[justanother]

To me (American by birth, Francophone by grace of dieu), it's more than just baguettes and Eiffel towers. This is the country that frightened Europe to the core by taking the still-bleeding head off of a monarch and setting an example for civil law. The world's leading military power until an unfortunate defeat in 1763 by lucky Brits, without which we'd likely speak French as a first language instead of second.

Or more simply, the most beautiful country I've ever visited, where I can visit a doctor for just 27 euros without insurance, and they'll actually have a personal conversation with me to understand my ailment, instead of the horrific, expensive, and impersonal factory farm that American medicine usually is. A place where "zero tolerance" does not (yet) reign supreme and even the infamously numerous and curmudgeonly bureaucrats can make exceptions for a heartfelt story. Where best friends can get into debates daily that turn into shouting matches, before continuing with the business of being best friends.

La lumière du monde. Never ever change, France. Not like you were going to anyway.