NationStates Jolt Archive

Seriously, why? Everywhere you go people hate France. America, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Russia, hell, I even talk to people online from China and Japan and they really hate France. (as well as the rest of the english speaking, white world, bet let's just keep that on the down low. Oh yeah, China and Japan also hate each other and each one accuses the other of building up their military because they are preparing to start a war.) So why? Could it be because France lost pretty much every single war they participated in during the 20th Century? (or were bailed out by Britain.) Or because depsite this many of them still walk around like they own the world? Because the women don't shave their armpits? (I don't know if that is true or not.) Or perhaps because the water is dirty and you can't or shouldn't drink it? (I don't really know if this one is true or not either, I just hear rumors, one of which is that the Paris sewer system was built by Napolean :confused: ) Could it be that some feel that France is ungrateful for the help they received from the Marshall Plan after WWII? Seriously, there must be a reason for this, does anyone know?

I don't hate France.

Got back from the South of France about a month ago.....

Their cheese, wine , and esp. pate are vastly over-rated. That is all.

I have to say that teasing the French was kinda fun in that sibling kinda way. "Snob." "Fatso." "Surrender monkey." "Violent Hillbilly." Overall, though, I always felt it was good natured, that we shared a kinship that was solidified by giving each other a hard time.

Now, the conservative panty twisting has taken all of the fun out of teasing the French. Shame really.

Jealousy that France was a Democracy when everyone else in Europe was a Monacry(sp?).

Nope, I don't hate France

Their cheese, wine , and esp. pate are vastly over-rated. That is all.

Cheese? Don't know. Alergic. They gave me some crap about can't eating it. In a friendly way.....

Wine? Some good; some bad. Just like here. One thing I liked is the fact they drink wine during lunch.

Pate? Don't like it here; don't like it there.

One thing that was good was the city of Aix-en-Provance. Many many good looking women walking around.

I think France is pretty sweet myself, but I know why some people hate it, because I went to a school in a language village, a pretty sweet school in itself, but our teachers were all from France, with their heavy accents and such, but they are jerks sometimes, like to call us names in french when we did something wrong or pronounced something wrong. But even their insults sound nice in that fancy language. "Butt sniffer" sounds pretty, almost. It's a romantic language!

Because they're arrogant pieces of crap, theyre ungrateful, after the amount of times theyve been saved by other countries and the fact that they cant fight a war by themselves, and if they do then they have to surrender

Because they're arrogant pieces of crap, theyre ungrateful, after the amount of times theyve been saved by other countries and the fact that they cant fight a war by themselves, and if they do then they have to surrender
Canada cannot fight a war itself either. People like the fact Canada does not spend much on its millitary.

Jealousy that France was a Democracy when everyone else was a Monacry(sp?).
Even America!

It may be because of their grammatical and idiomatic structure...

Then again, I was always a pretty big supporter of French dressing, French fries (esp, on the boardwalk), and French kissing.

And I was more or less in love with a French-Canadian from Montreal once... (no, make that several times - with a citation going to the writers of M*A*S*H)

And I was always a big fan of Franco-American's Spaghettios... I mean, they have been overly sweet, but what product targeted for Americans isn't?

Au revoir,
Danielle
(psst... and it's m-o-n-a-r-c-h-y... sorta like we have here in the States...no?)

It's not that I hate France, it's just that the French people themselves are like annoying little brothers/sisters. They have that spoiled attitude where they enjoy snitching on you to get in the good light while they're doing something bad... Last time I went to France I only met a few people easy to get along with, everyone else was had that lil brother/sister attitude... The old people were nice though! And they seemed entertained by the fact I knew French... :D

The French are actually very nice when I assert, politely, the fact that I'm Scottish and not English. :D

Canada cannot fight a war itself either. People like the fact Canada does not spend much on its millitary.

We dont know that, when Canada comes into that situation, if it fails, then I will probably think the same, but until then, we don't know what Canada can do

Seriously, why? Everywhere you go people hate France. America, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Russia, hell, I even talk to people online from China and Japan and they really hate France. (as well as the rest of the english speaking, white world, bet let's just keep that on the down low.

Seriously, there must be a reason for this, does anyone know?
It's because the French, like Americans, are ethno-centric, arrogant and overly nationalistic.

Because it is fun. I remember that making fun of the french was my favorite thing to do while in french class. The other thing I liked to do was comment about how I should have taken spanish.

But yeah, I don't really care one way or another about the french I just like making fun of them.

Why does everyone hate france?

Because it's full of french people. Duh.

It's not that I hate France, it's just that the French people themselves are like annoying little brothers/sisters. They have that spoiled attitude where they enjoy snitching on you to get in the good light while they're doing something bad... Last time I went to France I only met a few people easy to get along with, everyone else was had that lil brother/sister attitude... The old people were nice though! And they seemed entertained by the fact I knew French... :D

I was wondering who long it would take for someone to point out the difference.

I guess for me it is that the French seem so.... I don't know the correct word, perhaps snobbish? I mean, if they were more like their neighbors in Germany I wouldn't be so annoyed with them. Germany proved (twice) that they could beat the hell out of France but yet today German's are very modest, they take resposibility for WWII and the Holocaust. French still seem to have that attitude of "our shit don't stink" even though they for all essential purposes lost WWII.

Everyone hates France because they suck. Duh. Seriously though, I was in Germany once, and some people told me that there's a federal law that mandates all radio stations to keep non-French music to just 10% of broadcast time. Wow. Also, they complained that when they visited the country, they couldn't speak French. However, they heard some Frenchies speaking english, so they figured that they had it made. However, upon asking them in english for help, the jerks feigned ignorance. This was repeated multiple times. They refuse to speak anything other than French to foreigners. They wish that they were still as cool as they were when they simply had a lot more people than any other European nation and a Corsican was leading them on the battlefield. Oh, and Germany when Germany still had yet to be united.

I went on a trip for one week to France. There were many people there, it smelled like sewers almost everywhere you went, and most of the people hated you except the food industires.

My mom gave a woman 10 euros to use the bathroom and the lady gave her less change than she was supposed to. The manager came over and said my mom was lying. I guess the woman kept the change because she had to go to the bathroom, too.

France has also gotten America into many, if not all, of its wars and then backed out. When we went to war with Iraq we got no help from the French, who we have not gone to war with, although we got help from Britian, Germany, and Japan among others.

I even heard that the plaque that the French had made for the people who died in 9/11 was kept in Paris and the French destroyed it in protest to our efforts in Iraq.


I dunno why everyone else hates France so much, but I'm sure if we ever went to war with them, they wouldn't have many allies.

i like M*A*S*H* its great that hawkeye is so funny :D

I went on a trip for one week to France. There were many people there, it smelled like sewers almost everywhere you went, and most of the people hated you except the food industires.

My mom gave a woman 10 euros to use the bathroom and the lady gave her less change than she was supposed to. The manager came over and said my mom was lying. I guess the woman kept the change because she had to go to the bathroom, too.

France has also gotten America into many, if not all, of its wars and then backed out. When we went to war with Iraq we got no help from the French, who we have not gone to war with, although we got help from Britian, Germany, and Japan among others.

I even heard that the plaque that the French had made for the people who died in 9/11 was kept in Paris and the French destroyed it in protest to our efforts in Iraq.


I dunno why everyone else hates France so much, but I'm sure if we ever went to war with them, they wouldn't have many allies.

Sorry to correct you there, but :

1) Germany refused to assist the US in the war in Iraq, as did almost the entire world except for some 20-odd nations.

2) The French never destoyed a commemorative palque.

3) France never once "got the US" into any war at all.

I'm German myself, I've been to France a number of times and each time I found the people to be friendly, helpful, good-humoured and nice. I can't give an overall statement, as I don't know every single person in France, but those I met were no different from people anywhere else on the globe.

I don't have anything against them, personally. They've got good food and a great history; I could spend years just looking at the historical sites. The only problems I've ever had are in Paris, but it seems anyone in a really major city is ruder than those in the less famous ones.

It's not just the French, but much of Europe has not grasped the "modern" ideas of personal cleanliness. You know a bar of soap and a shower or bath everyday? What gives with you stinky eurotrash out there. Yet you people make fun of our lifestyles? At least we understand what soap and water is for.

Everyone hates France because they suck. Duh. Seriously though, I was in Germany once, and some people told me that there's a federal law that mandates all radio stations to keep non-French music to just 10% of broadcast time. Wow. Also, they complained that when they visited the country, they couldn't speak French. However, they heard some Frenchies speaking english, so they figured that they had it made. However, upon asking them in english for help, the jerks feigned ignorance. This was repeated multiple times. They refuse to speak anything other than French to foreigners. They wish that they were still as cool as they were when they simply had a lot more people than any other European nation and a Corsican was leading them on the battlefield. Oh, and Germany when Germany still had yet to be united.

Shocking, absolutely shocking. Visiting another country and then being expected to speak in THEIR language.... How dare they. :rolleyes:

American Dad-

Wife- How's your French Toast sweety?

Dad- Smelly and ungrateful! But this American toast is fantastic!

3) France never once "got the US" into any war at all.
-- Cabra West

No but we the US have saved your asses on several occasions.

A) WW1- The French and British Armies could not defeat a divided German Army until the Germans began to wear down and lose most of thier good soldiers, then America comes and presto, war over.
P.S. it should never take 3 Armies to defeat ne dvided army.

B) WW2- France lays over like a dog in need of a belly scratching, English and Americans bail you out again.

C) Frenchindochina/Veitnam- Ya the U.S. picked up what the French couldn't handle, and we came out smelling like rotten rice while the French sat on thier asses.

True, the French government rolled over in WWII, but the French people bravly faught on, sabatoge and insurgence style. Ordinary people picked up arms to defend their neibhorhoods from the invaders.

In WWI, they did not lose. To those who say they were "bailed out" by Britain, I say that Germany would have beaten France, Britain, or the US alone, it took the 3 superpowers acting together to turn the tide. The French faught valiently, holding back the technologically superior Germans forces untill re-enforcements could arive from their allies.

The only other French defeat in the 20th century was being kicked out of Vie Nam by the peasents, but then again so was the United States, so you can't really bash them about that.

Anything such as "they are arrogant" is baseless because, as in any country, you will find people who are like that, and people who arn't, depending on where you go. So, unless you have met and talked to every person in France, you can't make such broad generalizations.

All the France bashig really pisses me off, because some of the stuff that is said, if it were said about Jews or Black people, would get people fired or beaten up. But with French people it's ok. How do you think it makes a French kid feel? Come on, don't be assholes.

No but we the US have saved your asses on several occasions.

A) WW1- The French and British Armies could not defeat a divided German Army until the Germans began to wear down and lose most of thier good soldiers, then America comes and presto, war over.
P.S. it should never take 3 Armies to defeat ne dvided army.


thats a blatent lie.
If you know your history AT ALL, you would know that the german army was all ready teetering on the brink of collapse by the time the 'dough boys' entered.
The final push to break through the Anglo-French line was the death throes of the German army- they did not have the means, economy, men or resources to last in a protracted war- so indicated by the Scheifflen Plan. THATS why the germans were defeated- by the fact they didn't knock out the French valiant and desparate defence of their country, with help from britain (Verdun, Marne, Somme, Ypres) in the first few months of the war- NOT the US entering.

True, the French government rolled over in WWII, but the French people bravly faught on, sabatoge and insurgence style. Ordinary people picked up arms to defend their neibhorhoods from the invaders.

In WWI, they did not lose. To those who say they were "bailed out" by Britain, I say that Germany would have beaten France, Britain, or the US alone, it took the 3 superpowers acting together to turn the tide. The French faught valiently, holding back the technologically superior Germans forces untill re-enforcements could arive from their allies.

The only other French defeat in the 20th century was being kicked out of Vie Nam by the peasents, but then again so was the United States, so you can't really bash them about that.

Anything such as "they are arrogant" is baseless because, as in any country, you will find people who are like that, and people who arn't, depending on where you go. So, unless you have met and talked to every person in France, you can't make such broad generalizations.

All the France bashig really pisses me off, because some of the stuff that is said, if it were said about Jews or Black people, would get people fired or beaten up. But with French people it's ok. How do you think it makes a French kid feel? Come on, don't be assholes.

That proves to the world how much racism is still widespread, especially unsurprisingly in so-called liberal and tolerant societies. The fact is, it is easy to have go on a Nation that sounds foreign and strange, and most "facts" are in reality stereotypes.
Regarding jews, you are absolutely right. I am calling upon all of you, people who think that you know everything and who think that you have a God-given right to rule the world and sorry to use this word but f*ck it up!
Does anyone here dare say against the jews, c'm on anyone, or how much the n-word has disappeared.
I think that attitude is just cowardly, and those who are cowards, sorry to say but should have an adequate treatment, and that is :
:sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper:

Jealousy that France was a Democracy when everyone else in Europe was a Monacry(sp?).

Oh, please the directory lasted four year and then Napoleon seized power. What I find hilarious is that years leader, Napoleon III (a nephew of the original I believe) was able to seize control of the second republic. Insanity I say.

Even America!

Uh, no. I hope that was sarcastic, because its wrong. The US was the first to apply the principles of the Enlightenment.

I do not hate France, I just don’t like their arrogant, we are superior attitude. They are the most difficult people I have ever worked with. If you want information from them do a project they have requested you may or may not get the information. Then they complain because you are not helping them. However, if they want some information, they want it right now, immediately, this minute.

http://www.spartacus.ws/Chirac%20as%20worm.jpg

True, the French government rolled over in WWII, but the French people bravly faught on, sabatoge and insurgence style. Ordinary people picked up arms to defend their neibhorhoods from the invaders.

What about those living under the Vichy Government?

In WWI, they did not lose. To those who say they were "bailed out" by Britain, I say that Germany would have beaten France, Britain, or the US alone, it took the 3 superpowers acting together to turn the tide. The French faught valiently, holding back the technologically superior Germans forces untill re-enforcements could arive from their allies.

German technology at the start of the war was hardly enough to defeat the French alone. What it really took was a number of strategical blunders by the French and British. Such as the Maginot Line, mis-use of the tanks the French had which numbered almost 1000 more than those of the Germans and well the the greater blunder was Appeasement, can't really blame that one solely on the French though. (eyes wander to a map of the United Kingdom on the wall.)

[qoute]The only other French defeat in the 20th century was being kicked out of Vie Nam by the peasents, but then again so was the United States, so you can't really bash them about that.[/qupte]

Umm, Algeria and Syria? Didn't France still have a somewhat sizable chunk of Africa in here possession in 1900?

Anything such as "they are arrogant" is baseless because, as in any country, you will find people who are like that, and people who arn't, depending on where you go. So, unless you have met and talked to every person in France, you can't make such broad generalizations.

Making such broad generalizations if just arrogant! (aka Touche ;) )

All the France bashig really pisses me off, because some of the stuff that is said, if it were said about Jews or Black people, would get people fired or beaten up. But with French people it's ok. How do you think it makes a French kid feel? Come on, don't be assholes.

But well get made fun of for any minor imperfection. If being made fun of for being French is your biggest problem growing up consider yourself lucky because I bet in order to do that you have to make the effort to find a medium where such a thing is going on and I doubt your countrymen make fun of you for being French. BTW, in the bar I worked in making a good joke regardless of the subject was more likely to get you a raise then fired.

Ok, without being too offensive I have a question, where do some of these names for people from other countries come from? Mick? Frog? Limey? Yankee? (eye-tye and Red are easy enough to figure out, as well as Pole.) Or how about Dutch? Why are people from Holland called Dutch? (If people from Poland are called Poles are people from Holland called Holes?)

German technology at the start of the war was hardly enough to defeat the French alone. What it really took was a number of strategical blunders by the French and British. Such as the Maginot Line, mis-use of the tanks the French had which numbered almost 1000 more than those of the Germans and well the the greater blunder was Appeasement, can't really blame that one solely on the French though. (eyes wander to a map of the United Kingdom on the wall.)
Which WWI are you talking about?

Uh, no. I hope that was sarcastic, because its wrong. The US was the first to apply the principles of the Enlightenment.
What exactly are "the principles of Enlightenment" in this case?

3) France never once "got the US" into any war at all.
-- Cabra West

No but we the US have saved your asses on several occasions.

A) WW1- The French and British Armies could not defeat a divided German Army until the Germans began to wear down and lose most of thier good soldiers, then America comes and presto, war over.
P.S. it should never take 3 Armies to defeat ne dvided army.

I think the first bit about "germans begin to wear down and lose most of their soldiers" has more to do with the germans losing then the yanks showing up.

B) WW2- France lays over like a dog in need of a belly scratching, English and Americans bail you out again.

The french soldier was let down by their upper leadership, true, but saying that they 'rolled over' is complete bullshit. Let's not forget that the British and the Belgians were fighting against the Nazis next to the French, and all three of them lost in what was really a closely run thing. If they had been right in a few of their assumptions (the inability to cross some rivers without infantry support, for example) and the Germans didn't have some of the finest generals in the war on their side (rommel comes to mind) it would have most likely turned into another WWI, easily winnable by the allies as germany in WWII was in a weaker position then germany in WWI.

That said, the US wasn't about to enter into WWII until the Germans declared war on them. It isn't like we charged in during the 1930's to protect them against the Nazis, when the americans could have helped to support France against the incoming german assualts.

C) Frenchindochina/Veitnam- Ya the U.S. picked up what the French couldn't handle, and we came out smelling like rotten rice while the French sat on thier asses.
The US refused to support the french for quite some time, and the french were forced to withdraw after being nearly destroyed by the communists. A few years later, the US went in again, in an entirely seperate incident. The french didn't drag the US into squat.

Speaking for myself, I hated France strictly because the people were so horribly rude. Not just to me, but to each other and to everybody else. I couldn't get out of that country fast enough, I wanted to choke them all.

German technology at the start of the war was hardly enough to defeat the French alone. What it really took was a number of strategical blunders by the French and British. Such as the Maginot Line, mis-use of the tanks the French had which numbered almost 1000 more than those of the Germans and well the the greater blunder was Appeasement, can't really blame that one solely on the French though. (eyes wander to a map of the United Kingdom on the wall.)

Um, I was speaking of WWI. Those are WWII things.

Good point about the names, though. I'm sure if you went back in the history of these places it's be clear. Odd how our schools start history at 1500. I took an Ancient and Medieval course, starting at the beginning of human developemnt, and everything made so much more sence.

Also, I am not French, I am Greek

Why does everyone hate france?

Because it's full of french people. Duh.

France? (http://www.geocities.com/puredevilishcharm/francesucks.jpg)
Fear it or respect it. Thats the only choices you have with the Eagle! Bitching will be considered an act of fear!

Because their government is a bunch of arrogant, condescending bastards. I have no problem with the French people. I just hate their government.

France has also gotten America into many, if not all, of its wars and then backed out. When we went to war with Iraq we got no help from the French, who we have not gone to war with, although we got help from Britian, Germany, and Japan among others.

And what war is that????????

And Germany didn't support the Iraq invasion either and nothing was said about them.

I have nothing against the French personally, and I like them more than I like most Americans. At least the French have an idea of what's happening in the world..........

The Americans don't like the French, presently, because of their lack of support for that Iraq invasion. So what if they didn't, there are alot of other countries that didn't.

As for the French being self-centered???? Yah, it's true. But no more than any other country in the world.

An aunt of mine married a French-Canadian and moved to Quebec. Even though his family could speak english, they never did in front of her and she still is pissed about it to this day. Yes, the French can be ass-holes, but at least they don't go around screwing other countries in it like some nationalities that I could mention.

I'm an English-Canadian, and for me, it's genetic that I'm not supposed to like the French!!!!!! LOL

Speaking for myself, I hated France strictly because the people were so horribly rude. Not just to me, but to each other and to everybody else. I couldn't get out of that country fast enough, I wanted to choke them all.
I'm still wondering whether that might have been the difference in French and English languagewise.
Did you speak to them in French?

What exactly are "the principles of Enlightenment" in this case?

I was referring to the era in history (way of thinking, its both) know as The Enlightenment. I was not implying that the US found some sort of ideal government or anything. Proponents and contributors to the philosophy include Benjamin Franklin and Voltaire. Deism was common among The Enlightenment “Members,” although Protestants were also involved. Two thing generally shared by proponents of this philosophy were anticlericalism and a belief in natural rights. They wished to reform the monarchies of Europe to give more power to the people. Later, many of them decided that reforming wouldn’t work and that revolution was necessary.

I was referring to the era in history (way of thinking, its both) know as The Enlightenment...
Yeah, my point was that Enlightenment doesn't necessarily need a democracy, or even a revolution.
Enlightenment is first and foremost a philosophical discipline, which necessarily led to some sort of emancipation by the populace.

Absolutism ended all over Europe during that time, and although monarchies were usually kept, the principles of enlightenment were applied nonetheless.
So I don't know the exact timeline, but I would think that your initial claim may have been a little overambitious.

Some more stuff about Enlightenment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Enlightenment

Weird, the way everyone bashes the French military for being 'pansies' too. When my fathers battalion served abroad with them, he said the one thing they could count on in a firefight was the security they felt when they knew the French were the reserve unit behind them. Strond, steadfast and able to unload a sh*tstorm when asked.

To counter that, they could easily f**k up several weeks of delicate negotiations with the other side by charging in like an elephant with a sore foot! :D

Why would anyone want to hate a fellow democracy? I don't understand- are there not enough aspects of life that you can channel that into- hate AIDS, poverty, racism, famine, torture and cruelty.

ha! The only first hand account of the French in battle says they are agressive, stout, and ferice, good to have watching your back.

Welllllll, if I should believe this recent poll

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=247

and notably the second figure, "everyone" doesn't hate the French. Not close to the way "everyone" hates the Yanks anyhow.

One thing really rejoices me, the 71 percent British people who have a positive opinion about France according to it; seen from here, they seem to be as much french bashers as the Yanks (while British people are rather appreciated by a majority of French).


Edit: also, as much for the opinion that the French are self infatuated: 83 percent Yanks are self satisfied, vs 74 percent French)

Why would anyone want to hate a fellow democracy?

I don’t like socialist countries, even if they are democracies.

dude, do you realise that the US has many socialist programs and policies?

Also, look at the results. Europe has much less poverty and much less crime. How is that a bad thing?

ha! The only first hand account of the French in battle says they are agressive, stout, and ferice, good to have watching your back.

No, not really. I've got a little private story here:
My grandfather was in the German military at the end of WWII (I'm not proud of that, but I can't really change it). He once told us that the French army was feared almost as much as the Russians. He remembered that they were hard fighters, and he also recalled that, after the war was over and he was walking home (from somewhere in Belgium to almost the Czech boder), he would have to hide for days fearing that the French might find him. He never needed worry about the Americans, though.... once he was in American-occupied areas, he was more or less left alone.

Apparantly, the US can't fight a war by it's self either. (NO country goes it alone in this modern era). And when we DO fight wars, we lose sight of our original objective in favor of shiny shiny resources, petty vengance, and a stage for some idiot, spolied, pampered officer's newest playthings... Pathetic.

As for German military, what is not to be proud of? Most enlisted people in the German army were not Nazis. Just a soldier, like any other, anywhere, in the world. Many hated the Nazis. Yer gramps just had the distinction of beng led by a raving psychopath. The German army at the time was the greatest and most advanced on the face of the earth. I'd be proud. If he was Waffen SS, that's a diferent story...

Yeah, my point was that Enlightenment doesn't necessarily need a democracy, or even a revolution.
Enlightenment is first and foremost a philosophical discipline, which necessarily led to some sort of emancipation by the populace.

Absolutism ended all over Europe during that time, and although monarchies were usually kept, the principles of enlightenment were applied nonetheless.
So I don't know the exact timeline, but I would think that your initial claim may have been a little overambitious.

Some more stuff about Enlightenment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Enlightenment


If you truly believe that people are enlightened, I feel for you. A monkey in a suit/car/with the various shiny objects of the modern era, is still a monkey.
Enightened hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa
Funny how people strive to build and grow, without knowing extinction is just around the corner. We possess and control forces that we don't even understand. Hopefully we will soon (in my lifetime) unleash an irreversable chain of events leading to extinction.
One day soon (humans are just a flash in the history of creation) we will be extinct, and all our labors for naught. Buried and decimated by the greatest of all conquerers, Time.
Funny little futile humans.
The truly "enlightened" would never claim to be enlightened, as all knowledge is ultimately useless...

dude, do you realise that the US has many socialist programs and policies?

Yeah, and I’m either against those or in favor of drastically reforming them.

Also, look at the results. Europe has much less poverty and much less crime. How is that a bad thing?

But much higher unemployment, and much slower economic growth.

I also abhor the amount that socialist governments must inevitably involve themselves in people’s lives, and the only tax I consider justified is a amall flat income tax, and perhaps the occasional protectionist tariff.

I'll take slow economic growth if it means less poverty and crime.

Also, the point of my post was, what do you define a "socialist" country? One with any socialist programs? Any one more socialist than the US?

Just a reminder, minimum wage, child labor laws, safty regulations, health standards, and the weekend are all socialist things.

-snip-
You are aware that "the Enlightenment" is the name of a philosophy and an era in history?
Obviously people are not enlightened, but at least the middle ages were over and science was making inroads into everyday life.
Read the link.

In England, people hate the french because 800 odd years of more or less perpetual war with a country tends to make hating them an institution, and grinds it into the public consciousness.

No other country, and certainly not the USA who owe their independence to the french, has an equally good excuse.

In England, people hate the french because 800 odd years of more or less perpetual war with a country tends to make hating them an institution, and grinds it into the public consciousness.

No other country, and certainly not the USA who owe their independence to the french, has an equally good excuse.
That is hardly a "good excuse".
You guys fought side by side in many wars since Napoleon I. went the way of all earthly things, don't you think that has any validity?

As German, us and the French have been killing each other for many centuries too, and yet I don't "hate" them at all. In fact, they are our best friends in Europe and the world. I wish I could say the same thing about the British.

That is hardly a "good excuse".
You guys fought side by side in many wars since Napoleon I. went the way of all earthly things, don't you think that has any validity?

Perhaps you underestimate how difficult it is to dislodge an idea when it has been in the national mindset for 800 years.

Anyway, I never said it was a good excuse by itself, just that it was better than anyone else's.

Perhaps you underestimate how difficult it is to dislodge an idea when it has been in the national mindset for 800 years.
Actually, I don't think all British hate the French - which would be what you're saying.
I think you don't like the French, whether for this reason or another, and somehow you use past grievances as justification.
So I think to myself: Doesn't the good friendship that the Brits and the French had for the past roughly 200 years count for anything in your mind?

BTW
Do you want me to organise a list of all wars German states or Germany itself has fought against the French? It's no less than the British, and there have certainly more people been killed.

Actually, I don't think all British hate the French - which would be what you're saying.
I think you don't like the French, whether for this reason or another, and somehow you use past grievances as justification.
So I think to myself: Doesn't the good friendship that the Brits and the French had for the past roughly 200 years count for anything in your mind?

BTW
Do you want me to organise a list of all wars German states or Germany itself has fought against the French? It's no less than the British, and there have certainly more people been killed.

I think you should stop jumping to conclusions. You are assuming that I am attempting to justify a personal vendetta against the french, which I am not. Personally, I like the french. I am explaining why many people in England do not.

I am not saying all british people hate the french; for a start, I said England, since the Scots were traditionally allies of the french, and in any case, I'm saying that is the reason why those british people who hate the french do so.

What have the germans got to do with whether the English dislike the french? It doesn't matter whether the germans fought the french, the fact is, the french were the chief rivals of the English from 1066 to 1815, and a lot of animosity built up during that time, and still hasn't dissipated to this day.

I think you should stop jumping to conclusions. You are assuming that I am attempting to justify a personal vendetta against the french, which I am not. Personally, I like the french. I am explaining why many people in England do not.
Well okay. Fair enough.

I wonder though...do you really think that has anything to do with why disputes about the UK Rebate immediately turn into France bashing?

Oh, and the German thing was just an example of a rivalry (in even more recent days) that has not actually soured the relations at all.

I wonder though...do you really think that has anything to do with why disputes about the UK Rebate immediately turn into France bashing?

Yes, because many people in the UK have an inherited dislike of the french, which has filtered down through the generations from the centuries of rivalry.

Oh, and the German thing was just an example of a rivalry (in even more recent days) that has not actually soured the relations at all.

Maybe Germans are just less inclined to such bigotry than the English? But the traditional rivalry between England and France really is responsible for a lasting animosity between many English and French people, that the 100 odd years of the Entente Cordiale haven't yet healed.

It's because the French, like Americans, are ethno-centric, arrogant and overly nationalistic.

and im sure there is a Swimmingpool.FR somewhere out there too.

Maybe Germans are just less inclined to such bigotry than the English?
That'll be it.
:D

I don't hate the French. Having stated such, the title of this thread is hereby declared obsolete. :)

That said, the US wasn't about to enter into WWII until the Germans declared war on them. It isn't like we charged in during the 1930's to protect them against the Nazis, when the americans could have helped to support France against the incoming german assualts.

Well, if you want to take that route I might mention appeasement, Britain and France wanted to force a harsh peace of Germany but then refused to enforce it.

Well, if you want to take that route I might mention appeasement, Britain and France wanted to force a harsh peace of Germany but then refused to enforce it.
His point is probably that when the French and the British finally decided that Poland was the last straw, the Americans weren't exactly interested. They really couldn't give enough of a shit until they were attacked themselves.

g'night, all. I shall return, ere long

thats a blatent lie.
If you know your history AT ALL, you would know that the german army was all ready teetering on the brink of collapse by the time the 'dough boys' entered.

Not quite. The 50 German divisions coming from the East (due to Russia making it's seperate peace) would have overrun Paris.
In fact, Petain's entire 1917 strategy was to wait for the Americans while trying to rebuild the French Army after the desertions and near mutinies of 1916. (Perhaps the only effective use of cavalry in the entire war on any side!)

That said, the French needed the US the same way the US needed France, and neither should be percieved to have been "better" than the other during the war.

The final push to break through the Anglo-French line was the death throes of the German army- they did not have the means, economy, men or resources to last in a protracted war- so indicated by the Scheifflen Plan.

The Schleiffen Plan was dead by Christmas 1914.
The German Spring Offensive of 1918 (drive to Paris) was fouled up by poor logistics and communications, true, but still came within 120km of Paris at the cost of 270.000 German soldiers. The famous Krupp guns were bombarding the city.
Without 500.000 Americans in the line (by May 1918), odds are excellent that the Germans would have taken Paris.

THATS why the germans were defeated- by the fact they didn't knock out the French valiant and desparate defence of their country, with help from britain (Verdun, Marne, Somme, Ypres) in the first few months of the war- NOT the US entering.

It's all of those things you've listed, and what I've listed. And much, much more.

I actually don't hate France at all, but I do wish that they'd step up to the plate and *act* like a great power.
For a country with a seat on the UN security council and one of the most powerful countries on Earth, France really doesn't do all that much.

Personally, I blame the 35 hour work week and two months of vacation time. ;)

...

That said, the French needed the US the same way the US needed France, and neither should be percieved to have been "better" than the other during the war.
'Tis true.



...
The German Spring Offensive of 1918 (drive to Paris) was fouled up by poor logistics and communications, true, but still came within 120km of Paris at the cost of 270.000 German soldiers. The famous Krupp guns were bombarding the city.
Without 500.000 Americans in the line (May 1918), odds are excellent that the Germans would have taken Paris.

...
By the way, I think that it were British troops who bore the brunt of the Spring Offensive in March and April, because Wilhelm II intended to scare the UK into signing a separate peace treaty. And I really don't know of American participation in defending France before Cantigny.

By the way, I think that it were British troops who bore the brunt of the Spring Offensive in March and April, because Wilhelm II intended to scare the UK into signing a separate peace treaty. And I really don't know of American participation in defending France before Cantigny.

Yes, Operation Michael was concentrated in the BEF's sector, but the BEF was able to compress their line and reinforce because the Americans & French were able to spread out more.

I'm from Germany so first of all sorry for my bad english

second thing is I don't hate french people at all but many of them are kind of ignorant and if you (like somebody already said) try to talk to them in english they pretend not to understand you.

BUT there are other parts of france where they're much more friendly and they're even trying to speak english (even though their english is much worse than the "usual german" english)

and one last point is that they're thinking nearly the same way as the germans did before wwII :headbang: but at least they're only thinking that way not doing same things thats what i hate most about french people

i guess thats everything i wanted to say
Kingsizzzzzzzzze

Hey I love France. It's the people I don't like.

Haha. Kidding, I think.

From my experiance, the French aren't all that great. Of course, my experiances with the French aren't all that great.

I went to Disneyland when I was 6, but no one could speak english. Plus, I waited for 2 hours in some line, in the rain (!!!), so I could go on some stupid Dumbo ride that wasn't working all that great.

Plus, a few weeks before school broke out for the summer an annoyingly cocky french boy said I had the mentality of a 2 year old.

That's it! They're cocky.

Finally, in the Rugby7s world cup in Hong Kong, they BEAT England. I MEAN OMG.

Ugh.

The french are great in my opinion. I spent a couple of weeks travelling around last August and in general they were a nice bunch of people who even put up with my way too heavily accented french.

3) France never once "got the US" into any war at all.
-- Cabra West

No but we the US have saved your asses on several occasions.

I doubt that serverly

A) WW1- The French and British Armies could not defeat a divided German Army until the Germans began to wear down and lose most of thier good soldiers, then America comes and presto, war over.
P.S. it should never take 3 Armies to defeat ne dvided army.

it took Prussia, Austria, Britain, Russia, Westphalia, Bruswick, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Naples, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Rome Peidmont, Saxony, and half a dozen other armies to beat the French armies of Napoleon

B) WW2- France lays over like a dog in need of a belly scratching, English and Americans bail you out again.

Like Austria, France had a strong pro-Facist movement that realised that the German invasion was an opportunity to come to power, considering the Second World War a French defeat is far too simplistic and lowers the intelectual level of this debate

C) Frenchindochina/Veitnam- Ya the U.S. picked up what the French couldn't handle, and we came out smelling like rotten rice while the French sat on thier asses.

Imperial Japan and the US failed to hold Indo China, but I don't hear anyone calling them cowards or incompetant. How does colonial failure in Vietnam during the age of decolonisation throughout the globe constitue anything that can be criticised by the Americans.

In many American anti-French arguments I hear: We saved the French during BOTH world wars.

SO. WHAT?

China invented paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass and a million other things. Is anybody going to pay patents to China today?

What dummies.

In many American anti-French arguments I hear: We saved the French during BOTH world wars.

SO. WHAT?

China invented paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass and a million other things. Is anybody going to pay patents to China today?

What dummies.

While I don't actually get your point with the whole China thing.

Yay! China!

There are a few factors really, I think. Having traveled in France for 3 weeks not a month ago I believe I'm in an unusual position to comment on this;

1. The French do sort of just have an attitude. It varies from person to person naturally, as you would expect. However, one of the most irritating things is the young people are much more impatient. Older French persons for instance will actually speak French with you. They seem grateful that you try to speak their language. Younger people speak English, to get a service job it's important that you be able to speak English (international language, etc.) They don't so much appreciate it when you try to speak French, because you're probably not doing it well enough to make their job easier, so they'll often be annoyed, seem annoyed, and it's annoying to you who is making such an effort to speak a language you're not very proficient in.

This is a great irony because young people tend to work more in the service industries--so, most people go to France, come in contact mainly with these sorts and it leaves an inaccurate impression of the French on them.

2. I know it's being 'debated', but it needs to be admitted; the French did lose WWII. That's how they look at it, believe me. It's not intellectually low--the French were occupied and dictated to. Every facet of France was exploited to feed the German war machine. Believe me, they lost. And they're still pissed about it. How embarassing would it be if Canada up and invaded the United States and it turned out the entire West coast states were in on it because they shared a more liberal philosophy with the Canadians and didn't like G.W. Imagine a mass fleeing of American armed forces out of country with the knowledge that we might be occupied for some years. It's not a happy situation.

3. They are kind of two faced sometimes. I don't mean to make it sound too bad. They behave just like most other nations, probably. They say one thing and do another and then when we find them doing that we can say "Look! You forked tongued people! You say you're for peace and freedom but we see now you're making a trade profit with Iraq! How dare you!" So why is it different than, say, here? Here where we claim to be for equality yet have a huge poverty gap... We claim to be for liberty yet have the Patriot Act? Well, first of all the French tend to be more extreme in their support of what they say they are. They're much more adamently liberal about things than we are "No war, freedom!" etc., so it smacks the more of hypocrisy when they're exposed. Secondarily, it's not that different. Most of the world hates America, too, and it's for the same reason. We proclaim that we are for freedom etc., yet if you were to say, freely choose a communist leader, we might have the longest most controversial war in history over it...

The world tends to hate us more than France, and this is true. It's because when they're hypocritical they trade profiteer from it. Sort of sneaking around other nations and undermining certain international principles. We have a history of being hypocritical while screwing with other nations entirely. Think CIA vs. WTO.

So maybe we're just in one happy club together... on different sides of two different tables facing away from one another...

I don't hate France, or anybody. There are things I dislike about France, but not hate. France has far too many leftists for my taste.

2. I know it's being 'debated', but it needs to be admitted; the French did lose WWII. That's how they look at it, believe me. It's not intellectually low--the French were occupied and dictated to. Every facet of France was exploited to feed the German war machine. Believe me, they lost. And they're still pissed about it. How embarassing would it be if Canada up and invaded the United States and it turned out the entire West coast states were in on it because they shared a more liberal philosophy with the Canadians and didn't like G.W. Imagine a mass fleeing of American armed forces out of country with the knowledge that we might be occupied for some years. It's not a happy situation.

This is true. I never thought of it this way before, but it does sound logical. I think the same could be said for other parts of Europe as well.

Also, I can agree with you on point 3. For instance, the whole idea of an EU constitution originated in France and they have pushed the idea since the formation of the Union. However, when it finally comes to a vote, who votes it down? The French! Amazing.

2. I know it's being 'debated', but it needs to be admitted; the French did lose WWII. That's how they look at it, believe me. It's not intellectually low--the French were occupied and dictated to. Every facet of France was exploited to feed the German war machine. Believe me, they lost. And they're still pissed about it.
How embarassing would it be if Canada up and invaded the United States and it turned out the entire West coast states were in on it because they shared a more liberal philosophy with the Canadians and didn't like G.W. Imagine a mass fleeing of American armed forces out of country with the knowledge that we might be occupied for some years. It's not a happy situation.

The US is already being invaded by a quarter million Mexicans a year...

BTW, that's a keen example! :)

Personally, I blame the 35 hour work week and two months of vacation time. ;)

Vive la France!!!

An aunt of mine married a French-Canadian and moved to Quebec. Even though his family could speak english, they never did in front of her and she still is pissed about it to this day. Yes, the French can be ass-holes, but at least they don't go around screwing other countries in it like some nationalities that I could mention.

I'm an English-Canadian, and for me, it's genetic that I'm not supposed to like the French!!!!!! LOL
That's the second time I encounter it in this thread so I have to point out that French-Canadian is NOT the same as French. Is American the same as English? No. While they both speak the same language, and one was built be people from the other, it has ceased to be the same people a long time ago.

Your aunt wasn't spoken in French in Quebec because she went to live there in a time where Quebec was holding strongly to his language and was still holding the siege mentality that "the English-speakers are out to assimilate us".

I'm a French-Canadian, and for me, it's genetic to point out flaws in English posts like yours. Call it my French side ;)

In many American anti-French arguments I hear: We saved the French during BOTH world wars.

SO. WHAT?

China invented paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass and a million other things. Is anybody going to pay patents to China today?

What dummies.

Well, to start, we deliberately saved France, whereas the Chinese (though their scientific contributions have been numerous) just kind of helped themselves and the market took over.

As for your argument about patents, (1) who, exactly, would own the rights to the patents? Some guy in some village a thousand years ago invented gunpowder--what does that have to do with the current Chinese regime? (2) in every country that recognizes the right to intellectual property (i.e. patents), there is a limit to how long the patent is good for because (a) you otherwise have permanent monopolies, and (b) things become so mainstream, that patents no longer serve their intent to encourage invention.

Vive la France!!!

Oui! Vive le économie de désastre! ;)

(With pardon for my very poor French...)

if there's anything that i, as an american, don't like about the french, it's the feeling that they don't like us! ironic, isn't it?

[/QUOTE]Uh, no. I hope that was sarcastic, because its wrong. The US was the first to apply the principles of the Enlightenment.[/QUOTE]

That's honestly quite amusing, hysterical almost, american democracy is a facade, a farce that belies the corruption and evident bribery inherent to the administration in question. Irrespective of the supposed "conspiracy theory" behind the election, the republican victory in Florida 2001 was dubious at best, and ostensibly, an example of electoral fraud at its most henious. Furthermore one cannot help but notice that american democracy is the most class based political arena in the western world, since the list of presidents from affluent, influential families beggars belief; Kennedy, Bush snr., Bush jnr., et al. Such overt discrimination is in direct contravention of the application of the enlightment that the honourable gentleman I quote alludes to.

Well I hate the French because I'm English, so its a matter of patriotism to do so. I hate them because they are arrogant and because we are natural competitors in war and peace.


Off topic, why am I sometimes deadly now? Is it just a post count or something?

Because they are the only ENEMY the USA has in the NATO alliance. They are American hating, ungrateful arseholes!

Well I hate the French because I'm English, so its a matter of patriotism to do so.

I find that rather sad. You should form your opinions yourself, not based on what is "a matter of patriotism."

Off topic, why am I sometimes deadly now? Is it just a post count or something?

aye


Because they are the only ENEMY the USA has in the NATO alliance. They are American hating, ungrateful arseholes!

Not one of those things are true, and if you'd care to back any of it up, I'll be happy to pick your supports apart for you.

Uh, no. I hope that was sarcastic, because its wrong. The US was the first to apply the principles of the Enlightenment.[/QUOTE]

That's honestly quite amusing, hysterical almost, american democracy is a facade, a farce that belies the corruption and evident bribery inherent to the administration in question. Irrespective of the supposed "conspiracy theory" behind the election, the republican victory in Florida 2001 was dubious at best, and ostensibly, an example of electoral fraud at its most henious. Furthermore one cannot help but notice that american democracy is the most class based political arena in the western world, since the list of presidents from affluent, influential families beggars belief; Kennedy, Bush snr., Bush jnr., et al. Such overt discrimination is in direct contravention of the application of the enlightment that the honourable gentleman I quote alludes to.[/QUOTE]

(S)he was not refering to the US of today, and the Constitution is indeed based off the set of philosophical priciples known to history as the Enlightnent priciples.

I do not hate France. Especially since some of my heritage is French. :)

I have had some wonderful experiences there and some less than idyllic.
What I have gathered from the people I know that dislike France is that they, the French, like to portray themselves as superior to all. In short some feel they are stuck up and rude.

To be honest this can be said about many courntries... It just seems France is inextricably tied to such sentiment.

I do not hate France. Especially since some of my heritage is French. :)

Means nothing, for example I am an ethnocentric person, and I was shocked and amazed when I met a self hating German, but he was not selfhating Pol/Czech/British and others. I hate France (I think I posted already but couldnt find it) because they always make Germany/Other enemy nation look like a bad guy.

Well I hate the French because I'm English, so its a matter of patriotism to do so. I hate them because they are arrogant and because we are natural competitors in war and peace.


Off topic, why am I sometimes deadly now? Is it just a post count or something?

Still wondering why you guys renamed the skirmish to "red vs. blue" for the Trafalgar celebrations...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4627453.stm

I hear a WHOLE lot about how we've been "saving" the French... America did diddly squat in WWII. We got our asses kicked. The Soviets and the UK did all the heavy lifting. We joined late in the war when all sides were decimated and war weariness had firmly set in. And we still got the shit kicked out of us. We saved no one. The Russians saved France, not the US. Japan was kickin' the snot outta us as well, which is why we nuked them, instead of standing and fighting with honor.

Without France, there would be no America.

Japan was kickin' the snot outta us as well, which is why we nuked them, instead of standing and fighting with honor.
I mainly disagree with that last one. I usually argue against American supremacy-fantasies, but in this case, the Americans beat the Japanese fair and square, long before they had the bomb.

I hear a WHOLE lot about how we've been "saving" the French... America did diddly squat in WWII. We got our asses kicked. The Soviets and the UK did all the heavy lifting. We joined late in the war when all sides were decimated and war weariness had firmly set in. And we still got the shit kicked out of us. We saved no one. The Russians saved France, not the US. Japan was kickin' the snot outta us as well, which is why we nuked them, instead of standing and fighting with honor.

Without France, there would be no America.

That's the most revisionist post I've read in at least 15 minutes on the forums. :rolleyes:

I mainly disagree with that last one. I usually argue against American supremacy-fantasies, but in this case, the Americans beat the Japanese fair and square, long before they had the bomb.
Aye, to a point... The cost in attrition was very high to achieve what you call a victory. To invade the mainland would have meant a long and grinding occupation. How to avoid? Simple. Kill as many civilians as possible, with the least effort... Granted, firebombing killed many more than nuclear weaponry, but that too was mainly directed against civillians. It was shameful.

It was shameful.
Well, we agree there.

Japan had lost by the time the bomb was dropped (they accully offer to surender a couple of times), but I agree with your last post.

I would just like it to go on record that I hate France slightly more than I hate Namibia, but not nearly as much as I hate Denmark....

...which when you consider that Denmark is probably one of the few countries other than Britain I would willingly go to live in.... says I guess that frankly I don't give a toss about France one way or another!!

:p

Seriously, why? Everywhere you go people hate France. Seriously, there must be a reason for this, does anyone know?

It think it's largely because the French hate everyone else.

because it's easy to hate "the other," especially when you've never met or know anything about them (this applies mostly to Americans, I suppose)

Canada cannot fight a war itself either. People like the fact Canada does not spend much on its millitary.
True, but has anyone described canadians as arrogant pieces of crap? One is connected to the other. Besides which, while the canadian military may be small, it is quite good. On the other hand, except for the foreign legion and some of their special forces, the french military is crap.

Seriously, why? Everywhere you go people hate France. Seriously, there must be a reason for this, does anyone know?

The Same reason everyone hates Americans. They are loud (the haters not americans, well maybe americans but that is a differnt topic all together)

I have the greatest respect for France and the French people. I do not hold with this cliched garbage from Sun readers about how the French are cowards, that they daren't do this and can't do that - all based on the fact that their country was occupied during the Second World War. But then it's beyond some people to understand that WWII is long over.

And for the record, France held out against the German advance just as well as Britain would have if we hadn't had the Channel between us and them: in other words, they didn't hold out at all. The Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe made short work of every nation in their path, and were halted only by that twenty-odd mile stretch of water. THAT'S what enabled us to do better than France did: we were in a defensible position. And even then, the victorious Allies owed an enormous debt of gratitude to French resistance fighters.

This oversimplification of the past is lazy, and does nothing but foster ill feeling. France is a fine nation with a proud history, and while its people may have their quirks, I don't think there's a country on Earth about which the same cannot be said.

Personally, I'm happy to have them as one of my closest national neighbours.

::claps::

Ahh, hatred of France, it's something I know well. My father is a pretty conservative guy, and he got swept up in all of the anti-France "freedom fry" hype at the start of the War in Iraq. He had some... well, let's call them clever insults. I could never seem to convince him that the French helped us Americans gain our own independence (I never could find a source for that fact, sadly, so a lot of my arguments were just "I've heard such-and-such").

I myself love the French. Now, being a Spanish-speaker I like to tease my French-speaking friends, but I think that they have a rich culture, history, and language. Actually, the language scares the hell out of me, but that's beside the point. I can't understand people who decide to hate (or strongly dislike) any country or people just because they don't like some decisions made by the politicians in charge.

Hmm... looking back at this reply I didn't really say anything worthwhile. Ah, well, I felt like posting. :p

Moi je viens de passer un demi an en France, et j'ai trouvé la France et les français très agréables. Je crois que la détesation vient, au cas des Etats-Unis, à cause d'un besoin de tenir qqn coupable pour les choses qui ne vont pas.

Er... et c'est tout, malgré ces mois-là, mon français c'est pas bon!

Moi je viens de passer un demi an en France, et j'ai trouvé la France et les français très agréables. Je crois que la détesation vient, au cas des Etats-Unis, à cause d'un besoin de tenir qqn coupable pour les choses qui ne vont pas.

Er... et c'est tout, malgré ces mois-là, mon français c'est pas bon!
My French, I'm afraid, is non-existent, more or less. I've never had an affinity for languages, unfortunately. I admire anyone who'll even give it a shot! But if it makes you feel any better, I used an automated translator to convert what you said here:

"Me I have just passed a half year in France, and I found France and the very pleasant French. I believe that the détesation comes, to the case of the United States, because of a need to hold guilty qqn for the things that do not go.

Er... and this is all, despite those months, my French this is not good!"

Between your French skills and the fact that it's gone through a computerised translation process which is never perfect, I think that's come out surprisingly well. It's easy to see what you were getting at.

The point of this is to say that your French obviously isn't all that bad!

I will say this much about France.

I am glad that they have taken the fight to Greenpeace, of all nations I see France doing more to prevent terror attacks by Greenpeace than any other nation. (Greenpeace is a terrorist organization IMO.)