I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for France…for a number of reasons including the French’s “auld alliance” with the Irish and Scottish people over the course of many centuries (not to mention their aid to a young America during its difficult beginnings).

Which is why I’ve been particularly upset with the way the country has been going politically in recent times. I’ve never been to France, but I hope to go someday, and now I have at least one excellent reason to do so: that blaggard of a man Jacques Chirac is GONE!

There’s been much to read of interest in various U.S. and international media outlets, but this BBC article I just read was particularly bizarre in a good sort of way (except for that medium at the end). Read it and then tell me it isn’t pretty darn weird. French folk cheering in the streets over a…*gasp*…pro-capitalism, pro-U.S., anti-illegal-imigration, pro-freedom of expression, anti-socialist-tax-and-welfare candidate? Wow. Is this the same France, the same Paris I was hearing so much about about just a few short years ago?

I wonder how much of this is just temporary excitement over a changing of the guard or if it’s a true groundswell movement to abandon the ridiculous combination of good ol’ boy elitism and stifling socialism that’s permeated French politics for far too long. Only time will tell, but this American applauds the French people for their stout choice and wishes their country happiness, prosperity, peace, freedom, and strength.