France Remembers U.S. on Independence Day

AP via Yahoo ^ | 7/4/03 | Elaine Ganley

[ET(end tyranny)]

I think there was different thread on that and it was determined that at least part of it wasn't true.

[AnAmericanMother]

I gotta stand with crazykatz on this one.

I've had the same experience with Germans (I speak German, not French). Some Germans - especially the Prussians - can be awfully rude, and it's hard to forget (especially when they're rude) that they're the nation that brought us Adolf Hitler (well, them and Austria . . . ).

But I have good German and Austrian friends, and I don't blame them for the shortcomings of their various governments. After all, I sure don't want them to blame me personally for Bill Clinton . . . . :-p

[ET(end tyranny)]

Perhaps the French feel like a lot of Canadians do: ticked off at their bumbling, anti-American leader.

Could very well be.

While looking at the pictures, I was thinking that it was odd that when my French class took a trip there that we never went to any of the cemetaries. I don't recall them ever being mentioned, while we were being hussled here, there and everywhere.

Just reflecting on a missed opportunity, with regret.

[crazykatz]

EEECCK!! I would sure hate for people to blame me for klintoon... especially my Serbian friends!! I had not thought of that.

If we have friends who are French and they are nice and like America, it would be so bigotted of us to judge them by chiraq's behavior, I think.

Thanks for the post!

[crazykatz]

I have been to American cemeteries all over France. It is a sobering experience.

If you ever get the chance, please do go and visit them. Even if it means you will have to spend money in France.

We cannot just forget our dead who are there and stay away from their graves merely because some French creeps make us angry.

[Cdnexpat]

Given that Canada Day has passed unnoticed in France (in WW1 alone, 112,000 Canadians died to protect France) I would suggest that the French are sucking up to get your money and nothing more. Given that they endangered the lives of your troops to support their business interests in Iraq I would not be so quick to forgive. While I am at it the same goes for the current Canadian Prime Minister and his government. The Bush Administration should refuse to meet with any member of a Liberal government to discuss any issue.

[FairOpinion]

France can go suck it. They think a few gestures of token support mean anything after France's betrayal of the entire civilized world? Guess again.

===

BINGO!!! They smile at us, while they are sharpening their knife to stick it in our backs again.

===
Around 100,000 French citizens gathered at the Concord square in Paris on 03/29/2003 in protest against war on Iraq.

The demonstrators raised placards with anti-war slogans such as “No to Bush’s illegitimate war”, "No to destruction of Baghdad", “Drop Bush from the warplanes instead of bombs”, "Bush is an assassin and a war criminal", “No to cowboys war”.

Sadly, Paris police chief Jean-Paul Proust had to order 5,000 French policemen to prevent anti-Semitic acts similar to those that had taken place at previous anti-war rallies in France.

An example banner at the “peace protest” read “Hitler, Bush, Sharon kill in the name of God.”

How Intense is the French Anti-Americanism

We know the French government led by President Chirac has been openly hostile to the USA. He has blocked U.N. efforts to disarm Saddam, he has supplied weapons and supplies to the Iraqi regime despite sanctions, he has undermined our diplomatic efforts to secure additional coalition members, he has refused to provide military or medical aid to American forces, and his Foreign Minister even declined at one point to state whether the French wished America prevailed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. But what does the average French citizen think of one of oldest allies?

French Public Opinion Polls

A CSA poll published in French daily Liberation on Saturday showed that 78% of the public in France opposed the war, with 79% said they had no confidence in US President George W Bush.



Latest Outrage: French Cowards Attack British Military Cemetary

Vandals have defaced one of the biggest British war cemeteries in northern France with graffiti condemning the US-British invasion of Iraq, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) said. Insults aimed at British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush were sprayed in red paint over a monument to Britain’s dead from World War I and discovered by a gardener last Thursday. “It was removed by the afternoon but not before a couple of coach loads [of visitors] had been through and seen it - we are pretty hacked off and I am pleased to say the French authorities are too,” Tim Reeves said, the CWGC’s representative in France.

The words "Rosbifs [British] go home! Saddam Hussein will win and spill your blood" were painted in French over the base of the cemetery’s main monument - an obelisk topped by a cross. On one side was a swastika and the words "death to the Yankees". Also daubed were the words "dig up your garbage, it is fouling our soil," and “Bush, Blair to the TPI (International Court of Justice)”. Some 11,000 British dead are buried at Etaples, which lies on the Channel coast around 24 kilometres south of Boulogne. It was the site of several hospitals during the 1914-1918 war.

A judicial inquiry has been opened. “This violation of a burial place, scandalous in itself, is an attack on the memory of the sacrifice made by the British and American soldiers who contributed to the liberation of our soil,” local member of parliament, former Socialist arts minister Jack Lang said. “Our disagreement with the British and American governments [on Iraq] can in no way justify any assault on the memory of men who sacrificed themselves for our country,” he said.

http://216.239.33.104/search?q=cache:Fvscq4cOqY0J:www.hk94.com/weblog/%3Fp%3D89+French+protest+anti-American&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[FairOpinion]

"Yes, I believe there are some French who REALLY do like AMERICANS"

--

Emphasis on SOME, as in "A FEW".

[FairOpinion]

They are missing our $$$$$, so they think a small gesture for one day will erase their HOSTILE activities towards us, when we needed their help and cooperation?

Does anyone think they are sincere and are turning over a new leaf? I have some great land and bridges to sell to those.

[CWOJackson]

The miss our dollars. Screw the French.

[razorbak]

I think post # 50 has it right. And who trusts the AP to shoot straight on issues like this anyway. Look how AP and the rest of the media spun Clinton's sleaze and trashed true patriots for those 8 years.

[FairOpinion]

It isn't clear, it's one word against the word of the French. Whose word are you going to take.

In one instance they said they never flew the US flag.

And in the case of the US flag and flag pins missing from the gift shop they said they were sold out. Nobody saw their sales record. Maybe they were sold out, maybe they didn't put them out.

This is more a case of some people are more willing to believe the French, proven liars and enemies, just as some people were willing to believe Saddam, but not Bush.

The French hated us yesterday and the day before and they hate us today, they just noticed that when they are too open with their hate, the good old US $$$ dry up and they don't hate those.

They must think we are stupid, that a small gesture for one day is going to make us forget everything, until the next time we need their support and they can attack us, instead of supporting us AGAIN.

We shouldn't act like Charlie Brown, believing that the next time Lucy isn't going to pull the ball away at the last minute, after she's done so countless times.

Remember, even way back during the Reagan administration, the French didn't allow us to fly over their territory,when we bombed Kaddaffi in Lybia. They supported terrorists and anti-Aerican murdering dictators then and they still do so today.

[BunnySlippers]

Here are some Americans: :)

The US Postal Service team rides past the Bastille square during a parade in downtown Paris of the 22 teams participating to the Tour de France cycling race, Friday, July 4, 2003. The race starts Saturday with a prologue through the French capital. The Column of July that sits in the middle of the square is seen behind. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

[Gabz]

Interesting read.

But what is more interesting is the responses to the article.

I've read through all 53 of them prior to writing this and must admit I'm a bit torn in how to respond.

I totally agree with the boycott of French products because of the attitude they have taken in regard to the USA (I stopped buying all Dannon products years ago because of their sponsorship of the gun-grabbers)

But I do take offense at the bashing of the French people who actually do give a hoot about us.

Both my first and last names are French - my first by my mother's choice, my last because of my choice of husband. I'm a typical Irish Catholic kid from Brooklyn. My dad's parent's were born in Ireland, my mom's were born in NY.

My husband has French heritage, it dates back to before the reason America celebrated on Friday. We happen to be the current holders of the family Bible that records the birth of Nathan Hale.

Bash the French government and do damage to the economy of the country at will - but never forget there are people that disagree with their governments.

But do not abuse Americans who happen to have French names - I'm tired of being subjected to it.