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Knocking the French: Why?

In my case it is a family tradition.

400 years ago the french were our allies. We fought beside them in their wars. Peace came and then the enemy came after us. The french decided that it would be more economically advantageous to let us be slaughtered. We were.

In 400 years they show no signs of improvement.

"In 400 years they show no signs of improvement."

la Legion was respectable.....mostly foreigners, though. Haven't heard a thing about it for years.....since 1976 or 77, when they pulled some expats out of Zaire when the Katangese rebels returned from Angola.

Actually, the USA would not exist today if France hadn't helped us in the Revolutionary War. The Colonists were not doing very well against Britain's army, and George Washington, for all his virtures, was not a gifted general. The Colonists would surely have been defeated at Yorktown by the British Navy if France had not sent their fleet to block the British.

Because of the French, the Colonists won at Yorktown, and the British surrendered.

400 years ago the french were our allies. We fought beside them in their wars.

Correction: 400 years ago the French Monarchy and Aristocracy were our allies. Subsequent to their being killed or driven out during the French Revolution, the remaining French do not seem to have been worth much

I mujst submit that there are several reasons why we knock the French:

1. DeGaulle is one big reason. He ran from France and the Germans in 1940, yet insisted that HE lead the folks who liberated France into Paris in WWII. His is a big ego which alienated many Americans, especially GI's.

2. DeGaulle got in a snit with the US in the 1960's and to spite us actually threatened to remove the interred GI Americans in France and return them to the US. Pathetic.

3. Most French, men and women, do not bathe or shower much. Who could like such people?

4. They are arrogant, self-serving, ignorant of anything non-French isolationists. They are not to be trusted in a fight. Who needs such people?

5. Degaulle got the Canadiens started when he visited the Worlds Fair in Montreal in 1968. He stirred up the French there, told them they were French, and should act like it. Ever since, the French Canadiens have been agitating and annoying everyone in Canada (which is really what French people do all over the world).

And finally, the French mostly love cats and hate dogs. Who ever could go for that?

France had not been the same since WWI. They fought bravely in that war. When WWII started they just were not prepared or had the gumption to stick it out. France was one of the early united countries in Europe. Spain, England and France were the early countries that were able to unite and have some power. Spain hit its heights during the early colonial period, but after its loss to England (demise of the Spanish Armada) England and Spain were the early powers. Austria came along and later Russia, and finally Italy and Germany, but France was the big continental power during the from the 16th Century until the demise of Napoleon.

France has an inferiority complex vis-a-vis the Anglo-Saxon powers of Britain and the USA. There is a resentment there because we have achieved so much. Their country occupies a keystone location in Western Europe. It's geography guarantees that it is important. However, since the battle of Verdun, France is not know for much but good food, perfume and good looking women that don't shave under their arms. I lived overseas for 9 years and have traveled to France several times. I ran into French rudeness, but also much good. Of course, compared to visiting the UK where I never encountered rudeness, or Germany, where the people are a bit rude in public, but very friendly in private or as friends, France is second rate. Italy is my favorite country to visit. I love the people, history and climate.