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Sofitel surrenders, lowers French flag
The Chicago Tribune ^ | 03/01/2003 | Rob Kaiser

Posted on 03/01/2003 12:15:10 PM PST by GeneD

Edited on 03/01/2003 12:16:50 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

The French-owned hotel chain quietly lowered the French flags flying in front of all 10 of its U.S. properties earlier this week to avoid being stung by anti-France sentiment stemming from the European country's vocal opposition to war with Iraq.

Although the chain said it had not received any complaints, each hotel's French flag was replaced with a state or city flag.

"As a mark of respect, we felt it might be nice to bring it down for some time," said Helen Lalitte, vice president of marketing for Sofitel North America.

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: france; frenchboycott; hotels; iraq; motel6; sofitel
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1 posted on 03/01/2003 12:15:10 PM PST by GeneD
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To: GeneD

2 posted on 03/01/2003 12:27:12 PM PST by areafiftyone (The U.N. is now officially irrelevant! The building is for Sale!!!)
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To: GeneD
I am still wagering that our troops are going to find alot of French made materials in Iraq. Just last week we intercepted a huge rush-order cargo of French-made white flags for the Iraqi army.
3 posted on 03/01/2003 12:37:37 PM PST by kcar
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To: GeneD
Don't you just love the courage of their convictions?
4 posted on 03/01/2003 12:38:13 PM PST by AndyJackson
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To: GeneD
Next time anyone stops to buy groceries, ask the store manager NOT TO PURCHASE FRENCH products.

If everyone boycotts the "little" things...it will all add up.

5 posted on 03/01/2003 12:50:01 PM PST by Drango (Two wrongs don't make a right...but three lefts do!)
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To: GeneD
They've surrendered! How very French of them.
6 posted on 03/01/2003 1:20:51 PM PST by Oztrich Boy
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To: GeneD
Thanks. I thought maybe they'd replace it with a white flag.
7 posted on 03/01/2003 1:22:20 PM PST by ScholarWarrior
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To: AndyJackson
I'm sorry - my sides are splitting - am i just oh, what, INSENSITIVE? Lowering the flag at a hotel because it has something to do with the French? Look, hand a diaper out
( a clean and white one, I would hope), and change your menu to offer such appetizers as 'unbathed A$$hole onion soup" or 'surrender taters', but dont, as a chain, lower a flag because someone's pi$$ed at you. Sorry, - just can't stop laughing at this one...
8 posted on 03/01/2003 1:26:57 PM PST by ysoitanly
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To: GeneD
Good job Helen! Now I wonder if 2 more people will come stayat your hotel..
9 posted on 03/01/2003 1:30:06 PM PST by ewing
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To: areafiftyone
Ha ha ha. "The dog get's [sic] it."
10 posted on 03/01/2003 1:32:21 PM PST by aruanan
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To: aruanan
Buddy....American or French - dead or alive? /sarcasm.
11 posted on 03/01/2003 1:38:14 PM PST by ysoitanly
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To: GeneD
Motel 6 is owned by the same company as Sofitel.

Boycott Motel 6! Not that that's going to be very hard.
12 posted on 03/01/2003 1:40:18 PM PST by Dont Mention the War
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To: GeneD
French cheese and wine, German wine and cars, Belgian chocolate (ouch!). What to boycott from Turkey?
13 posted on 03/01/2003 1:57:30 PM PST by etcetera
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To: Drango
Next time anyone stops to buy groceries, ask the store manager NOT TO PURCHASE FRENCH products. If everyone boycotts the "little" things...it will all add up.

You have a good point, do you have any idea how we can get a list of french imports and french owned companies in the US?

14 posted on 03/01/2003 2:01:50 PM PST by 2timothy3.16
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To: areafiftyone
That's the funniest thing I've seen since JoeHadenough posted the video/audio clip of the pilot describing the handguns in the cockpit. You guys are great.
15 posted on 03/01/2003 2:06:53 PM PST by hoosierskypilot
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To: Dont Mention the War
I had a “pleasant” stay at a Motel 6 in Homestead FL. Thank God it was for only one night!

The cleaner they used smelled like fresh, cat markings. The cigarette burns in the bedspread were of a clever design.

The French probably think this quite exceptable to our tastes. Ptuiiii!

16 posted on 03/01/2003 2:08:43 PM PST by johnny7 (I've got roaches in my room! Manager; Sir... that is your Continental Breakfast!)
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To: 2timothy3.16
I don't know if this list is accurate...

frogweenies.com


BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters)
Club Med (Vacations)
Yoplait
Vivendi
Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) ???
Christian Dior
Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts)
Marie Claire
Air Liquide
Veritas Group
Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)
Moet (Champagne)
Perrier (Water)
Biotherm (Cosmetics)
Evian
Donna Karan
DKNY
Jacobs Creek
Givenchy
Allegra (Allergy Medication)
Fina Oil
Technicolor
Pierre Cardin
International Herald Tribune
Air France
Peugeot (Automobiles)
Alcatel
Renault (Automobiles)
Bollinger (Champagne)
Louis Vuitton
Hennessy
L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)
Lancome
Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)
Maybelline
Dom Perignon
Mumms (Champagne)
Vittel
Chanel
Yves Saint Laurent
AXA Advisors
Airbus
RCA (televisions & electronics)
Le Creuset (Cookware)
Sparkletts (Water)
17 posted on 03/01/2003 2:15:34 PM PST by Drango (Two wrongs don't make a right...but three lefts do!)
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To: Drango
I think they now own Poland Springs water too. Thanks for the list and I'll get back to you about Poland Springs water.
18 posted on 03/01/2003 2:24:20 PM PST by 2timothy3.16
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To: 2timothy3.16
Here is a link to the NY Post's story with a picture of a huge blow-up rat that somehow showed up in front of the Sofitel.
19 posted on 03/01/2003 2:31:13 PM PST by LisaFab (Loved FReepin the Freaks!)
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To: etcetera
What to boycott from Turkey?

Hold off on Turkey. We may not know the full story yet.

But I'm glad I bought Pakistani dates the other day, considering the news of Ramzi Mohammed's capture there today. The dates are even good to eat. Yum.

20 posted on 03/01/2003 2:32:41 PM PST by patriciaruth
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