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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 3:01:38 PM
From: greenspirit	Respond to of 281500

Yes, the French are funny in a sort of pathetic way. I was quite moved by the Italian President's words during introduction talks with President Bush the other day. He seemed to genuinely appreciate the sacrifices Americans made on behalf of his country securing liberty. I wonder if anyone thought it was all about the wine then? :)

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 4:24:06 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

The French are really beginning to annoy me. Oh, my, isn't it terrible; all those countries which just don't seem to know their place.

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 4:30:21 PM
From: Condor	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

You've outdone yourself with that post LB. C

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 4:39:34 PM
From: HH	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Yes, the French are annoying, they are afflicted with the self-delusion that they and their opinions matter. Modern France hasn't contributed anything to even their own society. Forget France, its one big traffic jam full of unhappy and frustrated souls. Besides, the best french restaurants are in America anyway. I am convinced that their public attitude relates to their own interest about OIL and their fear of being inconsequential. HH

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 9:22:13 PM
From: frankw1900	Respond to of 281500

Hey Bill, I drive a French car and its a real trip and very safe. Built like a tank, handles like a sports car. It doesn't have yellow headlights, which is too bad, because with yellow there's much less light scattered when it rains. Their politics stink but don't under rate their engineers. The French are a bit at sea right now. The point of the anti-Iraq-war move was built on the strategy of keeping control of the EU with Germany and cutting Britain out. Thus the French, (and the Germans) would lead a confederation counterweighting the power of the US. It was doomed to failure anyway, not even taking into account the EU's lack of physical throw, because the Brits actually have pretty good relations with most other members of EU and aren't trying to run their policies for them. The French don't really hate the US. What drives em wild is the lack of precision, the apparent lack of "la logique", the lousy food, the US's overwhelming rejection of Jerry Lewis and Woody Allen as cultural treasures, the general willfulness of the US population, its overall disorder, and the consequent success. What it really is, is frustration: France would really like to be like the US and still be France. I trace it all back to Napoleon: when he left to exile he said, "Change nothing but the sheets." And they haven't. It's probably time they got a new bedstead. They'd feel better then. What really gives the game away is a small thing: it's the only country I've ever visited where a large proportion of the citizenry will actually disobey a sign saying, "Danger of Death. Do Not Enter." Don't get annoyed with the French; they don't care how annoyed anyone is. Feel sorry for them. That'll really drive em crazy. That's my story for today, and I'm sticking to it.

To: LindyBill who wrote (71533)	2/5/2003 10:54:20 PM
From: KonKilo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The French are really beginning to annoy me. OT Bill, I went to Paris several years ago with an All Star youth marching band. As they were short a tubist, I filled in on that horn for the parade performance. As we wound through the streets of Montmarte, Parisians were six and seven deep, many waving little American flags. Several times, I saw elderly folks who were apparently reliving the Liberation, with tears in their eyes. A few toddled out to hug us, saying Viva Le Americans. Between regular tunes, I started playing the opening strains of La Marsaillaise, the French national anthem. The response was similar to a rock band concert audience here. Since then, it has been extremely hard for me to feel anything but affection for the French people. As usual, you have the People and then you have the gov't. Two very different entities.