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Time to stop bashing French
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | July 11, 2003 | Froma Harrop

Posted on 07/11/2003 6:27:53 AM PDT by schaketo

It's been fun, but isn't it time to stop bashing the French? The gleeful stomping on all things from France has progressed from the moronic to the pathetic.

First, there was the dimwit stuff, like renaming french fries "freedom fries" in congressional cafeterias. Now we have student-exchange programs unable to find American homes willing to take in French students over the summer. That's depressing.

Like a chronic ailment, Francophobia flares now and then, especially when France tries to frustrate the United States on the world stage. The source of today's friction is, of course, the war in Iraq.

A walk down memory lane of low points in Franco-American relations inevitably pauses at 1966, when Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO. Then, as now, American restaurant owners poured perfectly good French wine down the drain, at least while the news cameras were rolling.

Today, Americans and the French have one thing in common: They detest each other's leader. A good French friend of mine is a perfect example. She was an exchange student here years ago, has happy memories of waiting tables in Wyoming and is generally well disposed toward the United States.

But George W. Bush drives her nuts. And it's probably his style more than his politics. A Dick Cheney who pushes an individualistic, every-man-for-himself philosophy in a frank manner may be disagreed with but not hated. The spectacle of Bush alternating between tax cuts for the rich and displays of religious piety, however, sends my friend over the deep end.

Americans, for their part, have no obligation to admire French President Jacques Chirac (also a former exchange student in the United States). The cagey old pol has undoubtedly exploited anti-American feelings in France, also a latent force, to distract attention from his various scandals at home. For example, a now deceased member of his Gaullist Party describes on tape how he handed over $720,000 in cash to a Chirac aide as the boss, then mayor of Paris, looked on. Were it not for a court ruling that a sitting president cannot be dragged before a judge, Chirac might be behind bars today.

For Americans, lingering anger over Iraq obscures how very much France and the United States work together around the globe. Last month, Chirac announced that France would send its own special forces to fight alongside Americans in Afghanistan.

The French already play an active role there, training Afghan soldiers. "We still have french fries here," an American Special Forces officer, who runs a training center in Kabul, recently told the Wall Street Journal.

Bush has openly thanked the French for freely sharing their intelligence on terrorist activity with the United States. Fighting terrorism is, of course, very much in France's interest. Intelligence reports last year suggested that al-Qaeda cells were planning "spectaculars" in several countries at once, with France a prime target.

France keeps close tabs on potential terrorists, who are known to hide out among France's large Muslim population. In December, the French police picked up four suspects linked to a group that had planned to blow up the Strasbourg cathedral.

France has picked up other international burdens, notably Congo's civil war. Today, French troops have the unenviable job of keeping two warring tribes apart. Some of the combatants are 12-year-olds, who express an eagerness to shoot French soldiers.

The French are about to celebrate their Fourth of July, which happens to fall on the 14th of July. The 14th commemorates the destruction in 1789 of the Bastille, the political prison in Paris that symbolized despotism. Its liberation set off a revolution that was far bloodier than ours, but equally world-changing.

A key to the Bastille now hangs in the hall of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. It was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette, who had served under Washington in the Revolutionary War.

Bastille Day is going to be a working Monday in the United States and definitely a non-holiday for professional Francophobes. But Americans with an open mind should find some commonality in the French waving a blue, white and red flag 10 days after we waved red, white and blue - in both cases honoring revolutions for the rights of man. What a fine occasion to give our animosities a rest.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antifrenchhumor; cheeseeaters; french; frogs; nonallyfrance; surrendermonkeys
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To: schaketo
France sucks

81 posted on 07/11/2003 9:13:54 AM PDT by timestax
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To: schaketo
No, it's not time.
Has America Bashing stopped?
The French, and others like them, haven't SEEN bashing as we know how to do it............yet.
82 posted on 07/11/2003 9:14:37 AM PDT by tet68
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To: schaketo
No...now IS the time to bash the French and is more likely justified at this point.

Chirac admits helping Serbian general avoid extradition for war crimes and suddenly Chirac does not like the ICC.

The ELF trial has finished up showing such craven corruption in Africa by French state owned oil that it makes CIA adventures abroad seem like tiddly winks.

83 posted on 07/11/2003 9:16:46 AM PDT by amused (Republicans for Sharpton!)
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To: schaketo
This is exactly what the French claimed would happen: The self absorbed Americans will throw a tantrum for a few months or until something else distracts their ADD infected minds. Then everything will go back the way it was until the next time we French take their ball away. Well not this time. There is a new sheriff in town whose not afraid to call a toad a toad; and turn a blind eye to double dealing psuedo-friends. This is what scares them; everything will NOT go back to the way it was. They are slowly being forced to decide whether they are with us or against us; and the choice is going to cost them dearly.
84 posted on 07/11/2003 9:20:27 AM PDT by CoastWatcher
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To: schaketo
This is exactly what the French claimed would happen: The self absorbed Americans will throw a tantrum for a few months or until something else distracts their ADD infected minds. Then everything will go back the way it was until the next time we French take their ball away. Well not this time. There is a new sheriff in town whose not afraid to call a toad a toad; and turn a blind eye to double dealing psuedo-friends. This is what scares them; everything will NOT go back to the way it was. They are slowly being forced to decide whether they are with us or against us; and the choice is going to cost them dearly.
85 posted on 07/11/2003 9:20:55 AM PDT by CoastWatcher
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To: schaketo
It's been fun, but isn't it time to stop bashing the French?

No.

86 posted on 07/11/2003 9:24:14 AM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: Drango
You are actually going to protest people because they are French on their national holiday? I am already embarrassed for you. I hope you don't do it and I hope you don't associate Free Republic with your "protest".
87 posted on 07/11/2003 9:25:49 AM PDT by Burkeman1 (If you see ten troubles comin down the road, Nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.)
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To: schaketo
But George W. Bush drives her nuts. And it's probably his style more than his politics. A Dick Cheney who pushes an individualistic, every-man-for-himself philosophy in a frank manner may be disagreed with but not hated. The spectacle of Bush alternating between tax cuts for the rich and displays of religious piety, however, sends my friend over the deep end. Americans, for their part, have no obligation to admire French President Jacques Chirac (also a former exchange student in the United States). The cagey old pol has undoubtedly exploited anti-American feelings in France, also a latent force, to distract attention from his various scandals at home. For example, a now deceased member of his Gaullist Party describes on tape how he handed over $720,000 in cash to a Chirac aide as the boss, then mayor of Paris, looked on. Were it not for a court ruling that a sitting president cannot be dragged before a judge, Chirac might be behind bars today

Does anyone else have a hard time with this moral equilivancy? Just a note to Miss (Ms.??) Harrop, taking bribes in your office is illegal. Breaking the law is not the same thing as having a different tax policy or a faith in Jesus!!!!!

Further, I wanted to point out that while what Chirac did here was despicable, it isn't the reason why Americans don't like him. We don't like him because at a time when we NEEDED to act in our own self interest, France did everything they could to stop us... including giving aid and comfort to our enemies. I could care less about local French politics, it's the geo political stuff that bugs me!

88 posted on 07/11/2003 9:27:46 AM PDT by GmbyMan (BRING 'EM ON!!!!!!)
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To: GmbyMan
When France stops being a sissy loser country, then I'll stop bashing them. Until then I don't care what the Frogs think of us.
89 posted on 07/11/2003 9:29:41 AM PDT by exile (Exile)
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To: schaketo
I won't buy anything that comes from France. Had to stay away from BFG and Uniroyal tires. They are owned by Michelin.
90 posted on 07/11/2003 9:31:18 AM PDT by wjcsux
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Good caption of France in a single picture. The only battle they have won since the early 1800's is when they took on Greenpeace in the South Pacific in the 1980's.
91 posted on 07/11/2003 9:33:05 AM PDT by wjcsux
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To: schaketo
SHAME ON YOU, FROMA. France is horribly anti-semitic and the attacks on Jews and Jewish buildings have been increasing. Aren't you paying attention?
92 posted on 07/11/2003 9:33:15 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Burkeman1
You are actually going to protest people because they are French on their national holiday? I am already embarrassed for you. I hope you don't do it and I hope you don't associate Free Republic with your "protest".

Sorry you think it's gauche.

With deep pride, I will stand up for America and our troops. I will hold the French accountable. SF *Freeping the French ~ Bastille Day* link

My hope is that I'll get to meet the French consul general who should be in attendance, and politely but firmly tell him how disgusted Americans are with France.

93 posted on 07/11/2003 9:38:47 AM PDT by Drango (Just 5ยข a day will end pledge drives on FreeRepublic.)
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To: schaketo
It is nice to see articles such as this pop up from time to time. They serve to remind us all that we are avoiding anything French and why.
94 posted on 07/11/2003 9:59:24 AM PDT by Jeff Gordon
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To: tom h
"They are basically a boorish set of arrogant jerks."

And they don't bathe. Try getting stuck in a train car or a bus with a bunch of them on a hot, summer day. I literally had to breathe through my mouth because of the odor. Terrible.
95 posted on 07/11/2003 10:00:07 AM PDT by ought-six
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To: schaketo
The 14th commemorates the destruction in 1789 of the Bastille...

Ignorance on parade. The Bastille wasn't destroyed. A mob stormed it and freed a handful of prisoners. That's all.

96 posted on 07/11/2003 10:07:13 AM PDT by Steve0113
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To: schaketo
Like a chronic ailment, Francophobia flares now and then

Typical Leftist tripe. When one is justifiably revulsed by the conduct of a given group, their angst is poo-poo'd as *-phobia.

They honestly should look at what phobia really means. It is derived from the Greek word phobos, meaning fear.

Anyone with a lick of sense knows nobody has any cause to fear the French (unless we're talking about hideously skanky body odor)...

Fear the French? Nope. Detest them with every fiber of my being for the scum they are? You betcha.

-Jay

97 posted on 07/11/2003 10:26:28 AM PDT by Jay D. Dyson (Threaten me? That's life. Threaten my loved ones? That's death.)
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To: Steve0113
Ignorance on parade. The Bastille wasn't destroyed. A mob stormed it and freed a handful of prisoners. That's all.

Not only that, after all the fuss (and the mob killing DeLaunay the warden and putting his head on a pike after he surrendered the prison) the handful of prisoners (all of seven!) were petty criminals confined for misdemeanors - no political prisoners anywhere near the place.

So, as usual, the French got it all wrong, committed treachery, murder, etc. and didn't accomplish much of anything. So typical!

98 posted on 07/11/2003 11:55:38 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . there is nothing new under the sun.)
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To: ought-six
LOL. That was a low blow but the French deserve it.
99 posted on 07/11/2003 11:59:58 AM PDT by tom h
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To: schaketo
Once a habit is formed, it usually takes will power and extenuating circumstances to break it. I am habituated to never purchasing anything Frence. It is no longer a boycott, but a way of life. Chances are, it will never stop. Suffer, Pierre, suffer.
100 posted on 07/11/2003 12:36:46 PM PDT by gcruse (There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women[.] --Margaret Thatcher)
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