Rewriting History: France orders positive spin on colonialism

[argentine soccer fan]

A friend just e-mailed me this article. It is about a month old, but I had not heard anything about this.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1509913/posts

Can this be for real? I almost think it has to be a hoax. A positive spin on colonialism?????

Critics accuse France of trying to gild an inglorious colonial past with an 'official history'.

At issue is language in the law stipulating that "school programs recognize in particular the positive character of the French overseas presence, notably in North Africa."

If the Spaniards follow suit, then I'll be really pissed.

[DoctorD]

Have the Japanese ever given up their efforts to put a positive spin on their occupation of China in the 30's?

[nicephoras]

Well, the French have always had a curious relationship with their history. They want to keep extolling their past, however undeservedly, because many of them feel their former power and glory rapidly disappearing. The colonial empire is gone and its aftershocks are still being felt (see: riots), the French language as the lingua franca is dead, the French military doesn't even send a shiver down Italian spines and no one except the French cares about their movies. Let alone Gerard Depardieu, who seems to appear in every single one of them.
So when some intellectualls have despaired of the future vis a vis the past, what's left but to glorify that idealized past and make it neater?

ASF, I don't think you'll see the same from Spain for quite some time. Its been a long time since Spain has been at the zenith. They're just happy to look forward.

[BenReilly]

ASF, I don't think you'll see the same from Spain for quite some time. Its been a long time since Spain has been at the zenith. They're just happy to look forward.

I dunno. Think about a group of posters on this board who brag about a civilization that peaked 2500 years ago and has been in a many centuries long slump. :D

[nicephoras]

You may have a point there. :) Hopefully Iran can look at Khomeini in the same way Spain now looks at Franco soon.

[DoyleG]

France and it's failed Commonwealth best explains their colonial policy.

[Excape Goat]

I thought the British are also proud of their colonial past.