This is hardly the forum for historical debate, but perhaps letting go of the past is something that allows future growth. I spent several years living in your country and indeed have many friends there still, but I noticed quite often how stuck in the past the country is. If not for the Americans, Germans, Japanese and now, ironically, the Indians, you wouldn't have any volume automobile manufacturing left other than a handful of specialty shops like McLaren.

Since you brought France and Napoleon into the discussion, have you sat and considered what he did for that country to make it more modern? Pacifist, no; forward thinker, yes.

 

As noted this is not the place for this discussion, interesting as it is.
If you want to continue, a new thread in the off topic section would be best.