"Waterloo & a big fuss in Paris" Topic

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Zut alors !

Time to rename more railway stations after French defeats methinks.

Makes cents to me.

I can see why they would be unhappy.

Imagine a coin in the US showing the burning of Washington in 1814, or in a few years, the fall of Saigon.

France got its way.

Oddball, you say that like it's a bad thing.

Maybe if it had a picture of ABBA on it instead…

I object to it too, the Lion Mound totally screwed the battlefield!

Waterloo, it was the end of an era, a line in sand.

The Belgians were there and made a major contribution to the allied victory.

Why can't they be allowed celebrate it ?

Belgium and the low countries has been Europes battle ground for at least 600 years.

They don't get many opportunities to get the flags out.

Waterloo is also a great example of Anglo-German cooperation, which might go some way to softening the constant reminders of Germany's defeat in the Great War, currently being recalled for the 100th anniversary.

The Belgians would not have been able to celebrate the the centenary of Waterloo , would they ?

They should view this as tourism development. If it weren't for the battle of Waterloo who would visit the middle of nowhere in the middle of Belgium?

Sensible people would just go to Belgium for the beer.

Ah one must remember even though Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo he won the marketing rights! This was kind of evident when I was there in 1990 for a reenactment.

Belgium and the low countries has been Europes battle ground for at least 600 years.

They don't get many opportunities to get the flags out.

Not their own flags, certainly.

Imagine a coin in the US showing the burning of Washington in 1814, or in a few years, the fall of Saigon.

The Canadian Mint just called and asked me to thank you for those two cracking ideas.

This debate again highlights one of the root cultural differences between the English speaking world and the rest.

In general, the military heritage of the English speaking countries of the last 2-300 years is one of which we are all justly proud. Every nation has mistakes and failures, but certainly since about 1750 Anglophone armies (or coalitions lead by Anglophones) have tended to triumph in the end.

French military triumphs have been much rarer over the same period. A reminder of an event which ensured their status as a second class military power for decades is unlikely to be welcome – especially when it will be circulated throughout Europe on a large coin. There should of course be equal commemoration from the Germans, as their part in the Waterloo campaign was undoubtedly decisive, but the German military successes of the 18th and 19th Century are now deemed unsuitable subjects for German children to study. (I regard that as close to a cultural crime … )

Belgium on the other hand regards Waterloo as the first step on the road to their independence in 1830, so why not have a coin to celebrate ? Will the Dutch object if they produce another one in 2030 ? Of course not.

As usual the French are being petty minded and feigning an oversensitivity to historical events they find politically uncomfortable. Hence their ridiculous attempts to stage of the commemorations both Waterloo and Agincourt as ‘French' triumphs …

For a country which – apparently – was so strongly in favour of freedom of expression – 'Je suis Charlie' &c. – it is surely hypocritical of the French to try to censor other nations' wish to celebrate historical events that are significant to them?

Would it be possible to have a dollar with Gettysburg circulating in Alabama?

Would it be possible to have a dollar with First Manassas circulating in Washington?

Just don't mention Agincourt…..

I think now is the perfect time to remind the french that not only is 2015 the 200th anniversary of Waterloo, but also the 600th of agincourt…Chuck in the 210th of Trafalgar while we are about it…. We could have had maybe a triple commenerative coin issue…such a tragic missed opportunity

As Azincourt has been mentioned, I think the two-finger salute of the English archers, delivered in the general direction of Paris, would be appropriate at this juncture.

The Perrys have created just such a figure, which will be in the goodie bags at Salute.

I guess our French comrades can stop complaining about the Freedom Fries now :)

Though I wouldn't get too smug. Plenty of people who want others to "suck it up" get very touchy if it's their own identity on the line.

I remember the Queen making a speech at some Waterloo event in which she cited it as an early example of Anglo German co-operation. The news report stated that "The French ambassador, mindful of all that had happened in the interim, raised an objection…"
Wonderful piece of journalistic understatement.

Anyone know who burned the Whitehouse in 1814?

Just asking ;-)

And who ate the rather agreeable meal that was hurriedly left?