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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lazarus_Long who wrote (41631)	12/25/2001 10:00:37 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 82486

Maybe we're not unilateralist bullies you seek to portray. Maybe the French are tempermental and obstinate Maybe all races have temperamental and obstinate people. I have never ever ever portrayed the U.S. as unilateralist bullies. I think America has the greatest Constitution ever in the world. This does not mean they have done no wrong; only that, with no effective force to oppose them, it is necessary for the citizenry to exercise their moral voice as regards both internal and international affairs. It is gratifying that Americans have exercised the freedom to criticise misguided policies from within. Of course, some would silence opposing viewpopints by intimidation or force. This has always marked the beginning and the end of great powers. "Have you noticed our collisions with the British, Germans,.... are much less common?" In recent years, yes. Over history--no. You might want to review some of the people and factors which assisted the American road to freedom... That doesn't mean we have to appreciate it. I only contributed the link. People are entitled to think and feel as they wish. "I am well aware of what you are saying: so the "frogs" are the ones who set government policy, and the rest of the people are...just French people? France is a democracy, correct? That means the government over time portrays the attitude of its citizens" You just finished saying this: "I have known and been friends with numerous French people. It's the actions of the French government that is the problem". I will let your own answer stand as my comment. Yeah, reliability on ur part, not on theirs. The U.S. research link I gave you said (several times) the contrary of what you have just tossed off without any reference or attempt at justification, but so be it. And now it is apparent where you are coming from. I have no idea what you are insinuating. I believe a world community is inevitable at some time. Most "futurists" I have read see it that way. But those who don't believe it are entitled to their opinion. No big deal. This is exactly what I said, so what's the dispute? Surely not there. I believe you were defending your usage of the contemptuous "frogs" as you almost always apply it to French people. Other than that I was just being polite enough to answer and respond to your statements. I gave a million clues in my first post to you, that I had no interest in pursuing the issue in order to highlight any offense caused by your method of addressing French people. I had no interest in doing that. However, you continued to post so I simply answered. I assumed you wished to make the point that the use of "frogs" is justified because they stab you in the back or are obstinate or temperamental. If you believe that these qualities are deserving of comments which characterize an entire nation as worthy of a disrepectful and contemptuous term, then there is nothing for me to dispute with you, as I do not believe that. About 30 years ago I spent some time in Spain. Later I spent a couple of days in Morocco. As we toured the Casba we were swarmed by children who asked for the spanish "pesatas" please--watch your step, lady, etc. When we did not give to them they spat and said, "F---ing American Pigs". Well, this was very sad because we had done nothing to harm them; but we were being treated with contempt and hatred. I am not saying they were bigots or racists. For Christ's sake they were only children: mostly illegitimate children. But it was terrible to think that someday they would be adults; and they would still hate people like me because of where I came from, and because of the language I spoke. I have been more supportive of U.S. policies, overall, than almost any I have met from the States. I have travelled extensively all over America, and I have had the good fortune to meet Americans who respected my opinions. The only place you and I have differed remarkably over the last several posts is in the value of referring to a People with a contemptuous slur. I have told you how I feel about it; I am not going to change my mind. If you are trying to change my mind about that you are wasting your time. I thought Morroccan children spitting out "American Pigs" was wrong and divisive, and I think calling French people "Frogs" is wrong, especially if there is spit involved. That is just my opinion.