You Decide: Controversy over French History
In this series, members of the Flash will research little known but intense debates around the world, and bring them to you. The choice is yours: which side is right? The Chairman of the Vieux Pèlerins Museum of Nice, France, announced last Tuesday the cancellation of a previously planned exhibit regarding the 12th century AD Cheese Wars of southern France. This announcement was ill received by the Société de Préservation de L'histoire du Fromage (Translated, Cheese History Preservation Society) of Nice. The reasons the chairman put forth for cancelling the exhibit included the incredible lack of impact that the wars had on history. They are only mentioned, he said, in three of the twenty-seven French history textbooks that he checked for the subject. He also declared the wars “udderly useless” and “a big, fat, dairy deal.” At this point, reporters ceased interviewing him, seeing that he obviously intended to milk the dairy puns for all they were worth. On the other side of the debate is the cheese society. They claim that the Cheese Wars are a vital part of French history, and still widely impact our world today. In addition, they cite a famous historical quotation. Julius Caesar once triumphantly declared, “Veni, vidi, vici.” Which is translated, “I like cheese.” To summarise, the situation in Nice already isn’t looking very Gouda, and shows no signs of getting cheddar any time soon. But let's hear it for the cheerful folks of Nice, who never seem Bleu, no matter how bad the situation may Brie.* *Just so you know, this article is this issue’s Fake News.