Obviously, Kerouac has never repeated himself. It is only a fault on these boards, for those people do not like. And please do not recommend the same sites or restaurants again for that would be---repeating yourself.

Actually I did some research before I posted the first time and could not find much. When I googled 'military parades democracies' China kept appearing. But I will let Kerouac fight with google about that the problem with that algorithm. But I am happy to say, you can add Pakistan to that list.

Bastille Day was a display of armaments, just like North Korea and China, was that true for the Belgians? I was at an event honoring the Belgians who died in WWI and it was just that, an event honored the fallen. Not an opportunity to parade deadly toys. Even we the militaristic Americans, do no go for such guache displays of


The ball is in your court Kerouac.

Democracies two
Dictatorships at least four,and oh yes, Spain under Franco, but I have not seen it since his death.

Please cite the other democracies that display weaponry as part of a celebration. Because I am ignorant, complete with pictures, as to what constitutes a military display with armaments.

I omitted the second part of my thoughts which I will include now, the military parades in France are symbolic of a second rate power trying to recapture old colonialism.

"Old colonialism"

Their finest hour:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fl...s_2_edited.png

Took me 2 seconds on Google, IMDone. I did not realise that you are disabled.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/C...des_by_country

I think only the impressive parades have media coverage. Nobody talks about all of the little parades in little countries.

Of course, you do not look at them, Kerouac, so thank you for bolstering my position.

You should actually take at look what you posted. So thanks for Bolstering my position. For example, the last picture of a US military was under Harry Truman. And the one for the Netherlands show some veteran in a business suit. And there was one of Japan of someone in a jeep

And the list did also include missiles from Iran, tanks from Kuwait, and some hot (I mean temperature not sexy) soldiers and armaments from Oman.


End of my discussion on this matter.

Sorry one more comment. Thank you Fra. Fortunately Stan and Ollie military obligation there only was three reels.

IMDone

I was even present in uniform when my unit paraded on national day in Brussels, in front of the king. People were greeting anyone in uniform, it was quite nice.

We love our military. It is not a show of force but of respect. So, yes, our old SP M109 parade before our king, preceded by the 'defense passive', the firemen, some medical guys, and even a small detachment of 'gendarmes à cheval' in their beautiful unforms not unlike those of Napoleonic times.

It is all 'bon enfant' (nice) and the kids love it.

Nobody would ever have spat on GI's coming back from Vietnam in France.

My opinion.

Quite a good post from Sandralist, I would not have thought of it, but as a tourist in foreign countries I tend to avoid all kind of manifestation/demonstration.

Is manifestation english ? Red Barolo was good and I'm at at home, speaking french at last.

Christina - why are you jumping down my throat? I did not say tourists are stupid. But a great many tourists do not speak the language, don't have a clue about what's going on and they sure look and act awfully nervous to me whenever there are a lot of police present and streets are barricaded. Of course, since you are well-traveled you would not react the same way. Many people have never been to a foreign country before though and watch way too much CNN.

Sandralist - this image of people scurrying down medieval streets trying to avoid violence associated with protest marches in Paris is inflammatory. I've never seen it happen here. I would be much more worried about disappointed rugby fans pouring out of bars in the medieval lanes around Covent Garden. But I do agree that people visiting a foreign city should know where they are at all times and how to get where they want to go. It would also be a good idea to check the local news to see when and where manifestations will be held - there is always at least a day's advance notice so the police can clear the roads. The information about bus and metro detours is always available on the RATP website.

ParisWat - manifestation translates as protest march in English.

Actually manifestation = demonstration. It is not necessarily a march.

IMDone, I was expecting that reaction since I had already inspected the link and knew it wasn't ideal. But do you really think that the last military parade in the US was under Harry Truman? In my experience, there are dozens of military parades all across the United States every year and relatively big ones at places like West Point or Colorado Springs.

I love your selective vision of the photos you inspected. It is symbolic of exactly what people like Donald Trump see when they look at the world.

"Please cite the other democracies that display weaponry as part of a celebration. Because I am ignorant, complete with pictures, as to what constitutes a military display with armaments. "-IMDoneHere

I will cite the USA as one. After all, is an airshow not a display of weaponry? What about the army paratroopers on the 4th of July? OK, they're called the Flying Knights or something like that, but still...

That said, I see nothing wrong with it.

We are talking tanks, armed vehicles and many armed soldiers parading down streets. The Blue Angels or a flyover is not there to intimidate or show military strength.

Even our Veteran Day celebrations or on our Presidential Inauguration Day have not shown military strength in the longest time.

A flyover or precision flying, at least to me, is not a show of military strength. And if you think that one paratrooper flying into a football stadium is a show of strength, than you are easily frightened or impressed.

Never seen displays of military anywhere in the U.S. Except at military installations. I live in DC and nary a tank, armed soldiers have I seen.

Perhaps it is just a case of countries that are proud of their military personnel versus countries that are somewhat embarrassed by them. In Paris on the 14th of July, the most applauded military unit is the Paris fire brigade, which is part of the military even though that it not the case in the other cities of France. We are extremely proud of them and like to see them. If it reminds you of North Korea, perhaps you should tell us more about your adventures there.

I still find it shocking in London to see armed (two handed jobs) police at special places, still having refused to be "stopped and searched" a couple of years ago I feel it is possible to discuss stuff with the boys in blue.

Saw not a single gun in France or Spain last fortnight.

>>> this image of people scurrying down medieval streets trying to avoid violence associated with protest marches in Paris is inflammatory.<<<

Manouche, get a grip on reality. First of all, I did not single out Paris for this kind of risk. I started out by mentioning Belgium, and talked about Europe. It exists in Rome and other Italian cities. Friends were once caught up in a street demonstration in Torino that turned into a foot race between police and demonstrators and found themselves pressed into a doorway on a narrow alleyway, and understandably fearing for their safety.

Many of posts are here are ridiculously polyannish. There are machine-gun bearing people in the Jewish neighborhoods of Paris because professional terror fighters think it's necessary due to the higher risk of these places being targets for terrorism. Nobody is going waste money putting boots on the ground 24/7 in an area that is low risk. I find it equally polyannish to read posts from people who live in a country where most people will not walk any distance alone after 10pm and think twice about letting their kids go to movies due to gunfire to be saying "nothing going on here."


>>>Never seen displays of military anywhere in the U.S. Except at military installations.<<<

Military personnel in camouflage have been patrolling Pennsylvania Station in NYC, bearing large automatic weapons, ever since 9/11. I am in Grand Central Station less often, but would not be surprised at all to see them there, or near the Staten Island Ferry, the UN, etc.

It Italy, heavily armed carabinieri are in the main airports, very visibly, and sometimes will turn up in the major train stations as well -- not to mention the armored vehicles one occasionally sees parked in front of important monuments like the tower in Pisa or political offices and the Jewish synagogues during times of elevated terror concerns

http://www.lanazione.it/polopoly_fs/..._680/image.JPG

While "machine gun bearing people in the Jewish neighborhoods of Paris" are busy protecting places where absolutely nothing is happening, there are terrorists and other crazy people intent on murdering innocent people boarding Thalys trains...

That's reality for you, Pollyanna.

And I can testify that those are automatic rifles, not machine guns.
I have been trained to use both.

Perhaps it is just a case of countries that are proud of their military personnel
________________
I, for one, would be much more impressed if your national holiday honored your writers, artists, and composers. And according to what most tourists who visit France do, so would most of the rest the of world.

_________

It is most impressive to know the difference between automatic rifles and machine guns, but herein lies the problem. (See above.)

I believe you are taking my comment out of context. What I was responding to were posts right before my response which had to do with military shows of strength such as parades with armed military personnel and tanks. Police or even a few military patrolling places does not fall into that same category. I am in Penn Station frequently and know exactly to what you are referring. there are also dogs.

There is indeed an impressive difference between a machine gun and a semi automatic rifle.

About the same as between a VW golf and a double decker bus.