In the face of the maelstrom of various demonstrations, some of which were more about communication than emotion, we decided to mainly participate in the republican commemoration at Place Masséna. It was a personal choice that obviously only engaged us, as everyone reacts differently to this type of event.
The ceremony at Place Masséna was long (two and a half hours) but filled with emotion and meaning.
Firstly, it could have been titled “Three Presidents for One Republic,” a fine example of political ecumenism. Watching François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy somewhat isolated (but where have the courtiers gone?) chatting while waiting for the speech of the current President was a comforting sight for those wishing for a strong Republic capable of transcending itself in the dramatic moments of its history.
The reading of each victim’s name (those of the children, truly heartbreaking) and the speech by the representative of the families were moments of infinite sadness and impeccable dignity. It was a moment to send a small thought full of friendship and tenderness to distant Alsace for little Gaston and his mother Francesca who are fully recovering somewhere in Alsace.
As for the President’s speech, it’s an understatement to say that it rose to the occasion, as in a few minutes Emmanuel Macron restored the honor of the Republic, tarnished in Nice a year ago. We remember that the stance of the mayor of Nice, seeking to evade responsibility, had at the time created such a toxic atmosphere that at the first commemorative ceremony, the local knitters booed the authorities of the Republic and particularly the Prime Minister. Having witnessed this infamy, I have felt pain for my city since. The President, this Friday, definitively put this controversy to rest by paying a heartfelt tribute to François Hollande, Manuel Valls, and Bernard Cazeneuve for their commitment against terrorism and their handling of the Nice attack.
I also appreciated that the President stressed that support for victims and commemorations were meaningless if we did not intensify our efforts to fight Islamic terrorism (even though this qualifier was not used in the manner of his predecessor), both abroad and at home. He even mentioned “a moral fight of civilization,” which I quite like as a phrase. That being said, without wanting to spoil the mood, I would be tempted to say that France’s contribution to the fight will be all the more effective if we don’t cut its Defense budget too much!
by Patrick Mottard
