All
along the 60s the space race really enthralled me. Gagarine, (yes, I
was there...) the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. What a hell of
excitement that was for a teenager then!
After
their feat, the three Americans who made history were on a world
promotion tour. And then they arrived in Paris to be introduced live on
French television from the Palais de Chaillot, on October the 8th of
1969.
Man! And you thought they'd performed the hardest part of their mission... How wrong you were!
They had to endure an endless speech by no other than Maurice DRUON, of the French Academy. Why was this man chosen to welcome the American astronauts will for ever remain a mystery.
I still can vividly remember the three stoic men standing in row behind the talkative peacock and I couldn't help thinking what their thoughts might have been...
"Boy, they didn't warn us back home that the French leg would be that painful!"
No, really, I was so embarrassed that these men would be given such a cogent confirmation of what the French are renowned for among Americans: pretty good at making lengthy speeches and totally impotent when push comes to shove...
And Druon would go on and on and on and I was saying to myself: "Will he ever shut his big mouth?".
I had to admire the patience and fortitude of Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin for keeping a permanent smile floating on their lips while this buffoon was making a fool of himself. And to be polite and courteous enough to nonetheless thank him when their ordeal had come to an end.
Every time I remember this sinister episode of French stupidity I hope someone at least came to them and apologize for the despicable show they had been dragged into.
43 years later, I still feel embarrassed...
Man! And you thought they'd performed the hardest part of their mission... How wrong you were!
They had to endure an endless speech by no other than Maurice DRUON, of the French Academy. Why was this man chosen to welcome the American astronauts will for ever remain a mystery.
I still can vividly remember the three stoic men standing in row behind the talkative peacock and I couldn't help thinking what their thoughts might have been...
"Boy, they didn't warn us back home that the French leg would be that painful!"
No, really, I was so embarrassed that these men would be given such a cogent confirmation of what the French are renowned for among Americans: pretty good at making lengthy speeches and totally impotent when push comes to shove...
And Druon would go on and on and on and I was saying to myself: "Will he ever shut his big mouth?".
I had to admire the patience and fortitude of Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin for keeping a permanent smile floating on their lips while this buffoon was making a fool of himself. And to be polite and courteous enough to nonetheless thank him when their ordeal had come to an end.
Every time I remember this sinister episode of French stupidity I hope someone at least came to them and apologize for the despicable show they had been dragged into.
43 years later, I still feel embarrassed...
4 commentaires:
A three and a half year old post that was then just a souvenir but is now more timely.
A l'époque, je n'avait pas de télé donc je suis allée chez un ami. Nous étions dans une salle avec les murs peints en zebre avec des rayons noirs et blancs courbés. Le décor était étrange.
Nous avions fermé toutes les lumières et fumé une sustance qui a fait de l'évenement une exérience hallucinatoire. On se bien amusés avec des blagues sur la réalité de ce que nous regardions.
Nous étions dans une salle avec les murs peints en zebre avec des rayons noirs et blancs courbés. Le décor était étrange.
...followed by...
Nous avions fermé toutes les lumières et fumé une substance qui a fait de l'événement une expérience hallucinatoire.
For some reason I'm tempted to believe there has been an inversion in the order of the two sentences here.
Just, how were the room and the walls before you started smoking the substance you mention Ned?
Also, when you take your time, your French is close to perfection...
I've just realised why Anijo is cross with me. The post contained (it's been delated) the infamous "Do you remember where you were the day etc. meme"
Like being shamed once wasn't enough!
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