France as Heritage
These few pages are a reflection born on the parade ground in Aubagne, at the very moment when young legionnaires were receiving their naturalization certificates. Watching them become French, a question arose for Christian: what does France truly mean to those who join it by choice? This text is an attempt at an answer, nourished by experience, memory, and a deep attachment to the republican motto that guides our country.
But this emotion takes on a particular meaning when experienced within the Foreign Legion. For the Legion is not merely a military formation; it is a place of rebirth, of transcendence, of tangible brotherhood, where men from all over the world learn a language, a spirit, a shared discipline. For some, it even becomes the path to a new homeland. It is to these men, to these new compatriots who have already served France even before receiving their official documents, that these lines are addressed. They want to celebrate their commitment, to recall the strength of the bond that unites the Legion to the Nation, and to convey what it truly means to inherit France: a history, values, an ideal, but also a duty of fraternity, loyalty, and solidarity, which have always been at the heart of the Legion.
Louis Perez y Cid
By Christian Morisot.
Fleetingly, the evening light envelops the parade ground of the Viénot barracks in Aubagne in a dark mass. A very special event was taking place: a group of young legionnaires were being presented by local elected officials with a certificate confirming their French naturalization. Pleasantly charmed by the unexpected nature of these young men's commitment, a question came to mind: "What could France possibly represent for them? What image and opinion might they have of the history of their new country?" I impulsively felt frustrated at not being able to speak to them, not to lecture them, but simply to tell them what France represents for many of the former legionnaires who, long before their voluntary act, had also chosen to become French.
I would like the opportunity to tell them that France is quite simply: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."
Regarding equality, it is said that two beings are equal when they are of the same height or possess the same amount of wealth. Thus, the scene is set…
But we know from experience that everything is relative: equality of two distances, of weight, of wealth, of intelligence… Therefore, absolute equality would become identity, and no one would be equal to anyone but themselves; absurd! That's cloning… Are men equal? We learned, often the hard way when we found ourselves among our fellow volunteers facing the same immediate future, that we were equal. In fact, at that time, inequality was the rule: men were not all equally strong, intelligent, or generous, despite the leveling imposed by an essential uniformity that could only be superficial. Differences don't appear immediately; one person will prove stronger than another, who will be more intelligent or less selfish. Others will seem to have every advantage, every talent, every virtue, but also every weakness, nothing but flaws and misfortunes, bad luck. In short, there's no doubt about it, human beings are clearly unequal. A just God could have avoided this mess; fortunately, humankind created democracy, human rights, and the duties of citizens… But to say that all men are equal would be a blasphemous lie!
Like many anti-racists who proclaim that “all races are equal,” only to fall into a confusion perpetuated by those who say the opposite, we must admit that if humans appear equal, it is nature that prevails, and nature is neither democratic, nor progressive, nor humanist; it simply ignores our laws. In fact, everything depends on our morality in politics and, for some, on their religion. Today, we have a prime example of what we are capable of becoming without having to reproach ourselves in the slightest, since everything is done according to the rules and in accordance with the law of universal suffrage. We get what we deserve! Biology has long refuted racism, but must we submit our principles to the dictates of laboratories? That would be confusing fact with law, and that is why it is essential to distinguish between these two very different things. The answer lies not in geneticists' laboratories nor in psychometric tests; it lies in our hearts, in our principles, in our education, and above all, in our laws.
We have learned that just because men they are equal because they have the same rights; but it is because they have the same rights that they are equal. Today, our society is changing too fast; let us not allow ourselves to be invaded by hatred, this horrible universal octopus that is everywhere present, everywhere active, as too many massacres constantly confirm.
Let us be convinced that all hatred, even justified, is unjust; let us be equal, but above all, let us be united and in solidarity so that we can also speak of fraternity and liberty…
But I would tell them above all that it is fraternity that we forget!
Indeed, while Liberty can be established and Equality imposed, Fraternity depends too much on a feeling of solidarity, which is often forgotten. If Liberty and Equality are opposed, precisely because Liberty destroys Equality and imposed Equality destroys Liberty, then Fraternity allows us to maintain Liberty by fighting against inequality.
Today, the modern world is developing around societies in pursuit of private happiness… of material enjoyment at the expense of collective well-being. A terrible observation: “humanity is becoming increasingly fragile.”
Let us hope that these naturalized French citizens will be proud of their new country and that they will embrace the spirit of their adopted family.
Let them also know that their new homeland owes a debt: the price of the blood of the French and foreign combatants who fought with honor and loyalty to keep it Free.
The motto, "Legio Patria Nostra," makes the Legion a daughter of France, one that knows how to integrate its former servants as free, equal, and fraternal, with a fraternity made concrete for the residents of Puyloubier and Auriol. Indeed, these residents share two houses, which prevent them from falling into the traps that inevitably follow the prospect of idleness. Since the centenary of the Legion's creation, we have made it our own to care for and provide communal housing for the most destitute among us. This spirit of solidarity continues to grow and strengthen today and will only end with the passing of the last of us.
Welcome home, young men. I have no doubt about your ability to integrate, and allow me to remind you of the words of one of my former commanders, one of those who truly earned our respect among the many we honor out of duty, General (Ret.) Jean-Claude Collon:
“In the area of integration, the Legion is a model that brings honor to our country. Certainly, while the methods used within its ranks for learning fundamental languages and values are not exactly transferable to our civilian society, they are nonetheless the essential framework for integration and living together… The right to be like others remains its true cornerstone, guaranteeing equal opportunities.”
