Sofitel surrenders, lowers French flag

The Chicago Tribune ^ | 03/01/2003 | Rob Kaiser

[GeneD]

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.

[2timothy3.16]

Now, this is where we can hurt them, hurt them bad. Polar Springs is really big in the Northeast, from NYC on up.

Thanks.

[fifteendogs]

Oh my, what shall we do for Thanksgiving?

[montag813]

I think they now own Poland Springs water too. Thanks for the list and I'll get back to you about Poland Springs water.

They also own MOTEL 6 and DAY'S INN!!!! Heard this on Bloomberg TV on Friday.

Add to boycott list...

Day's Inn
Motel 6

[2timothy3.16]

March 1, 2003 -- A French hotel chain - trying to weasel out of a backlash over Iraq - has stopped flying the nation's flag in front of two New York properties - a "cowardly" move, say the hotels' patrons. The blue, white and red flags were taken down Tuesday at the Sofitel and Novotel in Midtown - along with all other U.S. locations - to "avoid being provocative," a company executive said.

France has been leading the opposition to a U.S. attack against Iraq.

Ya gotta love the way the New York Post does their stories. They are about 100 times better than that rag down the street, the NY Slimes, ops sorry, the new york times, times not slimes, but then again, maybe I was right the first time, Slimes. Ya come to think about it it is Slime!

[Paul_B]

That's Poland Springs. I bought a case of small PS bottles, and keep refilling them with Polar water from 6 gal. bottles. But I was doing that before the current pathetic incident, for economic reasons. Crystal Rock is another very good water, but more expensive.

Blessings.

[Starboard]

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

Instead of buying the usual French brie, tonight we found a substitute creamy brie cheese made by Saga in Michigan.

[Dec31,1999]

While other countries have joined the call to give United Nations inspectors more time to comb Iraq for banned weapons, France has become the primary target of scorn from some Americans.

How does one "comb a country" unless it completely takes over and goes door to door? Vials of bio weapons take up very little space. You have to erradicate the ideology.

Besides, The Islamic Tyrrany of France deserves all the criticism it gets.

[Hank Rearden]

Ha ha ha. "The dog get's [sic] it."

Government schools.

[Hank Rearden]

IMHO the dog picture isn't funny.

Well, mainly, it's been done . . . . about 30 years ago:

I've got that issue somewhere around here, in one of the old college boxes gathering dust. It's from when National Lampoon was funny - also about 30 years ago.

[Dec31,1999]

I wonder what Peta would say about your post. In fact, I'm going to call them right now! NOT!

[VOA]

What to boycott from Turkey?

Just my opinion, but it might be good to "hold your fire" on Turkey.

While most Americans would (reasonably) think they are trying to extort us for
cooperating with our plans...
they voluntarily turned off a pipeline from Iraq during the Gulf War and have
paid a HIGH price for this for a decade (in the Billions of dollars).
Before they did this, Turkey had one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe/Middle East.

Plus, the sane Muslims in Turkey (most civilians, virtually all of their military)
are holding the line at keeping their country being taken over by a Taliban-type government.
(well documented on the PBS FrontLine special titled "Muslims" last year).

Let's put it this way...with the Turks, you go to the bazaar and haggle over money.
With Osama/Saddam/Talian, they just try to blow you up and/or wreck your country.

[Dec31,1999]

Plus, the sane Muslims in Turkey (most civilians, virtually all of their military)

Well then, how did the Muslims win the parliament? I knew that was bad news at the time.

[VOA]

Well then, how did the Muslims win the parliament? I knew that was bad news at the time.

You probably have me there.
My guess is that probably a coalition of legislators that do have more radical-Islamic
sympathies, plus some "America can't tell us what to do" types probably managed to barely
beat the measure (by three votes, IIRC).

I'm an amateur observer...but I suspect the "America can't tell us what to do"
legislators are probably also holding out for more American dollars.

Besides, they also get a chance to (at least temporarily) embarass the U.K.
Kind of a chance to revel in the joy of a latter-day Gallipoli...

While their is a move afoot to veer into the radical-Islamic country column,
I think Turkey is one Muslim country that the USA should try to stay close to...
and keep gently nudging them away from "The Dark Side".

(About a year ago, the TV show produced by The Seventh Day Adventists "It Is Written" had
a series on the "Seven Churches of Revelation" shot ON SITE in Turkey.
My guess is there aren't too many countries that would tolerate a Christian-based
broadcast being done on their soil like this one was done.)

[Hank Rearden]

I wonder what Peta would say about your post. In fact, I'm going to call them right now!

No worries. That was 30 years ago. One way or another, that pooch is dead.

[Dec31,1999]

I would say that a Muslim is not to be trusted, unless they are on the hit list of the Wahabbis. But even then I would have my suspisions.

It's nothing personal, of course.