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Feb 12, 07, 23:46 #62
Um, nooooo. We don't accept what our TVs say as holy words. We laugh at them as much as we laugh at George Bush.
We laugh at people from theocratically oppressed and/or much poorer and weaker countries pointing their fingers and daring to laugh at us, too.
He who laughs last, lasts. So to speak.
Now about that France-America thing:
Americans like my grandfather, who fought in WWII, do not like the French. They have their reasons, some justified, some not. But since he isn't here with me today, I won't attempt to speak for him. At age 91, he's still pretty feisty and I don't want to cross him!
There are as many reasons not to like the French or their policies as they say they have reasons not to like us. Both countries have made mistakes, which seriously affected one another on the world stage and economically, but to which neither will admit.
I can usually take the America bashing, but tonite, I am so tired of it. Everywhere I go on any forum anywhere on the internet I find a slap in the face. Ironic, since without us, the internet would not exist. Don't believe me? Just ask Al Gore!
Everyone wants us to stop being the world's police force, to stop using our might and our muscle to control the world, but they haven't thought about what it would really mean if we did. We go where we are asked to go, and where others are afraid to go.
Have you heard what Colin Powell said, when America was accused of "empire building" in Iraq? He said "The US has sent many young men and women into great peril to fight for another's freedom, and the only thing we have ever asked for in return is enough ground to bury them with".
People worship our culture at the same time that they denigrate us for it. They complain about our greed, as in ever increasing numbers, they come here to live and study and work for extended periods to reap their own rewards---rewards not possible in their own countries. They decry our lack of universal health, while their own systems collapse under their own weight and fail to give good care to all who need it.
They tax the life out of any one of us working elsewhere, but try to exempt themselves from our tax laws here. They scream if our laws and civil protections are not extended to them here, while we are forced to follow their archaic and oppressive laws wherever they are. Because of their own work ethic and culture, or corruption, they've killed their own economy, and quite possibly their economic future, but they say we are lazy and greedy and deserve any economic downturn we experience.
There is no mandatory vacation here, so after 10 years with a company if you get five weeks off, that's a miracle. We don't go on strike every five minutes. Why would we? Less than 7% of our workforce belong to unions here. Nor do we advocate for the 30 hour work week and the 2 hour lunch. We mostly get paid by the hour, so taking time off means we can't pay the bills. We're not dumb enough to advocate for something that cuts our own pay! We don't have paid maternity leave nor mandatory sick days here, either.
And, since most of our genetic bloodlines hail originally from Germany and the UK, with a hefty (pardon the pun) sprinkling of Eastern European genes, I guess it's not really an AMERICAN fault that we like food so much and are so fat!
It is not a simple matter of dislike, it is much more complicated than that. It is arrogance on both sides and fear, too, perhaps.
Among the problems specific to France that still rankle would be:
The Vichy Regime and the attitude of "it doesn't matter, it's over, we will not discuss it".
Anti-Semiticism and its effect on French foreign policy; it's has helped to foster current and past collaboration with Islamic-led nations in the Middle East and in Africa, or those sympathetic to that cause. These are nations which hate us, Israel and most of Europe. And that does not bode well for any of our futures.
A problem for WWII VETS: de Gaulle asked for our help in liberating Paris. He agreed to a strategic battle plan that would be the safest and best way for all, as we fought our way there thru the still-occupied parts of France. He changed his mind mid-course, and did not tell anyone, putting our troops, the English, and his own people at risk and took off straight for Paris. He then stood up in that city and told the French that only French people could appreciate France, that only French people could truly relish this hard-won victory, which was the result of French sacrifice and struggle, and that this victory was one only French people should celebrate.
US Soldiers sent to fight in WWII: 16,112,556. Dead: 291,557. Wounded: 670,846.
French soldiers sent to fight on US soil any time in the past 100 years: 0
A biggie for Vietnam Vets: From 1854-1954, Vietnam was a French colony, folks. And not by invitation from the Vietnamese, either. We were there only from 1957 (in an advisory capacity) to 1975 (as fallen figureheads). Somehow, we got blamed for all of that mess, too.
A biggie for Iraq War I vets: the refusal of France to allow us to fly over their airspace or land there to refuel, on our way to securing Kuwait's safety
A biggie for Iraq War II vets and soldiers currently serving: French state companies and private businessess doing business with the enemy, as if it were business as usual over there
So, say what you will. We all have problems, least of which is the annoying ability to call each other fools, at the same time we show the world our own stupidity by doing so.
ba-dum- tum
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