The Gods Are Angry: Merkel Insists Lightning Strike on Hollande’s Plan Was A “Good Omen”
jonathanturley
I was intrigued by the meeting of France’s new president Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a meeting where they discussed their sharp differences over austerity programs for European nations like Greece. On his flight to the meeting, Hollande’s plane was struck by lightning and he had to take another plane. After hearing of the divine act, Merket insisted that the lightning strike was “maybe a good omen for our co-operation.” Now that is a spin and got me to thinking about other omens. I wonder if Merkel used the same line as Mrs. Baylock in the movie The Omen when meeting Hollande: “Have no fear, little one… I am here to protect thee. ”
Most people would not view a near death dealing lightning strike to be a good omen for the meeting. However, Merkel may be referencing The Nuremberg Chronicle (1493) which details natural phenomena and unnatural births. Of course, if the lightning strike is a good omen that near collapse of Greece, Italy, and Spain must be really really good omens.
The translation of Merkel’s comments indicate that she may have been referring to the fact that Hollande continued after the lightning strike as a good omen. However, that is not nearly as entertaining as the lightning strike as a good omen, as reported, and besides Hollande cannot be the creator of an omen, which rests with the almighty. Under that analysis, this would have been a divine test, which Hollande overcame.
That would also mean that this was a great omen for the President as he stated “we cannot sustain . . . ”
