Happy 14th of July : Bastille Day

Myron Yaster MD

Taking the rest of the day and the weekend off to celebrate Bastille day, the French 4th of July, with a double espresso and a croissant. Hopefully, later today will hoist a glass of champagne and strawberries and rewatch the classic movie Casablanca. Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called the Fête nationale française. It is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 which was the match that lit the fuse of the French Revolution and the end of the monarchy. As many long time readers of the PAAD know, the movie Casablanca is one of personal favorites highlighted by the singing of the La Marseillaise. By the way, if you watch the clip (or movie) you may notice that many of the actors are crying or have tears in their eyes. This movie, filmed at the onset of America’s entry into WW II, had many refugees who fled to America from the Nazi occupation of Europe…their emotions were very real and not “acting”. MY