A country of contradictions

Are the french aware of their socialist legacy that is about to be swept away from under their feet? Last night's debate was heated, and it seems incredible to me that a strong woman with clear and logical intentions, who doesn't pretend to know everything or intend to decide for everyone, can be so easily dismissed with a little machism and easy rhetoric. I am trying to get over the desire to scream wake up, this is an unseen opportunity, a country respected by so many yet resistant to the wide screen bright light reality of the west could become the country that represents real modernity- eco-friendly living, happy, healthy people, who work but not so much that they have to drink their weight in beer each night in the pub to forget it. How is it that a country that nearly has this opportunity to be a leader not a follower is going to let it slip past them and fucking french etiquette (j'en ai marre) means I can't say a thing. So nearly socialist yet so uptight at once. Globalisation is happening, it will happen whatever government they chose, but it can happen in a better way. Dreams are not just wishy washy tit tat. Being passionate is important, especially when it comes to our future. I hope it's not the case, but I fear it is, that this country is residing itself to something grey when it could be so bright.