[P.O.E.]

"French anti-Americanism is not a short-term phenomenon," he writes. "It is anchored in history."

I have my own bit of American anti-Frenchism, rooted in personal history. Two examples will suffice.

At the door of the Louvre, the sign showing operating hours was written in French. I asked the info desk clerk how long they were open, he snidely answered, "What's the matter, can't you read?"

I later tried to get to the Monet museum. I asked a gendarme where it was, he told me to go about a half mile up the road and make a right. Turns out the museum was right around the corner the other way. When I finally got there after hoofing around a bit, they wouldn't let me in, it was only open for another hour. They said "You would not have time to appreciate"

I've hated the French ever since, and always will.

[AnAmericanMother]

It is really odd to be defending the French (I need a sanity check, I think) . . .

I had much the same experience in Paris that you did. I have never learned French beyond a few basic phrases, and although I speak fluent German that was a talent I decided to keep to myself (didn't want hordes of smelly cowards trying to surrender to me . . . ) I am a Southerner and polite to a fault. But no matter how courteous and patient I tried to be, the Parisians treated me with uniform contempt and malice. I could not get out of that city fast enough.

But everywhere else I went in France, particularly Normandy, the people were kind, friendly, patient with my attempts at communication (my Latin did come in handy) and very pleasant in every way.

They just have to do something about their "elites" over in Paris . . .