How to Hate the French: A User's Guide: Michael Lewis

Bloomberg ^ | April 9, 2003 | Michael Lewis

[WaveThatFlag]

Berkeley, California, April 9 (Bloomberg) -- It's astonishing how much easier it has become in America in just the last few weeks to hate the French, even for those who shouldn't.

A random sampling of three friends who disapprove of the war in Iraq and enjoy a good Burgundy reveals that all of them are inclined more than ever to detest our former ally. Trouble is, they don't know how to do it.

[Canadian Outrage]

I don't like French Canadians either. They are a sore on Canada's A$$ and will continue to be until we either separate in the West or kick Quebec's butt out!!

[WaveThatFlag]

Let that be a lesson to you. Never pay your last month's rent. Let the landlord keep the security deposit. Even if he tries to evict you, it takes over a month for him to do so.

[Michael81Dus]

Je suis très heureux que j´ai parlé à M. Publius. Il est l´homme je vais acheter un Hot Dog, si il peut parler ce vrais. (?)

[Leisler]

Well, that would be accurate decades ago, but there was the Communists. At least Bush 1 dumped Noreiaga, while the Europeans Hold Castro close and lovingly. Not to mention the solidarity with the Nicaragua Sadanistas, later thrown out in the first election and never to return. All the time the Europeans swallowed every emissive lie they put out. Furthermore, all of Latin and South America are now free, and democratic. Please point to me anywhere where any European nation has had such good results? Lastly, I see France, never to profit from reality is now lifting her skirt and running as fast as she can to Libya and Syria. I imagine the lifestyle of the corrupt French political class requires constant funding.

[MissBaby]

Can you do one with a Michilin and/or BF Goodrich tires in honor of our famlies decision not to buy these brands even though they were my husbands favorites (posing for the picture now). :)

[Minty]

Forget the fries, forget the words, target their pockets. Money talks.....

[Mamzelle]

I see that you are Canadian, so probably don't understand what the First Amendment means.

Freedom of Speech does not protect you from reprisals, except reprisals from the government. If you insult your political leaders, you shall not go to jail, nor endure any intimidation from government authority.

You will, however, run the risk of alienating your neighbors and friends, as Canada is doing.

We are absolutely free to be angry and alienated, and will behave so. That's OUR freedom of speech.

[Tribune7]

The best way to handle France is to declare it not to exist. Change the name on the maps to South Germany.

[Mamzelle]

re: I think GWB probably knows this, as Chiraq has been reduced to sending messages to the Whitehouse through Tony Blair. As far as I can tell Bush has had no direct contact with or even direct comments toward the French in quite some time. )))

I hope you are right. The writer of this article is right-on in that it is difficult to insult a Frenchman properly. My appetite is sharp to see a painful insult delivered...and perhaps we don't really know how to go about it effectively.

I do like to think ahead to when the Islamists in France surround these detestable, craven, weaklings and force their women into burquas...but that's a satisfaction too much delayed...

[hawkaw]

You don't understand what I am talking about. I already said I agree that people should criticize and boycott etc.

I'm talking about certain people on this board sterotyping and labelling entire populations.

[Happy2BMe]

DESECRATION OF GRAVES

By SIMON HUGHES

SICK French yobs daubed a swastika and vile anti-war slurs at a cemetery for 11,000 British troops.

The showpiece cenotaph at the graveyard in Northern France was smeared in red paint with the words: “Dig up your rubbish. It’s fouling our soil.”

Other slogans at the Etaples cemetery near Boulogne included “Death to the Yankees” and “Saddam Hussein will win and spill your blood.”

And the vandals wrote “Rosbeefs go home” — the French insult for Brits is roast-beefs. Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush were also branded war criminals.

The graffiti was discovered by a shocked gardener and spotted by around 80 visitors. It was cleaned off the same day.

Roy Hemmington — spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission — said: “We are deeply offended. This is the strongest language and most vile graffiti I have witnessed at a war graves cemetery.

“The suggestion that the bodies of soldiers who died for France should be dug up is particularly foul.”

Most soldiers buried at the cemetery were defending France at the Somme and Ypres during World War I.

Another 122 are troops who died fighting the Nazis in World War II.

Among the dead are a winner of the Victoria Cross, 217 holders of the Military Medal and 69 holders of the Military Cross.

A number had been awarded France’s top military decoration, the Legion d’Honneur.

Roy added: “Almost every British regiment has war dead here. This insults just about the entire British Army.”

Anti-British feeling has been whipped up in France since President Jacques Chirac refused to let the UN back action against Iraq.

Last night Jim Kelleher, chief clerk to the Royal Fusiliers Association, said: “No sane person would do this. It is a disgrace. I have family buried in France and if I could get my hands on whoever did this I’d bury them too.”

Jeremy Lillies, of the Royal British Legion, added: “It is distressing.”

The Sun’s Military Adviser Major-General Perkins said: “It is despicable.”

Appalled local MP Jacques Lang said: “It is an attack on the memory of the British and American soldiers who contributed to the liberation of our soil.”

Police captain Thibault Martin added: “It is sick and cowardly.”

The shocking news comes as a new poll reveals that a third of the French want SADDAM to win the war.

A massive 78 per cent of 1,000 people in the poll by French newspaper Le Monde disapproved of the Allied action.

But 16 per cent “really wish for” a Coalition victory — while 37 per cent said they would prefer one.

[Gothmog]

Is the 0 cents also supposed to be a commenatry on their lack of it?

[Mamzelle]

We may not know how to insult a Frenchman, but it is clear these creatures know how to insult *us*...