Weekend self-care open thread: Bonne fête nationale!

Bon week-end, mes amis! 

This coming week we see our French cousins in liberty celebrate their national holiday, Bastille Day. 

Now. Let's be completely frank. The French Revolution of 1789 didn't, well, turn out that well. It quickly went from "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" to the guillotine and then l'empereur Napoleon le premier. Truly, the American Revolution was far more successful, at least until the past ten years. But the downfall of the thousand-year reign of the Capetians was nevertheless a turning point in human history. In Europe, it inspired the gradual democratization and emancipation of the Continent. The Revolution emancipated France's Jews—although not France's African slaves, until Haitians seized their own liberty. And then had to pay their former masters for the privilege. Yes, quite a mixed bag, as all human endeavors are. But still, a good part of the world takes the Code Napoleon as the basis for its law codes. And, of course, French intervention secured America's own liberty.

Nothing in human affairs is neither totally good nor totally bad. And that's where we find France and its revolutions. But I would argue that the ledger, eventually, tends towards the black and not the red. So, to celebrate nos freres françaises, we shall delve into their music.

Feel free to share your own favorites in the comments.

Comme toujours, chers amis, soyez toujours bienveillants, doux et joyeux envers vous-mêmes et ceux qui vous entourent.

Vive la France!