We are told the French are a people apart, that in this apartness they constitute a big shiny nation -- Une Nation qui rayonne dans le monde. A France blinding the world with Frenchness.
Pave demurs. The shine is dim, the shining guttering. That flickering rayonnement from France is the nightly glow of voitures brűlées.
Pave argues that French self-distinguishments are largely imaginary, that contemporary Frenchness is ineluctably slipping into lumpish standard-issue European-ness. What is left of Frenchness today are a vanishing language (also see here, here, here, here, here, and here), a persistent 19th century racism (also see post below, and here, here, here, here, here, and here, et --exhaustively -- al.), an announced self-importance that no one believes, and an assortment of unpleasant attitudes, rude behaviors, and high-fat foods.
Yet -- yet apparently there is one place where Frenchness remains a thing apart, where the French are readily distinguished, are called forth from the common gray of humanity.
THE FAA-RENCH. ARE YOU HERE?
A Nation, A People, A Thing Apart
[ˇNo Pasarán!]
Pave is prepared to recognize the distinction of Frenchness in this special circumstance.
PFFT (What is this?): Faa-renchness 4 | Rayonnement français 0
