Vive La France

If we look into the way in which the French maintain such a sense of shared culture and coherence in their lifestyle, we see a wide range of decisions resisting the pressures to fall into line with such inanities as a.. "worlds best practice"; b.. freedom of expressions i.e. French attempt to limit the degree of internationalisation (or Americanisation) of their language; c.. freedom of trade i.e. allowing foreign product to threaten not just the sale of products but a way of life that is based on them i.e. economics as subservient to cultural imperatives d.. international standards e.g. filthy cheese manufacturing processes may actually be part of the charm of that gruesome gruyere e.. property rights i.e. owners building in whatever style they wish etc etc. When we try some of these ideas locally, they are decried as xenophobic, parochial and the proud old chauvinist. Lets have more of it !!
Vive La France ! Due to our short history which involves rapid change, we are too quick to decide that this or that has not been done long enough to be protected as culturally important. Each time we knock down that building, or change that short tradition, we send our own culture back a little to infancy. It is for this reason that many feel so powerless. Getting concessions from Australia (whether you are US, Indonesian, Timorese...whether you demand capital capitulation or cultural cringe) is like taking candy from a baby. People admire what the French have achieved, but vehemently criticize the very attitudes and policies that create and maintain this culture.

"Leftie" and "rightie" have always been about as useful as "Collingwood" supporter in clearly describing what people actually believe in. I think that the terms are getting less and less useful the further historically we move from the French Revolution. People with lazy minds (i.e. can't be bothered thinking out my own position) and weak characters (if i disagree, I will not feel part of the group) tend to have their beleifs shaped so that they fit into the Left "camp". This is why there is such a close correlation between those who protest for the rights of afghan lesbian whales and those who support a range of other issues. What does the camp think ? Yeah, so do I !!! Nevertheless, some labels are important. Labels being only one aspect of the process of generalisation. Generalisation being essential to the understanding of all complex phenomena in any field of knowledge. Labels should be chosen carefully and defined clearly. I think of my self as a radical socialist conservative.