Accusations

I keep reading accusations that the French are ungrateful for the American liberation of World War II. Come on, folks. The war ended over 57 years ago--that's about three generations. Even injuries sometimes get forgotten after that long. And when you think about it, did we liberate the French? No, I don't mean my father, back then; I mean you and me now. I didn't. I'm glad it was done, but I can't take credit for it. We helped protect them during the Cold War, but that doesn't feel as dramatic as driving out invaders. So, the current generation of French voters has been liberated from what, exactly? (The EU is trying to liberate them from the dangers of prosperity, but that's another story.)

If they have no memory of being liberated, and their parents didn't feel liberated, and knowledge of history isn't their strong suit (socialists seem apt to jigger the books), why task them with ingratitude?