Europeans are our brother and sisters and must be reproached and guided into the road of righteouness, but not considered our enemies.
Afterall we share a lot in common: religion, culture, hsitory and tradition. Ours is an extention of European culture. Our country was founded on European/Christian principles by European and for European progeny. We are Europe's little brothers and sisters.
Written by a Frenchman for a French Audience - a very enlightening read:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1893554856/qid=1103659484/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-7428078-4342316
He justified his heavy-handed rule along philosophical lines not unlike that which those had earlier called for: the need of the people to come under an "enlightenment", an absolute or "despotic" father-figure who would rule the people with an iron fist for their own best interests. He was careful to pay close attention to all the discussions of enlightenment thinking, sponsoring scientific research and giving the appearance of being an earnest contributor to the thinking of the scientists. This was what the ideal of "enlightened despotism" was supposed to be all about. The price to France, a state of economic and intellectual dependency on the massive French system. Indeed, the French state began to slide into economic disarray. They had lost much of their original spiritual character and had become a quite thoroughly political organization. They became closely involved in the political intrigue not only aimed against Protestants but also directed to the rise and fall of particular nations. They were politically astute--and dangerous to work with.(always have been)
If you think this is about Chirac you may be partially right but it is also a story about the leadership in the second part of the 17th century belonging to France, under the rule of Louis XIV, the "Sun King." During his long and powerful reign (1643-1715) he forced the French aristocracy to surround him at his magnificent palace at Versailles, where he could keep close tabs on their doings; drove the Protestants (300,000 Huguenots) from France--eliminating France's best source of middle-class industrial skill in the process; and built up a grand display of royal splendor in palaces and military organizations (and in wars which used them), which left the French people gasping under the tax load.
Read the book,`Our Oldest Enemy A History of America's Disastrous Relationship with France` by John Miller and get back to me. It's a real eye opener.