revolution_fr | Robespierre's Rights of Man and Citizen, 1793

My vote is for the Panthéon, because while It's by no means the only appropriate choice, and may not even be the *most* appropriate choice, it's the one where you're most likely to have enough space and silence to do such a reading. (Though I suppose it depends on how many students you have with you.)

Good point about room and quiet. I was wondering about the quiet, actually: do you think the security people at the Pantheon would object to our breaking the silence with a reading? I can picture someone taking me aside to say they want us to move to a far corner if we are going to be speaking. On the other hand, I can also imagine them being charmed that we were appreciating the meaning of the monument.

At this time, I think we won't be a group larger than 20 people--possibly only 15.

That's a good point. If they do have a problem with your breaking the silence, you could always relocated to the front steps or perhaps even the roof, where a reading is likely to be more tolerated.

I think that many people would definitely be in the way in the Procope though, and possibly also in the Conciergerie and the Carnavalet, depending on the number of visitors on the day you go. The other two options have the potential to be loud, though they should have enough space--and I think the Palais Royal would be more appropriate for a reading of something by Desmoulins than by Robespierre.

Yes, i thought about the front steps as a place to which we could retreat if there were uptight personnel on hand the day we were there.

It's not as ideal, but the steps are still very nice.

An interesting question. *If* I were to include Desmoulins, what piece of his would be the one best choice? What's just begging to be read at the Palais Royale?

What most jumps out at me is the speech he actually made there (though it is rather short), which I've translated, if you're interested.

Oh, yes, I am indeed plenty interested! Please share!

Here Desmoulins quotes another journalist quoting him (it is, as I've said, unfortunately rather short):

“Then Camille Desmoulins appeared; he must himself be heard:
‘It was already two thirty; I came to sound the people. My anger against the despots had turned into despair. I did not see groups, however strongly moved or appalled, enough disposed to uprising. Three young people seemed to me excited by a more vehement courage; they held each other by the hand. I saw that they had come to the Palais-Royal with the same design as I; some passive citizens were following them: “Messieurs,” I said to them, “here are the beginnings of a civic rebellion; one of us needs to devote himself and climb onto a table to harangue the people.
‘–Get up there.
‘ –I’ll do it.” Immediately I was rather lifted onto the table than climbing there. Hardly was I there than I saw myself surrounded by an immense crowd. Here is my short harangue, which I will never forget.
‘“Citizens! There is not a moment to lose. I’ve come from Versailles; M. Necker has been sacked: this dismissal is the tocsin for a Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of patriots. This evening, all the Swiss and German battalions will come from the Champ-de-Mars to slit our throats. Only one resource remains to us; to take to arms and wear cockades so that we may recognize each other.”
‘I had tears in my eyes, and I spoke with an agency that I could neither find again nor depict. My motion was received with infinite applause. I continued:
‘“What colors do you want?”
‘Someone cried: “Choose.
‘–Do you want green, color of hope, or the blue of Cincinnatus, color of American liberty and of democracy?”
‘Voices shouted: “Green, color of hope!”
‘Then I cried: “Friends, the signal has been given: here are the spies and the police satellites directly facing me. At the least I will not fall into their hands alive.” Then, drawing two pistols from my pocket, I said: “May every citizen imitate me!” I descended, smothered by embraces; some pressed me against their hearts; others bathed me with their tears: a citizen of Toulouse, fearing for my life, did not want to abandon me. However I had been brought a green ribbon. I put it first on my hat, and I distributed some to those who surrounded me.’”

You have the version from Estellacat, I just wanted to offer the version I've translated from Camille's letter to his father regarding July 12.

Sunday, all Paris was appalled by the dismissal of M. Necker. My emotions were aflame; no one was taking up arms. I joined them, they saw my zeal, they surrounded me, they pressed me to climb upon a table. In a minute I was surrounded by six thousand people. “Citizens,” I said, “You know that the nation had demanded that Necker remain, that a monument be built for him. They have chased him off! It is a slap in your face! After this coup, they will dare to do anything and maybe tonight they are plotting a Saint-Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of patriots!” I was choking under a wave of ideas besieging me, I was ranting. “To arms,” I cried, “To arms! Let us wear green cockades, the color of hope.” I remember that I finished with these words: “The despicable police are here! Let them see me, let them observe me well! Yes, it is I who call my brothers to liberty!” Raising a pistol, I said, “At least they will not take me alive, I know how to die gloriously. There’s nothing they can do to me that’s worse than watching France become a slave!” Then I descended, I was embraced, I was smothered in people’s arms. “My friend,” each person said to me, “We are going to protect you, we will not abandon you, we will follow you.” I said I didn’t want to command and that I only wanted to be a soldier of the country. I took a green ribbon and I attached it to my hat. How fast the blaze spread!

You can mix them as you feel fit. I'm sure Camille did. ;-)

I like this! Thank you!

My choice is "in front of the gates of the Palace of Justice".
The overall objective of Maximilien Robespierre was an establishment of justice, fair human relations.

Yeah, I liked the idea of the Palace of Justice because it is a public place that is nominally about the preservation of citizens' rights (though not in as progressive a form as Robespierre's 1793 document. Right in front of the gates would be a mass of tourists, but right across the street is an open area. Reading the Rights of Man in that location gives me chills (in a good way).

I vote the Procope, I think the atmosphere is incredible and just seems more conducive to reading (not to mention much more comfortable!! than squatting on the ground or something to that effect) and discussing. The others will have more people milling about (I was nearly stepped on several times when I stopped to reflect for a while in the Conciergerie...) 2nd choice would be the Palais Royale, for the same reason that it's more open and comfortable - and I just like the idea of meeting in places where these people would have actually met, whereas glorious as the Pantheon is, it doesn't seem like a place for reading (for me, anyway, I was too busy bawling).

Oh, tell me--did you cry at the Pantheon? Tell me about it.

Well, um, there's not much to say... just that I cried? Really only at Rousseau's tomb, although the monument and everything else gave me shivers in a very good way.
Going back to which - I also was sort of personally bothered by the people who were talking in the Pantheon - maybe the steps, then heading inside after the reading...?

Bless you! I'm currently reading Rousseau's Confessions for the first time.

Well, if you found the chatter annoying in the Pantheon, then I wouldn't want to contribute. I was there mostly off season and was usually alone in any given area. Perhaps reading on the steps and then a walk inside. It's occurred to me that perhaps a little slice of Rousseau would be nice to have the students read since they will be at his tomb there. If you had to choose a few short pages of Rousseau as the one exposure a group of students would have to his actual words, what would you choose?

Robespierre's Rights of Man and Citizen, 1793

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