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Thursday, 07 August 2008 |
Dear Editor,
After reading the letter from Mike Alexander [letters, May in
response to Clair Whitmer’s US Guys of April], I dug out a
light-hearted memoir I had published in a fledgling English
newspaper ‘The Recorder’ (copy piece enclosed). A reader’s
letter rebuked me for being too naive about life in France and
confidently predicted that my youthful romantic vision would
speedily evaporate.
Well, 15 years on, yes, the scales have fallen from my
eyes. Today, I retain a more ambiguous affection for the
country I chose to settle in.
For all these years the French have constantly talked of
being “démoralisé” and predicted
imminent “catastrophe”. To my
perception this doom and gloom
has created an unhealthy malaise
of timidity and fear which only
sweeeping changes can hope to
dispel.
M. Chirac, towards the
end of his time in office,
urged the French to stop
being so “frightened”.
President Sarkozy, at a
difficult time
economically
worldwide, is striving
to bring about the
great change believed
necessary to resuscitate the
French and bring them
dynamically into the
21st century.
I wish the President
and the French all success.
Yours sincerely,
Anthony Attard
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