“And in the shock of the battle the men of the North seemed like a sea that cannot be moved. Firmly they stood, one close to another, forming as it were a bulwark of ice; and with great blows of their swords they hewed down the Arabs. Drawn up in a band around their chief, the people of the Austrasians carried all before them. Their tireless hands drove their swords down to the breasts of the foe.” Bishop Isidore of Beja

Born in 686, Charles the Hammer was 46 when he lead — not from the relative safety of a remote command post, mind you — and fought alongside his Frankish infantry, hacking, slashing and defeating the Muslim cavalry at the Battle of Tours/Poitiers — Indeed, he earned his nickname “the Hammer” during this very battle, due to his fierce and merciless hammering of the Islamic invaders.

Again, at age 46.

And his career as a general, king and all around fighting man was far from over. After Poitiers, he would kick the Muhammadans out of France, and deny them any foothold in Europe (beyond Spain). Not mentioning the good spanking he delivered to various restive dukes and counts all along what would become France, thanks to him, in no small part.

All in all, good old Charles Martel would hammer his foes, eat concertina wire and piss napalm⁽¹⁾ for nearly a decade after Poitiers.

Now, can you please tell me what sort of complacent pussies we have become, to deem unfit for combat those of us who would wish to enlist but reached their forties?

I’ve read and appreciated Mark Steyn’s America Alone, and while I don’t believe that Malthusian predictions on demographic bombs have proven viable in the past (starting with poor old Malthus himself), Steyn still makes an awful lot of solid points in his usual and very enjoyable style. However, if Europe falls and becomes Eurabia, as Steyn (and others) predicts, it will certainly not be simply over an age ratio issue (few and aged European natives versus lots of young Muslims) but will require first and foremost total and unconditional renouncement on the European side — and not just from the European elites, that are far too often already in voluntary Dhimmitude, but from the bulk of the people, no matter their age.

If Charles Martel can tell us anything, it’s that you’re only as old as your spirit and your will to fight for survival.

Either that or, since today is the first day of the last week of my thirties⁽²⁾, I’m beginning the grieving process. Damn, if only I would get drunk for a change. 

The closing sentence of the unsuitably — or cunningly — titled "French Revolution" editorial at the WSJ:

The President's prescriptions for the ailing French welfare state are hard to argue with. Now if only Mr. Sarkozy will apply them.

Yep. I'm sure you don't want to hear me saying again that one of the big problems with Monsieur le Président is his big mouth and his short legs, resulting in far more talk than walk.

Still, not a bad article though (do read if you have enough spare time — like 30 to 40 years — to actually bother about that swamp).

Funny thing, is that I could hear Bobby Gentry and Glen Campbell very clearly while reading.

Can't think why.

Joe at No Pasaran, providing me with the last in a very long list of reasons why I dumped my TV six years ago, and never looked back:

How France3 “Celebrated” 9/11

A correspondent writes: This is at least the third airing of this documentary. (...) one airing I remember in particular was around the D-Day anniversary of 2005, when the MSM emphasized the brotherhood of French and German veterans, how the allied bombed French cities, (...)

The TV guide notes: ”The Hidden Face of the Liberators” - (rerun) A documentary by Patrick Cabouat. (...) liberators who were meant to liberate Europe from Nazism raped or killed French, British, and German citizens in 1944 and 45. The recent opening of legal archives permitted us to see something that would otherwise remain a secret.

Our view: this documentary is a poignant testimony of the acts of atrocities of soldier welcomed as liberators.

Of course, by "soldiers welcomed as liberators" they don't really mean anyone in the uniform of the glorious Red Army⁽¹⁾ (well, they couldn't possibly rape British citizens that's for sure.) — do I really have to draw you a picture?

A bit of context is required here:

NP's correspondent's memory probably fails him, as this "documentary" was released on March 2006 — still I did hear about it being aired around a D-Day anniversary (most likely 2006).

There's only four national TV channels in France (at least last time you could find me dozing in front of the French idiot box). Three out of the four are state owned and run. The remaining one, TF1, simply "follow the recommendations" (if it wants to keep its license, it better be) despite all Gallic delusions about its independence.

France 3, who apparently can't get enough spitting on G.I. Joe's grave, is one of the national State TV channel. Not some plug-ugly Parisian twat webcasting his bile from his living-room. A French state TV. Keep that in mind next time you feel all funny in the knees because Sarkozy shows you l'amour.

This rerun on September 11 fulfills multiple functions, like demonstrating ostensibly how little this country cares about 9/11, and adding more material to the rewriting of WWII's history in Europe — downplaying and soiling les Anglo-Saxons' central role and achievements in the affair — a trend that's been gathering speed for the last 5 years or so. It is also time sensitive, and follows the recent anti-American army fest and standing ovation slimy Old Europe offered to Hollywood has-been De Palma.

For the French state TV, it's really not enough to blather that US soldiers are a bunch of rapists and murderers nowadays — one has to make the claim they've always been so.

And rerun it again and again, until it sticks.

Edited: not 4 but 5 national TV channels - I forgot about the trendy neo-Marxist hack called Canal+, an allegedly private venture that could never make a profit and keeps being saved from bankruptcy with generous taxpayers' "grants". Gosh, I so do not care about French TV...
Edited again: Make it 6, as I forgot another one. I think that's all now. Told you I didn't care about it, didn't I?