The citizens of France today celebrated the Bastille Day which commemorates the 1790 Fete de la Federation, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.
Bastille Day also marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th’s Ancient Regime. The symbol signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute and power should be based on the Nation.
In DC today, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sent her best wishes to the people of France as they celebrate Bastille Day this July 14.
“This is an opportunity for the American and French people to reflect on the lasting ties of family and friends that have guided our two countries for hundreds of years.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton says from the French war hero Marshal Rochambeau who fought alongside George Washington’s Continental Army, to the partnership between Eleanor Roosevelt and Rene Cassin who worked tirelessly to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, French-American collaborations are as numerous as they are deep.
She says US-France cooperation on global challenges particularly supporting democratic aspirations, fighting poverty and disease, halting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and much more stems from their history of shared democratic values.
“On this 223rd anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, I send my deepest congratulations to the people of France and best wishes for peace and prosperity in the year ahead.” -Ms. Clinton
Reports say relations between France and the United States have become much more friendly after Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France in 2007.
Sarkozy once said that he “love America” and stated that he was “proud of his nickname.”
According to Wikipedia, Sarkozy delivered a speech before the U.S. Congress which was a strong affirmation of French-American friendship in 2007.
Since 2008, France is back to the integrated command of NATO. The decision has been greatly lauded by the USA.
In January 2011, Obama declared that “We [America] don’t have a stronger friend and stronger ally than Nicolas Sarkozy, and the French people.”
