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For Americans, It's French Sissies Versus German He-Men
NYTIMES ^ | 09/28/03 | NINA BERNSTEIN

Posted on 09/27/2003 9:35:27 PM PDT by Pikamax

For Americans, It's French Sissies Versus German He-Men By NINA BERNSTEIN

t was on display again last week, that old double standard. On camera, Germany's chancellor got a muscular handshake from America's president and a meeting that let bygones be bygones. France's president got the official cold shoulder and columnists' heated denunciations.

Yet France and Germany had taken the same position on the Bush administration's policies in Iraq. Both were offering to help train Iraqi security forces, but not to send soldiers. Both argued that only accelerated Iraqi sovereignty and a larger United Nations role could secure peace.

Apparently, it sounded different in French. Somehow, to American ears, it always does. And at this point in strained trans-Atlantic relations, an obvious explanation comes to mind: in the American imagination, France is a woman, and Germany is just another guy.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chirac; france; germany; schroeder; shroeder; sissies; wimps
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1 posted on 09/27/2003 9:35:28 PM PDT by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax
Here's a gold-plated sand pounder, Nina. Just for you. :-)
2 posted on 09/27/2003 9:41:08 PM PDT by Bonaparte
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To: Pikamax
We're all aware that France has fought many times since World War 2. The reason Americans don't respect this, however, is because A) They have lost badly pretty much every time and B) they loudly condemn when America acts for its own interests eventhough the French do the same thing for themselves. At least Germany is consiste with being peaceniks.
3 posted on 09/27/2003 9:43:38 PM PDT by Democratshavenobrains
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To: Pikamax; IowaHawk
Folks, I know this is the New York Slimes, but you gotta read this! It is hilarious!

Of course, Mr. Wall added, when Secretary of State Colin L. Powell refers to America and France as having been in marriage counseling for 225 years, "you know darn well he means we're the male partner."

Hawk--you coulda wrote this as satire!

4 posted on 09/27/2003 9:53:25 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: JohnHuang2; MeeknMing; Liz; Lazamataz; Registered; Sabertooth
Read this! It is sooo funny!
5 posted on 09/27/2003 9:55:06 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Pikamax

Germany does have its "feminine side" too although it ain't French....

6 posted on 09/27/2003 10:04:36 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Pikamax
I think there is something serious being said here but we cannot easily see it for the clutter of wise ass, Manhattan chic, feminist, nonsense in which the author(in) indulges herself.

The historical reality is that there is a difference (post war - author take note) between Adenauer and De Gaulle.

Next, Americans should wake up to the fact that Germany is in the thrall of Leftists and you are making mischief when you persist in reflating WW2 sterotypes. The left cannot be overcome when they are seen as facists.

Next, there is a huge difference between the instinctive conservative instincts of much of Germany, especially in the south - witness the last election here- and the French.

So, we are right in treating these two countries differently, but not on the model this birdbrain proposes. She might be blonde, but the Germans are not. The Germans can be saved, but saving France will be much like redeeming Syria.





7 posted on 09/27/2003 11:02:32 PM PDT by nathanbedford (qqua)
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To: Pikamax
A little foreign diplomacy to isolate France, not all that complicated.
8 posted on 09/27/2003 11:06:56 PM PDT by TheDon (Why do liberals object so vociferously to the overthrow of dictators?)
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To: Pikamax
German He-Men

I was stationed in Germany in the 90s. I think all the German "He Men" died in WWII. Most of the Germans I saw were just as sissy as the French. IMHO

9 posted on 09/27/2003 11:18:13 PM PDT by rivercat (Welcome to California. Now go home.)
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To: dcam
Richtig
10 posted on 09/28/2003 1:24:09 AM PDT by nathanbedford (qqua)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: SkyPilot
.....under Bill Clinton, reflexive animosity also flowed between Washington and Paris, recalled ...a security adviser on Europe in the Clinton years. "When the French sent dispatches about operations in Kosovo, people would just throw them away," he said. "The attitude was, if it's from France, it must be to undermine American power" ....

Isn't that a corker? The Clinton admin was actually worried about America. Who woulda ever guesed?

12 posted on 09/28/2003 5:05:34 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Pikamax
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember the Germans running around the middle east and africa undermining the USA.
13 posted on 09/28/2003 5:23:06 AM PDT by Broadside Joe
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To: Broadside Joe
Nah, they were just making lots of Deutchmarks selling lots of stuff they weren't supposed to be selling.
14 posted on 09/28/2003 5:25:11 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: Broadside Joe
Here's an FR thread on the subject :)
15 posted on 09/28/2003 5:29:59 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: mewzilla
Yeah they did, along with many others. If I also remember correctly, France was the first to go around the UN sanctions after the gulf war. ( as far as I know that is )
16 posted on 09/28/2003 5:30:58 AM PDT by Broadside Joe
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To: seamole
Thanks for posting the full text ! I cannot understand why an excerpt on such an article. It's not unduly long, nor part of the WP/LAT agreement. It's a good article that is worthy of reading in full ...


17 posted on 09/28/2003 5:34:46 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
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To: mewzilla
Thanks for the link. I didn't see anything about the german that was nailed (slapped on the wrist) for selling nuke tech to them though.
18 posted on 09/28/2003 5:36:24 AM PDT by Broadside Joe
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To: Broadside Joe
Personally I think the French and the Germans deserve each other :)
19 posted on 09/28/2003 5:38:22 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: seamole
"They believe the American male has been completely emasculated, and American women rule the roost."

Does it mean that feminism is less influential in France?

20 posted on 09/28/2003 5:38:51 AM PDT by A. Pole ("Is 87 billion dollars a great deal of money? Yes. Can our country afford it?" [Secretary Rumsfeld])
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