Got a kick out of this...

[Bigerik]

Found this while rooting around online. Nice to see that the Brits still love and respect the French as much as ever.

[piece-itpete]

LMAO! Is the left in power over there again? :elbowrib:

Pete

[Bigerik]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

LMAO! Is the left in power over there again? :elbowrib:

Pete

The left is ALWAYS in power over there.

[BlueStreak]

I don't get it.

The French have only given up, what? Twice?--In major conflicts? And one of those was one WE failed in as well. Vietnam. Remember that?

And then one considers the undeniable and significant contribution they made in our revolution......Really. I mean, would we have won without them? I seriously doubt it.

Now, I've been to France and I know how they are, smelly and arrogant.

But, still. I don't understand the downright hatred that I see coming from some people.

What gives?

Dave

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

But, still. I don't understand the downright hatred that I see coming from some people.

What gives?

Dave

I've heard (and believe) that the personality trait you hate most in others is your own strongest personality trait.

Similarly, I believe that the reason we love to hate the French is because they're so much like us - the two oldest democracies in the world who firmly believe in their own exceptionalism, culture, language, self-righteousness ....

I've spent lots of time in France, from Normandy to Brittany, Paris, Provence, the Alsace, the Alps, and the Cote d'Or. Great place and fine people. FWIW, New Yorkers make Parisians seem overtly pleasant and accommodating.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I've heard (and believe) that the personality trait you hate most in others is your own strongest personality trait.

Similarly, I believe that the reason we love to hate the French is because they're so much like us - the two oldest democracies in the world who firmly believe in their own exceptionalism, culture, language, self-righteousness ....

I've spent lots of time in France, from Normandy to Brittany, Paris, Provence, the Alsace, the Alps, and the Cote d'Or. Great place and fine people. FWIW, New Yorkers make Parisians seem overtly pleasant and accommodating.

You got that right. And who could possibly be more conceited and arrogant than a Texan? Those guys just think they run the whole effin' world.

Dave

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by finnbow

New Yorkers make Parisians seem overtly pleasant and accommodating.

A lot of those New Yorkers are really foreigners.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I don't get it.



Now, I've been to France and I know how they are, smelly and arrogant.

Dave

On the insistence of my college roommate, a Danish consuls son, I agreed to let a French exchange student stay with us for a couple of months. He left, but his stench remained and eventually caused us to toss the couch. Oh, and he was also an arrogant prick that never bothered to thank us for giving him a place to stay for a couple of months. We'd go out to bars looking for girls and he always thought of himself as some sort of master romantic. Every time I see that cartoon with the skunk, I'm reminded of the episode. OTOH, the country is beautiful and has a rich history, great food, and pretty women.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by bhunter

On the insistence of my college roommate, a Danish consuls son, I agreed to let a French exchange student stay with us for a couple of months. He left, but his stench remained and eventually caused us to toss the couch. Oh, and he was also an arrogant prick that never bothered to thank us for giving him a place to stay for a couple of months. We'd go out to bars looking for girls and he always thought of himself as some sort of master romantic. Every time I see that cartoon with the skunk, I'm reminded of the episode. OTOH, the country is beautiful and has a rich history, great food, and pretty women.

You roomed with Pepe LePewe! LOL!!!

Dave

[Big_Bill]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I don't get it.

The French have only given up, what? Twice?--In major conflicts? And one of those was one WE failed in as well. Vietnam. Remember that?

And then one considers the undeniable and significant contribution they made in our revolution......Really. I mean, would we have won without them? I seriously doubt it.

Now, I've been to France and I know how they are, smelly and arrogant.

But, still. I don't understand the downright hatred that I see coming from some people.

What gives?

Dave

I am sorry, and do deeply appreciate the great contribution France played in the American Revolution, but France has been a looser at wars:

The Complete Military History of France



***Please note that the Web designer is not American and blaming the Web designer for America's history is illogical. Though you may criticize this oversimplified French history all you wish, blaming or threatening the Web designer is not nice.

We are still accepting submissions from history researchers.
Last update: May 4, 2005.


- Gallic Wars
- Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian. [Or at this time in history, a Roman -ed.]

- Hundred Years War
- Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

- Italian Wars
- Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two wars when fighting Italians.

- Wars of Religion
- France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

- Thirty Years War
- France is technically not a participant, but manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

- War of Revolution
- Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

- The Dutch War
- Tied

- War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian War
- Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French military power.

- War of the Spanish Succession
- Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

- The Napoleonic Wars
- Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British footwear designer.

- The Franco-Prussian War
- Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

- World War I
- Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United States [Entering the war late -ed.]. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly, widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any improvement in the French bloodline.

- World War II
- Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

- War in Indochina
- Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien Bien Flu

- Algerian Rebellion
- Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

- War on Terrorism
- France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

The question for any country silly enough to count on the French should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long until France collapses?"

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal: "They're there when they need you."


I hold no animosity toward the French, and the deepest appreciation for their help during the American Revolution, however, the facts are the facts !

And I do believe that the aid that the French gave to the American Colonies were more influenced by their hate of the British, than their love for the American Colonies, remember the Franco-American Naval War ! But I am thankful for their help none the less.

Bill