[sweneop]

i understand the rudeness stereotype may have some basis in fact, but the whole thing about the french not speaking foreign languages - well if a frenchman went to london or new york or sydney then im guessing all the waiters wouldnt be all bonjour silvouplait.

it is a bonus in places like italy where they all speak english, but i really cant fault the french for not wanting to do what we dont do either.

[mlocher]

thanks for your thoughtful reply. i will put my cards on the table. i have been to france many times and have been treated with respect and dignity, i took three years of french many many years ago in high school and try to speak french when there. besides paris and neice, i have been to the bordeaux area, alsace and arcachon. when giving presentations i have been given extreme dignity and respect, which i would expect. when simply roaming the villages, i have found people, who do not speak english, extremely accompodating and trying to help me even though my french is awful. and as you say, the french have a certain attitude of superierority.

take people for what they are and still get your goals done. i am not going to change a culture. the real issue is not how the average french peasant treats americans, but rather why on a diplomatic front, in a global forum that espells peace for all, we were stabbed in the back by the french.

my anger is vented to the united nations and to france's foreign policies. i believe many americans have the same mind as i, and are voting with their pocketbook, and their feet, so to say.

after the duehfler report was made public, turning rumor into fact, i expect even more americans to boycott france. unless france admits and confronts its real problem, i believe their economy will be on a slow downward spiral.

thanks! as always, your comments are always thought provoking