[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 . . .

[P.O.E.]

I have a feeling it's similar to here in the 'States. In the big cities, you have the elitist (and whacko) lib enclaves.

Just like I don't believe everything I read in the press here, and think the heartland values are totally awesome, it's probably the same in the countryside in Europe, too.

I sometimes wonder if one of the big reasons the jihadists "hate us" is because they mostly perceive us via the degeneracy and lies they see and hear from our the media and demagogic Democrats with whom they sympathize.