of course they didn’t believe in the WMD; half of the US didn’t and few outside of the US did. However they would have joined the venture in return for access to some of the reconstruction work, which went in no-bid contracts to Haliburton.

That is: they wanted the same deal for ELF that Haliburton was getting, and ELF has the same relationship with their government that Haliburton had with ours. Essentially the US said no, and France said well fine, have fun. Come to think of it, their government is a bit like ours in some ways too…
Surly says:

October 16, 2012 at 9:29 pm

What an amazing photo, and blessings to your family for making this trip. You will treasure it always.

Both of my kids (grown up now) live in other countries. One in Canada and one in Chile. Their sense of wonder and optimism is infectious. I love visiting them and seeing those countries through their eyes.
Harrison H.M. Elfrink says:

October 16, 2012 at 9:30 pm

While France is not my favorite European country. (I prefer Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy), I understand France is maligned by the porky right in this country.

And while I dislike almost everything the Bastille Day represents, I still find the military parades to be cool.
Beyng says:

October 16, 2012 at 10:20 pm

Formerly* great country. Whatever remains of greatness in contemporary France is merely leaching off the cultural capital of previous and truly glorious epochs.
Peterk says:

October 16, 2012 at 11:29 pm

don’t forget to visit the cemetery
Fred Gion says:

October 17, 2012 at 6:18 am

@Clint. Sir, your dad is a hero. One more time, thank you! Merci!
DorsetPirateGirl says:

October 17, 2012 at 7:36 am

Although I appreciate you may be short of time on Thursday, it would be great if you also took him to Gold, Juno and Sword beaches -helps to give the full picture.
J.J. Gonzalez says:

October 17, 2012 at 12:36 pm

I hope you may have the chance to eat some “fruits de mer” when you go to the D-Day beaches. It’s a common first course in Normandy and other seaside regions. Here’s how it’s made:

1. Scoop out of the sea oysters, clams, sea urchins, crabs, squid, shrimp of all sizes, and whatever else the nets catch that morning.

2. Dip all these gorgeous sea creatures into a pot of boiling water seasoned with fragrant herbs for just a brief moment.

3. Dump out onto a platter of seaweed.

Voila. Simplicity at its very best.
Gene Callahan says:

October 17, 2012 at 11:56 pm

Wait, Rod, you don’t know that France is our “oldest enemy”?

(Of course I jest, at the expense of the neo-con idiots who publish such rubbish.)