Sofitel surrenders, lowers French flag

The Chicago Tribune ^ | 03/01/2003 | Rob Kaiser

[GeneD]

The French-owned hotel chain quietly lowered the French flags flying in front of all 10 of its U.S. properties earlier this week to avoid being stung by anti-France sentiment stemming from the European country's vocal opposition to war with Iraq.

Although the chain said it had not received any complaints, each hotel's French flag was replaced with a state or city flag.

"As a mark of respect, we felt it might be nice to bring it down for some time," said Helen Lalitte, vice president of marketing for Sofitel North America.

[areafiftyone]

[kcar]

I am still wagering that our troops are going to find alot of French made materials in Iraq. Just last week we intercepted a huge rush-order cargo of French-made white flags for the Iraqi army.

[AndyJackson]

Don't you just love the courage of their convictions?

[Drango]

Next time anyone stops to buy groceries, ask the store manager NOT TO PURCHASE FRENCH products.

If everyone boycotts the "little" things...it will all add up.

[Oztrich Boy]

They've surrendered! How very French of them.

[ScholarWarrior]

Thanks. I thought maybe they'd replace it with a white flag.

[ysoitanly]

I'm sorry - my sides are splitting - am i just oh, what, INSENSITIVE? Lowering the flag at a hotel because it has something to do with the French? Look, hand a diaper out
( a clean and white one, I would hope), and change your menu to offer such appetizers as 'unbathed A$$hole onion soup" or 'surrender taters', but dont, as a chain, lower a flag because someone's pi$$ed at you. Sorry, - just can't stop laughing at this one...

[ewing]

Good job Helen! Now I wonder if 2 more people will come stayat your hotel..

[aruanan]

Ha ha ha. "The dog get's [sic] it."

[ysoitanly]

Buddy....American or French - dead or alive? /sarcasm.

[Dont Mention the War]

Motel 6 is owned by the same company as Sofitel.

Boycott Motel 6! Not that that's going to be very hard.

[etcetera]

French cheese and wine, German wine and cars, Belgian chocolate (ouch!). What to boycott from Turkey?

[2timothy3.16]

Next time anyone stops to buy groceries, ask the store manager NOT TO PURCHASE FRENCH products. If everyone boycotts the "little" things...it will all add up.

You have a good point, do you have any idea how we can get a list of french imports and french owned companies in the US?

[hoosierskypilot]

That's the funniest thing I've seen since JoeHadenough posted the video/audio clip of the pilot describing the handguns in the cockpit. You guys are great.

[johnny7]

I had a “pleasant” stay at a Motel 6 in Homestead FL. Thank God it was for only one night!

The cleaner they used smelled like fresh, cat markings. The cigarette burns in the bedspread were of a clever design.

The French probably think this quite exceptable to our tastes. Ptuiiii!

[Drango]

I don't know if this list is accurate...

frogweenies.com

---

BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters)
Club Med (Vacations)
Yoplait
Vivendi
Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) ???
Christian Dior
Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts)
Marie Claire
Air Liquide
Veritas Group
Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)
Moet (Champagne)
Perrier (Water)
Biotherm (Cosmetics)
Evian
Donna Karan
DKNY
Jacobs Creek
Givenchy
Allegra (Allergy Medication)
Fina Oil
Technicolor
Pierre Cardin
International Herald Tribune
Air France
Peugeot (Automobiles)
Alcatel
Renault (Automobiles)
Bollinger (Champagne)
Louis Vuitton
Hennessy
L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)
Lancome
Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)
Maybelline
Dom Perignon
Mumms (Champagne)
Vittel
Chanel
Yves Saint Laurent
AXA Advisors
Airbus
RCA (televisions & electronics)
Le Creuset (Cookware)
Sparkletts (Water)

[2timothy3.16]

I think they now own Poland Springs water too. Thanks for the list and I'll get back to you about Poland Springs water.

[LisaFab]

Here is a link to the NY Post's story with a picture of a huge blow-up rat that somehow showed up in front of the Sofitel.

[patriciaruth]

What to boycott from Turkey?

Hold off on Turkey. We may not know the full story yet.

But I'm glad I bought Pakistani dates the other day, considering the news of Ramzi Mohammed's capture there today. The dates are even good to eat. Yum.