Posted by
stevo on Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:26:33 PM
France has been a traditional, and traditionally suspicious, ally of the United States. We have defended them in two world wars and were allied on the good side of the Iron Curtain. Yet, the two revolutions that spawned the modern era of each country were fundamentally opposed. The United States revolted in the direction of personal responsibility, while France revolted in the direction of personal autonomy. The former seemed more oriented around English deism and theism, while the latter seemed more oriented around the Enlightenment. One revered to Locke--the father of natural rights; the other revered Rousseau--the father of many illegitimate and abandoned children.
In today's election of Sarkozy, France realized that there was more in common with the United States than they had previously realized. Both countries have the burden of conflict with a hate-mongering ideology in radical Islam, while coping at home with the hate-mongering ideology of national self-loathing.
Both France and the U.S. would be well served to quickly work together and show one another support in this era of demoralization. This will require compromise. On the heels of Sarkozy's plea that the U.S. modify its environmental position, we should happily oblige. We may compromise without losing face or appeasing the global warming alarmists by renewing our investment in alternative energy sources. By making a mutual pledge with the French to pour more resources into alternative energy, we may each take a step forward in diminishing our dependence upon our enemies for power and consequently, appear more environmentally-conscious. Thus, the free market in the U.S. will not suffer from more extensive regulations, but will be willingly compelled to turn its competitive impulses toward alternative energy, with more environmentally-sound results as its natural end.