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The French connection - the Republic of France and Lady Liberty [1]

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Date: 2025-03-19

Yesterday I saw this incredible thread on Twitter. The author, Raphael Glucksmann was so eloquent in this thread that his words alone brought me to tears. Those words were such a powerful reminder of the power and inspiration of our country. It’s easy to forget, especially now, how grateful Europeans are for our sacrifices and support. It reminded me that I miss our greatness, too; even after only 2 months. I’m so caught up in the day to day struggle that I forget to grieve what we’ve already lost.

Gluckmann’s words are also encouraging. He knows there are lots of us fighting the good fight here. He knows we’ll be back, and that’s a strong reminder for all of us to stay strong, hang in there, and do what you can to help restore our democracy and liberties.

As some of you may know my father fought in the US Army during WWII. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge. He was part of the liberation of Dachau as well. Later he was a guard at the Nuremberg trials and fought in Korea. He was also a Mexican who signed up to fight for the USA and in doing so received American citizenship. He took the oath of US citizenship in Paris, France in January 1946. He once told me that it should have happened a day earlier but he was out celebrating the night before and missed the ceremony; which is no surprise since he wasn’t even 20 years old at that time! No wonder he was out celebrating — he had survived months and months of fighting. Later, one of my brothers and I were born in France during an overseas posting in France, post-wars.

Needless to say, France will ALWAYS hold a very special place in my heart.

Now back to the show...

Glucksmann’s thread is long, but worth reading.

x 1. Our two people are intimately linked by History, the blood we shed and the passion for freedom we share, a passion symbolized by this Statue that was offered to the United States by France to honor your glorious Revolution. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 2. As the press secretary for this shameful Administration said: without your nation, France would have "spoken German." In my case, it goes further: I would simply not be here if hundreds of thousands of young Americans had not landed on our beaches in Normandy. pic.twitter.com/Yy4ELT7OuL — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 3. Our gratitude to these heroes and their sacrifices is therefore eternal. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 5. It celebrated science and didn't fire researchers for using banned words. It welcomed the persecuted and didn't target them.



It was far, so far from what your current President does, says, and embodies. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 6. This America, faithful to the wonderful words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, your America, is worth so much more than the betrayal of Ukraine and Europe, xenophobia, or obscurantism. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 8. And it is precisely because I am petrified by Trumps betrayal that I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world.



It was a wake up call. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

x 10. Until we meet again in the fight for freedom and dignity, we will be the continuators of our shared history and the protectors of our treasure: more than a statue of copper and steel, the freedom it symbolizes. — Raphael Glucksmann (@rglucks1) March 17, 2025

I’m including the poem, New Colossus, from the Statue of Liberty because it’s also important.

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