Should France apologize?

[cestpaspossible]

Poll question: Should France apologize?

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has called on France to admit its part in the massacres of 45,000 Algerians who took to the streets to demand independence as Europe celebrated victory over Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945.

Algeria is marking the 60th anniversary of the repression of pro-independence demonstrators under French colonial rule as Europeans celebrate the end of World War Two in Europe. "The paradox of the massacres of May 8, 1945, is that when the heroic Algerian combatants returned from the fronts in Europe, Africa and elsewhere where they defended France's honour and interests ... the French administration fired on peaceful demonstrators," Bouteflika said in a speech published by state media on Sunday.

Colonial forces launched an air and ground offensive against several eastern cities, particularly Setif and Guelma, in response to anti-French riots, which killed more than 100 Europeans. The crackdown lasted several days and according to the Algerian state left 45,000 people dead. European historians put the figure at between 15,000 and 20,000. It marks one of the darkest chapters in the history of Algeria and France, which ruled the North African country with an iron fist from 1830 until 1962.

France's ambassador to Algeria said in February that the Setif massacre was an "inexcusable tragedy". It was the most explicit comments by the French state on the disputed event.

"The Algerian people are still waiting for France ... that the declarations of the ambassador of France are followed by a more convincing gesture," Bouteflika said in the speech given in Setif on Saturday.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08468008.htm

French troops fight to hold back Algerians demanding independence

Should France formally apologize?

[sasquatch]

1. When France takes a land she wants to hold onto it forever

Not to sound anti-french but it's the truth.

[bennywhale]

5. Like Alsace Lorraine?

[sasquatch]

7. Like Haiti

The cool thing is they don't care that much about skin color though.

[Taxloss]

8. What about the Louisiana Territory?

[sasquatch]

9. Well the French cultural influence is still in Louisiana to this day

It's the only state in the union that practices Napoleonic law.

[Taxloss]

10. But the territory was much larger than the state, and Louis sold it.

He was desperate for cash, but he sold it willingly.

[bennywhale]

11. America is pretty reluctant to give

up its accumulations acquired through a relentless sweep Westward as was our manifest destiny.

The native Americans?

What about half of Mexico?

[sasquatch]

13. Yeah but we took Texas, so who really got screwed there

;)

[skygazer]

2. Sure, why not?

They could apologize for trying to hang onto Vietnam as well and getting us dragged into it when things went downhill for them there.

[Benhurst]

3. Yes, a great nation such as France can afford to apologize. It's

only the two-bit ones which cannot afford to do so. None of the latter shall be named.

[bennywhale]

4. God we should all just apologise

there's been so much murder and oppression in everyones history we should probably have an apology day every year.

America can apologize for genocide on the native Americans and slavery.

The Europeans for Imperial atrocities

Germany for the holocaust and always starting wars.

The Japanese to the whole of east Asia.

The Australians to the Aborigines


The.........

this could go on a bit actually

[cestpaspossible]

6. And what would be wrong with that?

Is there some problem with nations coming to grips with their past, accepting responsibility for their mistakes, and learning the lessons of history?

[bennywhale]

12. I wasn't being sarcastic

i was actually trying to highlight how much needs apologizing for. I think i'll stick to plain English.

[cestpaspossible]

14. Kick for more votes

[RandomKoolzip]

15. I'm still waiting for the Romans to apologize.

[bennywhale]

16. Gengis Khan

has got alot of fuckin explaining to do as well

[SidDithers]

17. Colonialism is bad, no matter who is the colonizer...

Thankfully, most* countries are getting out of the colony bidness.

Sid

* obvious exception notwithstanding


Edit: speeling