In case you were not disturbed enough by the last post...

[montagnarde1793]

....This is infinitely worse. I wasn't going to post it even, but.... Well, you'll see.

From a book called The Terrorist Trap: America's Experience with Terrorism, by a man who is up there with Fouché on the list of people I most despise: Jeffrey D. Simon. 

"The next significant period in the evolution of terrorism occurred in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Just as the medieval Ismailis extremists gave birth to the term "assassin," and the worshippers of the goddess Kali to the term "thug," so too did Maximilien Robespierre give birth in the eighteenth century to the very term "terror." [Gave birth, did he? He must really have had that sex change.] The Committee on Public Safety that ruled France during the turbulent years following the French Revolution [Following? O.o] was the first case of state-terror imposed upon a people. It was the forerunner of twentieth-century terror governments [Don't you just love how they announce, with no debate, with no suggestion that this isn't a cut-and-dried fact, that the Revolution was the "forerunner of twentieth-century" totalitarian regimes?] such as Stalin's Russia, Hitler's Germany, and Pol Pot's Cambodia. Robespierre unleashed his "Reign of Terror" [*sighs* This again? I don't think I need to repeat that the Terror was not unleashed by Maxime] between 1793 and 1794 upon all strata of French society [actually mostly the haute bourgeoisie, but considering this guy wouldn't know his haute bourgeoisie from his paysannerie, I can't really say I'm surprised]. For Robespierre, terror was viewed as the only way to save the revolution from anarchy at home and the threat from abroad by European monarchs [leaving aside the grammatical incorrectness of that sentence, why is it always what Maxime thought that's important? This isn't a bio of him!]. Even when these threats appeared to subside, he continued to use terrorism to stay in power and mold the people into a single will. [Did he now? That's odd, I don't recall. What's his source on this, Gueniffey? No, he probably can't read French. *sighs*]

 

More than seventeen thousand people [not quite]—peasants [in open rebellion in the provinces only], workers [a negligible amount], aristocrats [ditto], moderate revolutionaries [who wanted to see France carved up like Poland], and others [speculators and spies]—met their deaths by the guillotine. This became one of the first technological innovations in terrorist weaponry [And the electric chair is what, an innocent method of execution?] It was designed by Dr. Joseph Guillotin, [Actually, it wasn't] who actually viewed the sharp blade as a "humane" device [Maybe because it was? Perhaps the author of this book would prefer to be drawn and quartered or burned at the stake.] that made the deaths of the victims [condemned is the word] quicker and less painful than traditional methods of decapitation. [Which nobody got. Idiot.]

 

[I'm going to stop annotating from now on, but you'll see where it needs it, I'm sure.]

 

'The mechanism falls like lightning; the head flies off; the blood spurts; the man no longer exists,' Dr. Guillotin told the National Assembly in 1789 when he first proposed his invention. 'Gentlemen, with my machine, I'll take your head in a flash, and you won't even feel the slightest pain.' The guillotine, though, only served to facilitate Robespierre's efforts to eliminate all opponents to his rule. And it was not the only method used to kill people during the Reign of Terror. More than twenty-five thousand others were shot or killed by different methods throughout the country.

 

Terrorism, though, cannot be measured only by the number of casualties. Robespierre's rule created 'nervousness, apprehension, fear of secret denunciation [that] haunted thousands whom the guillotine did not touch.' More than on hundred thousand political prisoners were taken and several hundred others were declared suspects. [Okay, one more annotation: doesn't that prove our point—if less than 20% of those arrested were executed?] As with the Assassins, Robespierre did not view terrorism as an evil or immoral act, but instead thought of it as a virtuous deed. Virtue and terror were inseparable in Robespierre's thinking. 'If the basis of popular government in time of peace is virtue,' Robespierre argued, 'the basis of popular government in time of revolution is both virtue and terror: virtue without which terror is murderous, terror without which virtue is powerless.'

 

The terror included hauling victims onto old ships and sinking them in the Loire, sometimes killing the children of guillotined parents, and allowing thousands of prisoners to die of disease and famine. People lived in fear of the long reach of Robespierre since any seemingly innocent act could be viewed as treason. In one case, a man was sent to the guillotine for violating the Committee's [Convention's] laws on economic austerity since he was found with several small loaves of bread that had actually been baked for him on a doctor's orders. [I see no problem with that; a doctor can order anything. In this era especially, doctors weren't that helpful and so that's a pitiful excuse for bread-hoarding. Besides, this author obviously doesn't know what he's talking about, so I doubt it's even true.] In another case, the teenaged daughter of a painter was executed for having in her possession thousands of candles. [And I'm sure if this really happened Maxime was completely responsible. *rolls eyes*] Sometimes the grandparents and great-grandparents of prisoners would also be thrown in jail. [I only know of one incidence of this. Vadier and Amar did it deliberately to discredit Maxime.] People accused of being against the revolution or violating various laws and principles did not always receive a trial. [Yes. People like Maxime. Saint-Just. Couthon. Le Bas. Augustin. Hanriot. Etc.] 'No court sentence is needed,' one general told the National Convention. 'My saber and my pistols do their job.' [And generals are now supposed to give trials to guerilla fighters in a civil war? You learn something new every day.]

 

The French people even had to fear the way they looked in public, lest they arouse the suspicions of Robespierre's spies. [WHAT spies?] The government's agents "would join the conversation of men and women in public places like street corners or cafés and attempt, in this way, to net a potential suspicion. A depressed or unhappy look would attract attention and often prompt an inquiry into the identity and circumstances of anyone who had such a dissatisfied air.'

 

Robespierre himself fell victim to the guillotine in July 1794 as internal divisions within the government turned the terror machinery against the dictator [What dictator?] and his supporters. In his last speech to the National Convention, two days before he was to be executed, Robespierre attempted to justify his actions [What actions? Not going to the CSP?] as the will of the people:

 

'They call me a tyrant….One arrives at a tyrant's throne by the help of scoundrels….What faction do I belong to you? You yourselves. What is the faction which, since the Revolution began, has crushed the factions and swept away hireling traitors? It is you, it is the people, it is the principles of the Revolution….'

 

Robespierre, like the Assassins before, used highly publicized murders [WTF.] to spread fear to countless others whom he was trying to control."

...May I suggest the writing of nasty reviews? I think that's too good for it, personally, but it's the best that can be done at present.

Comments

[josiana.livejournal.com]

...so too did Maximilien Robespierre give birth in the eighteenth century to the very term "terror."
Aww. ;___; That means Girl!Maxime/Terror is incest, doesn’t it?

*sighs* This again? I don't think I need to repeat that the Terror was not unleashed by Maxime
Maxime = the revolutionary equivalent of Sailor Moon, obviously.

who wanted to see France carved up like Poland
Somwhere Feuilly is having seizures of outrage. O_O

Maybe because it was? Perhaps the author of this book would prefer to be drawn and quartered or burned at the stake.
It always annoys me how people complain about the guillotine without considering the other methods of execution. :( Gory is not necessarily equal to horribly unpleasant.

The terror included hauling victims onto old ships and sinking them in the Loire, sometimes killing the children of guillotined parents, and allowing thousands of prisoners to die of disease and famine.
Because Maxime was personally responsible for all of that. He also took dollies and candy from children in his spare time.

WHAT spies?
Saint-Just and Le Bas in ninja costumes. The invisible ones, obviously.

What dictator?
Ebil Alternate Universe Maxime. With a Spock-like Beard(TM) and everything. It’s the only explanation. ...Either that or they’ve been using the Scarlet Pimpernel as a reputable history source again.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Yes, Girl!Maxime/Terror would be incest, but don't worry, since [s]he died, Terror is shagging Tallien's catin. :D

...I agree though; the Robespierristes are the Sailor Scout. Fighter for Justice, Virtue and Terror and all. It just works. Wait, how many are they? *counts* Yes, it does. Maxime, Saint-Just, Couthon, Le Bas and David are the Inner Scout. When I figure out who is who, I'll tell you (though I think Saint-Just is assuredly Mars... Couthon could be Mercury. I don't know which is Venus and which is Jupiter for the last too though.). I'm also guessing Augustin is Chibi Moon. And Hanriot would be Sailor Pluto, because of the randomness. I also guess we don't need Sailor Uranus and Neptune, because they're all gay, so.

Moon Terror Attack. It just works perfectly.

And we know they all wanted to become queens of different regions of France, eh?

I'm sure there's an expression that is meant to say "when we succumb to ridiculousness" but I don't remember it.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Awww. O.o;;

XDDD Aww, now I want to draw that at some point.

Clearly, that explains everything.

Alas. ;__;

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

They were meant to be drawn as chibis in colourful mini-skirts with tiaras. Just remember Couthon's in a wheel chair.

I think David should be Jupiter, just a thought like that. Le Bas fits Venus better. I think. Hmm. Mars... Venus... yes, it works; they can go en mission together.


P.S. Don't you think Augustin would be adorable with ponytails?

[josiana.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't forget that. He'd have nowhere to keep the bunnies, otherwise. ;__;

Awww. ^_____^

XDD Yes, that would probably cause people to melt with the adorableness.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwwww! Yes! And Sailor scouts love bunnies. I think. ♥

We could send that other drawing to the Revisionists: look, the Robespierristes read your descriptions of them and, since they really like what you write, decided they should continue the job -- as the Sailor Scouts! ^_^ That's what you wanted, wasn't it?

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

And Tontoinette is so Queen Beryl. Or is it Danton? No, wait, it must follow the order of elimination of the enemies/factions with the series. So I guess the Black Moon Family is the Girondins. Emerald = Madame Roland liek woah.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the order, though. ;-; Alas.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Ehh, wait! What do we do with Sailor Saturn? She used to be my favourite because she was fucked up... she fits both Maxime and Saint-Just so well. Maybe she's their love child. After all, her two attacks are "Death Reborn Revolution" and "Silence Glaive Surprise". So, yes. Their child.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Awww, how cute. :D

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

That means Girl!Maxime/Terror is incest, doesn’t it?
That explains a lot......or would, if Maxime were actually female and/or had actually started the Terror.

Somwhere Feuilly is having seizures of outrage. O_O
XD Poor Feuilly.

It always annoys me how people complain about the guillotine without considering the other methods of execution. :( Gory is not necessarily equal to horribly unpleasant.
I could not have said it better myself.

Because Maxime was personally responsible for all of that. He also took dollies and candy from children in his spare time.
LMAO. Perhaps this falls under the category of child molestor!Maxime from La Terreur sans la Vertu? *shudders*

Saint-Just and Le Bas in ninja costumes. For the win. I think it should be drawn, don't you?

...Either that or they’ve been using the Scarlet Pimpernel as a reputable history source again.
*sighs* You would think they'd have gotten over that by now...

[josiana.livejournal.com]

That explains a lot......or would, if Maxime were actually female and/or had actually started the Terror.
Well, other than that...

I could not have said it better myself.
There needs to be a very graphic documentary done on various methods of execution that should be shown to people writing about the French Revolution, just in case they get tempted to go on about how horrible the guillotine was. :(

LMAO. Perhaps this falls under the category of child molestor!Maxime from La Terreur sans la Vertu? *shudders*
Aw. Not only did he take candy from the babies, but he molested them too. ;____; How horrible. Bad Maxime, no biscuit-republic!

For the win. I think it should be drawn, don't you?
As soon as I’m not overwhelmed with despair at the sucktasticness of life, I will draw it. :D

*sighs* You would think they'd have gotten over that by now...
I think everything else is above their reading level.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

There needs to be a very graphic documentary done on various methods of execution that should be shown to people writing about the French Revolution, just in case they get tempted to go on about how horrible the guillotine was. :(
Indeed. It should be mandatory.

Aw. Not only did he take candy from the babies, but he molested them too. ;____; How horrible. Bad Maxime, no biscuit-republic!
Yes, yes--and of course, he also had fangs and drank the blood of innocent aristo-babies. *headdesk*

As soon as I’m not overwhelmed with despair at the sucktasticness of life, I will draw it. :D
*grins* That should be amusing.

I think everything else is above their reading level.
You may have a point there--it would at least explain why the Revisionists keep making up words...

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes--and of course, he also had fangs and drank the blood of innocent aristo-babies. *headdesk*
It’s so hard to keep track of ebil!Maxime’s traits. ;-; He has so many of them.

You may have a point there--it would at least explain why the Revisionists keep making up words...
CONSPIRACY.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

We could always make a list to remember. XD

It's all a conspiracy. It is.

[rainofthenight.livejournal.com]

Omg Male Preg! Doesn't it amaze you how texts like these always make abundant use of quotes, placed in the wrong contexts?

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

One wishes they might have gotten over that by now...

[polypragmosyne.livejournal.com]

Robespierre, like the Assassins before, used highly publicized murders [WTF.] to spread fear to countless others whom he was trying to control.

Apart from a load of other comments I'd make (my irritation went, as I suppose yours, quite high)... "Killing one to educate a thousand" was Red Brigades, which is 1970s, not 1790s (maybe he had problems reading? O:) ). And the noyades are the making of a thermidorian, and not the stuff the Manual of the Ebil Terrorist Jacobin was filled with.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

And the noyades are the making of a thermidorian, and not the stuff the Manual of the Ebil Terrorist Jacobin was filled with.
Why does no one understand this?

[polypragmosyne.livejournal.com]

It's not a paranoia conspiracy, it is a conspiracy :O

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I was afraid of that.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

You think that guy's the love child of Fouché and Edmund Burke?

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

What a frightening and yet increasingly likely-seeming possibility...

[sesana]

Oh, God. Yes, Maxime was the only person who had anything at all to do with the Terror. He directed it all from a sea green throne, while casually eating oranges dipped in the blood of his victims. Everybody around him was entirely innocent, acting entirely out of fear for their lives. Except for Saint-Just, of course. He was a perfectly willing accomplice, especially for all those Saturday night orgies with Maxime and Le Bas.

See? I can be a Thermidorean propagandist, too!

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I think you may have out-Thermidorian'd the the Thermidorians. And so much more creatively and concisely.