…to celebrate 100 years of freedom.
Did we ever give anything back?
(I hope we sent a nice “thank you” card!)
The lives of how many Americans in two wars.
If you can’t convince them, confuse them.
Harry S. Truman
And Jerry Lewis.
- World War I - “Lafayette, We are here.”
- World War II
- Marshall Plan
Hmmm, are we all so sure there wasn’t a healthy amount of self-interest involved in Numbers 1-3? I’d say the Frenchy got to thumb their noses at the British one more time, isn’t that reward enough?
Not to mention legions of tourists who think that every French male is Maurice Chevalier, ever French female is Brigitte Bardot, and the French word for waiter is “garsawn!”
Actually, IIRC, the statue was a thank-you from the french after they gained their own independence. French revolution was based on our own quest for independence.
http://www.rrstar.com/history/lib2.html
The above site gives a story from the sculptor (Bartholdi) that mentions the “ancient friendship” between the two nations.
Don’t forget that the statue had to sit in pieces for years before New York could build a stand to put her on. We weren’t in the best of finacial shape when the gift arrived.
Hmmm. there was a long discussion about Liberty’s bra size here without much decision…
France? We gave them better cheese & wine.