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James's avatar

The construction of the oppulent palace of Versailles while the people starved to death didn't really do her any favors in terms of public relations. Especially after her husband had funded the American revolution at significant cost to the treasury. Really though her influence at court was limited and her perspective skewed by her sheltered upbringing and inexperienced youth. I see Marie Antoinette as a tragic figure. I have seen a few documentaries about her. It's a sad story, even with all her wealth and privilege she was a something of a prisoner of her status as a royal woman.

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Adam Chambers's avatar

Thankfully, cancelling in the west these days does not involve cutting off heads. Well, except that French teacher a few years ago or anyone who publishes an image of Mohammed.

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Deacon Ferrocarril's avatar

All they had to do was give the People food.

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Yvonne's avatar

I have your excellent book which I highly recommend. This post on Marie Antoinette is an excellent example of the ruthlessness employed to destroy others to further an agenda. It has been used against Donald Trump ever since he came down that escalator. It has occurred in every aspect of our society .

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Paul Beattie's avatar

My goodness Kat- what a timely and insightful read to start the weekend. Take out Marie and enter in the name of any current controversial public figure or event and you see the same tactics being used today, as were used back then. I think of greater concern today are the echo chambers that people find themselves in. These hinder them from openly listening to arguments counter to their beliefs and they dismiss anything that runs counter to their beliefs as mis or dis information . You always are looking at all sides as you have done with the article on Marie, and with the subjects of your book, No Apologies. Great work Kat.

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Based in Paris's avatar

Great post! I love that it uses a historical figure to illustrate how human behavior, unfortunately, doesn’t change.

But, we can try to be better

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Scott Seigel's avatar

Should humanity attempt to deny what is basically our fundamentally evil nature, or should we accept it and adopt the faith of two millennia? Those who would cancel other people seem most determined to cancel the people who ask difficult questions or arrive at well considered—yet politically inconvenient—opinions.

Another jab anyone?

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Based in Paris's avatar

What do you mean?

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Scott Seigel's avatar

BASED,

I wrote a lot. Here’s another layer: I meant that we have entered a dystopian era in which rational debate and dissent are no longer allowed—cancel culture. I personally believe the Bible is true. Meanwhile the overall way COVID was handled globally was either a compliance test or the first systematic attempt of the globalists to depopulate the Earth. Believing that people are basically good is where I think we get into trouble. People are basically selfish. Altruism does exist, but it’s vanishingly rare. Hedonism seems to rule everyone (certainly those without the learned or reasoned beliefs and values to restrain it).

Did that answer your question?

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Contarini's avatar

Terrific post! It’s interesting that Centuries have gone by and the lies have lived on about this woman. I have a copy of Stefan Zweig‘s biography of Marie Antoinette, which I understand is very good. My stack of unread books is very high! But I hope to get to it.

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Vennie Kocsis's avatar

You are a phenomenal writer and laid this out so well, Katherine. A profound reminder of the harm “gossip” can do.

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i3utm's avatar

Mary of Magdala is probably the most misunderstood women in the history of Christianity.

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Rachel Haywire's avatar

This was needed. All successful women go through this type of harassment by the public. If they are on “the wrong side of history” they are also victim blamed. Their entire lives are distorted. Thank you for recognizing that cancellation is not just some modern sensation. This is a wonderful piece of writing from you.

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LudicrousLife's avatar

Interestingly it is more often women who gang up on successful women-both sides.

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Stephen Klimczuk-Massion's avatar

What a great example from history - and one that too few people know about. The French revolutionaries may have claimed lofty ideas, but terror, the guillotine and even genocide (in the Vendée) were their deeds.

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David Roberts's avatar

I'm in the midst of reading Hilary Mantel's Cromwell trilogy, and I'm reminded by your post of the cancellation and execution of Anne Boleyn.

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Katherine Brodsky's avatar

She's another figure I need to do a deep dive into!

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