French Hatin'

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

You hate the French. Why?

No, really. We can't seem to mock them enough in this country. Its in so many forms from the simple "frog" to "cheese-eating surrender monkey". I hear more terms smearing these people than I do the scary, dreaded Arab terrorist! What's the deal?

I don't hate the French. I've been there a half dozen times, and found the people to be decent. I've also spoken at length with many here in America about various issues. I have a lot of respect for them. I was horrified when many senior Republican politicians were openly mocking them a year ago. Freedom fries. That's total B.S., and those leaders should be ashamed. High ranking government officials should not publicly mock and ridicule an ally.

Having said all that, I've been know to mock the French with my friends. France is a very easy target. They take themselves way too seriously. With their "superiour culture" and their legislation to keep english words from creeping into their language. Their laws to keep foreign stuff off their airwaves. The whole British vs. French cultural rivalry is centuries old. America identifies with the British. Sure, France has culture. So does every other European country. They aren't special.

I never thought about the French one way or the other until I had reason to stop briefly in France on one of my visits to Switzerland (now quite sometime back). The French people I encountered seemed to be faintly disdainful and looking down their noses. I don't know any French, so the language barrier probably didn't help things, and I know you can't judge an entire nation by a couple of people having a bad day, still it put me off the French somewhat.