Vive la République

Well, it was a bit lackluster last night at 8:02 pm when Ségolene Royal conceded her defeat. Not much hoopla.

Pales in comparison to the email I got this morning from Xavier, father of two brothers whom I've been giving lessons to for 6 years. He's a high school chemistry and physics teacher who has lived in many overseas French departments over the years, including Benin and New Caledonia. Here is his reaction, followed by the translation IN ALL CAPS. Nouméa is a reference to New Caledonia. The "Thomas" he refers to is his 17 1/2 yr old son, a senior in high school and an excellent and very serious student.

Eh Voilà ! C'est parti pour 5 ans (au moins !!) d'ultra libéralisme sanglant à la gloire des Dieux Croissance (de la pollution) ,
HERE WE GO FOR 5 YEARS (AT LEAST!) OF ULTRA LIBERALISM, BLEEDING FOR THE GODS OF "GROWTH" (POLLUTION, THAT IS),
Travail (pour les pauvres, ces sales faignants) et Résultats (pour les grands patrons et les actionnaires)...
WORK (FOR POOR PEOPLE, THE LAZY FILTH) AND RESULTS (FOR THE BIG BOSSES AND THE STOCKHOLDERS)...
On fait quand même très fort dans le département 68 % pour Sarkozy!! ( Ah! Que Voilà un beau département .....)
HOW ABOUT RIGHT HERE IN OUR REGION, WHICH VOTED 68% FOR SARKOZY!!! (AH, WHAT A LOVELY REGION...)
Ca commence à ressembler à la Calédonie et il va falloir raser les murs...
IT'S STARTING TO SEEM LIKE CALEDONIA AND PRETTY SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEMOLISH EVERYTHING
Thomas avait l'autre jour un Tee-Shirt avec le Che, sa prof d'histoire lui a sorti horrifiée: "Et maintenant il faut que j'ai un communiste en face de moi! Il ne manquait plus que ça..
THE OTHER DAY THOMAS WAS WEARING A T-SHIRT WITH CHE GUEVERA AND HIS HISTORY TEACHER THREW HIM OUT OF CLASS SAYING "NOW I HAVE TO HAVE A COMMUNIST SITTING IN MY CLASS?" THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
En plus on ne pourra même plus se moquer des Américains avec Bush puisqu'on a pris le même !!!
WHAT'S WORSE IS NOW WE CAN'T EVEN MAKE FUN OF THE AMERICANS WITH BUSH, BECAUSE WE JUST SIGNED UP FOR THE SAME THING!
Bon, on a tenu à Nouméa , on tiendra bien ici...Heureusement le vin est très bon cette année et j'ai des provisions...
WELL, WE HELD ON AT NOUMEA, AND WE'LL MAKE IT THRU HERE TOO. THANK GOD THE WINE CROP IS GOOD THIS YEAR AND I'VE GOT PROVISIONS TO LAST IT.

Just thought some of you might like to see a 52 year old Frenchman's reaction.