As upsetting as it is to wake up to news of an insurrection, most concerning is the effect it could have on our personal relationships. That is, at least, the biggest thing on my mind this morning. The following thoughts began as a pep talk to myself.
Firstly, hang in there! Tenir bon = tenir le coup
What if the antidote to un coup is to tenir le coup? Such is the definition for tenir bon: to endure, withstand, weather the storm, stay the course. To tenir bon means simply to cope. Nous devons tenir bon!
Tears flowing, a fast-growing knot in the throat, sudden sadness/despair…followed by anger. Did you have a similar reaction when you watched a mob storming our capitol several hours ago? Here again are two words that may help during destabilizing or upsetting times: Tenez bon!
Weather The Storm
The worst possible outcome of this political storming is its power to divide us. No matter which side you are on you won’t be able to win over the other, already entrenched in his or her beliefs. So what can you do? Until you find a peaceful answer, tenez bon! Weather the storm in love and dignity.
I leave you with a cheerful photo taken last Sunday. The dog's tilted head speaks volumes. Tell me what he is saying in the comments.
Amicalement,
Kristi
Both photos in today's edition were taken here in La Ciotat. Please share this blog with someone who loves France. Merci d'avance!
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Mary-AUDREY MELLOR. SUCH A SAD DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND DEMOCRACY
GOD BLESS AMERICA. –
Tenez bon. Good advice, Kristi! All I can do is pray the U.S.A. gets back on the right track. We seem to have lost many of the virtues that our founding fathers espoused. P.S. The dog is saying, “This too shall pass.”
They (the security forces) did us “proud” (NOT) in Michigan in a similar way when armed Trump supporters stormed the state capital in search of the Governor of that state to bring her to “justice”. Fortunately they didn’t find her. The security forces totally treated them with kid gloves to. Restraint? Not exactly. Because there is a pattern of how “security forces” respond to people (unarmed) who are peacefully protesting but where there are many people of color in the crowd, then to how they respond to White “protestors”… Remember also what happened in Oregon when the armed extreme-right wing White protesters took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, and were allowed to remain there for 2 months before finally being arrested — most faced the most minimal or NO sentencing… There is an extreme and obvious difference between police and security forces treatment of people of color and white people protesting from a liberal point of view, and those on the extreme right. Which yesterday’s takeover was an example of. So, no, I’m not impressed with what security personnel did. Often they are guilty of using force and even deadly force (vis a vic black people) when none is called for, and in this case when they should have used more force, they
handled them with kid gloves, giving tacit approval to their actions. Not ok.
Or maybe the doggy is indeed just saying: Aime-moi
I never hated trump nor did the media hate him. We saw the truth and he called the truth « fake news »
He screwed with your heads and you fell for it, drank the koolaid…straight out of Putin’s playbook.
OK. I live in Australia. I think the point at which I agree with Kristi is that there are extremists on both sides of the polarised politics in America who exploit the legitimate grievances of their sides of politics. Left, right… but the biggest and growing gap in USA is between the rich, of both political sides, and the disadvantaged (poor). Here in Australia we have universal healthcare, an adequate social security system,a good free school system, gun control etc.. People, by and large, trust the government, and the citizens in return fulfill their side of the social contract and largely obey laws and regulations.MY home city, Brisbane, is just going into a 3 day lockdown because of 1 case of the British superspreader virus. Yes, 1. We are co-operating, maybe whingeing a bit (like the french raleurs) until the vaccines are widely available for the vulnerable. Donald Trump was the unfortunate result of at least 40 years of your governments of all ilks ignoring large swathes of your population, leaving folks without jobs ( exported overseas), education, health care and hope.For example,essential medical scripts for diseases like diabetes (all essential medicines are the same low price) are available for less than $US5 for eligible people here.I would pay full price if I needed it, but I support this wealth redistribution.In USA, I have read of costs of hundreds for each script. So your poor go without.
Kristi, you are kind, you are a healer of divisions who looks for common ground and the common good.I share your sorrow for your home country.We have our problems here also- but nations, like individuals must live their choices.
My caption :you need a haircut, I need a walkie!
or: A poil! au naturel! No accent for A on this computer, sorry).
Kristi, is this an english-language barber, or a barber who does english-style haircuts? Dogs rule!
My caption:You need a haircut, I need a walkie.
An English-language coiffeur pour hommes, or a barber who does la coiffure
Le chien dit “Les Américains sont fous!
I’m a Canadian/US dual citizen. I agree that the 25th amendment should be used to remove Trump from office. Why is this not done now? I don’t understand those members of the congress and senate who voted against approval of Biden/Harris. Can someone explain to me? I live in Canada and am mystified by what has happened in the US and why there isn’t general horror and condemnation by all US lawmakers and citizens. .
Apparently there just aren’t enough Capitol police (from what I read today). I am shocked, to say the least. No one believed our lunatic fringe would ever take such an action, and if the White House and the federal government weren’t in crisis now, action could have been taken to repulse the threat. But the federal government just watched…
The rioting of hier was not by regular Trump supporters, but by people who did not stop and think.
As President Trump has said many times, he was beloved by the press and New York until he joined the race for president of the United States and announced that he was going to clean up the Swamp. He was and is a registered Republican, but he was and is his own man, and that is why the continual rampage against him by the press which he named “Fake News”, by the Democrats, and by some Republicans.
The Fake News, CNN, MANBC, ABC, CBS, and many more, throughout the four years of Trump’s presidency have either lied about him or have not reported for the country his accomplishments. Many are incensed at his support for the lives of the unborn and the just born boys and girls. Yes, he used to support a woman’s right to kill her child in utero.
Presient Trump called out China for stealing American intellectual property and unfair tariffs. He called out European nations who were not even close to paying their fair share in global matters. He called out the unfair NAFTA and established the USMCA
which even Biden has publicly said is much better than NAFTA. He recognized Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel, moved our embassy to there, and is the reason for the move of peace among the Arab nations. His work created millions of jobs, brought companies back to the U.S., stood up for religious rights, got rid os unneeded regulations, and more. Plus he was given three Pulitzer Prize nominations. No, he is not perfect.
God gave the United States the opportunity to see how our country could be, but acceptance of Jesus Christ, the end of killing the unborn, the acceptance of God’s creation of human sexuality and His purpose for it and much more was not desired by those who voted for Biden and who perpetrated and participated in the fraud in the elections and so now Biden will hold the office of President. Wait and see. Sorrow is coming. The old days will be missing.
God bless, C-Marie
Oooo LaLa!!! Quelle Haine!! Whatever happened to the adage: “Make love, not war?!” I totally agree with the comments made by Patricia, Susie, Alicia, Gail, Ellen, Susan, Leslie, Margaret, Michael, K, Marilyn, Lynn, Pat, Jeff B, and Blair. Yesterday was indeed shocking, but certainly not nearly as destructive as the recent riots that have burned, destroyed, and looted many of our major cities (that incidentally, are Democrat-led.) We citizens absolutely MUST remember we are unified as ONE NATION. We are born of a system of two parties in order to keep a balance of power! Of course there will be opposing view points – that’s the whole point of 2 parties! But the being hateful and mean and insulting and angry has to stop, and it’s so unnecessary! Respect each other, because whatever is your opinion, half the nation holds the opposite view point! Some of us ARE entrenched (like Kristi said) and we need to come out of the trenches and shake hands and work together. I, personally, blame the news media for stoking the flames of incendiary division. (Years ago, the news reporters were not so biased.) Keep respect and keep peace.
Le chien dit, “Est-ce que tout le monde fou?”
I usually enjoy reading the comments other readers leave under your posts, Kristi, but right now, I’m saddened to see how many have missed your message. Whilst I believe that everyone should have an opinion on current events, there is also much to be said for voicing our opinions with dignity and respect for others, regardless of our differences.
I think that healing will take time, but I do believe that it will come.
As for le petit chien, I believe he’s responding to the cacophony that has been generated in this comment section by saying, “Vraiment? Encore?” Someone above wrote that we can all learn from the wisdom of dogs, and I agree.
Tenez bon, chère Kristi, and keep shining your light.
Oh thank you for sharing your heart, and your passion for writing! You are a gift to the world! I am so pleased to find this option and to continue my path to grow personally and to be a positive force that values others! Passé un bon Journee!!
Kristi, I don’t often comment but I do love reading your blog. Thank you.
To All of my fellow Americans: We are all reeling from the events of Jan 7 on our Capitol. We come here to read Kristi’s words about her life in France.
I’d like to suggest that we just enjoy this column without engaging in political commentary. We have lots of places to go to “unload” our sadness, anger, etc. French Word A Day is definitely not one of those venues. Tenez bon,
yes I agree with you Susie and the truth will come out eventually….God bless America and everything
hidden in the dark, be exposed….
I agree, and well said…..
Hi Kristi, I see that my comment was removed, perhaps because I was so truthful and clear with details of President Trump’s successes. That is a shame. But the removal is the choice of those who edit this blog. So glad that Blair’s comment remains.
God bless, C-Marie
Hi C-Marie,
Your comment was not removed. It appears on page two of the comments (scroll to the end of the comments, at the main post, and you will see a link to “more comments”
My darling wife has been very brave to talk about this delicate controversial subject.
This is my opinion (and only mine) :
Like all democracies, it is normal to have a more or less political balance in ways to run the country.
DT has never been interested in running the country in which he does not care a second. His only interest is his ego. And his only way to have his face on TV everyday is to develop hate, conspiracy and lie every time he opens his mouth. Doing this, he has managed to fracture the country even worse and that is the only way he can continue to have some support from extremist people.
I hope the Republicans will now understand how wrong they have been to continue supporting him and will eventually get rid of him for good.
It has been a nightmare for this country to have been run by such a clown. Goodbye DT and now please JUST play golf in your luxury golf courses that you maintain by the peanuts that you pay the Mexicans you don’t want).
Kristi,
J’adore l’expression tenir bon. C’est important ce faire pendant ces temps difficile. Merci pour vos mots, encouragant toujours. Tenez bon, Kristi et tout le monde.
Maybe the dog is asking, “Did you have the same reaction when all the small businesses were being set on fire, government buildings broken into & damaged, statues being torn down, people being killed, etc the past few months that the media referred to as ‘peaceful protests” & no one was held responsible & law enforcement was told to ‘stand down’?
I don’t condone the kind of behavior that was seen on Thurs., but let’s at least be honest about what has been tolerated & encouraged in all the months leading up to this.
And now, the large tech companies are working on closing down all speech that they don’t agree with–our First Amendment rights taken away? Is this really what we want America to look like?
kristi, can you imagine what this rhetoric sounds like here in the u.s.?
were you expecting such a political column….? it reads more like the nytimes.
rather, about the doggie saying “how long is this going to last?”
Thank you for your comments which reflect what really happened. The media has totally overinflated the intentions of the peaceful protestors who believe rightly that the election was stolen and rigged. It is amazing that so many on the left were silent when the BLM “peaceful protests” involved arson, looting, murder of innocent citizens and assaults on the police.
I am very disappointed that this lovely blog has turned political.
Thanks for your wise words Mimi, especially about our freedom of speech that is being taken away. I am fearful this is just the beginning of the Biden Administration and how they will transform the country we know and love. Have you heard Kristi about this as well?
You seem rather paranoid.
There must be a French phrase for enough is enough.
It’s very unfortunate that many responses to your post did not take your advice to “weather the storm in love and dignity.” I’m really not interested in reading vitriol on your blog.
I don’t think this cute little pooch would ever spew the hate and lack of understanding that I’ve read in so many of the posts here. He’s saying, “Oh my, what are all of you doing? Your democracy is in peril and you just keep yelling!”
Spot on. Thank you.
Thank you.
Salut Lisa,
C’est moi! Tu vas bien? Comme vous le savez, l’etat de notre pays n’ameliore pas. J’ai honte de ce qui se passe!
Not too bad for someone who has not practiced for awhile!
Kristi,
Can you write about what the average French person is saying about the chaos in America? I have listened to what our allies have said – all politicians! I have read the articles in the magazines and listened to broadcasts, but not once have we heard from an everyday citizen.
This adorable pooch might be thinking: “We all know who man’s best friend is!”
I am slow in responding, my inbox has been unmanageable. On top of it now but have many French Word a Day to catch up with and I believe the dog is saying:
aperlipopette”