Clutch

Hmm... there's a bunch of jokes about how Americans are a bunch of provincial evangelical muttonheads. I guess that shows... what, exactly, about the proposed attack on Iraq? Ah, right -- it shows nothing.

Mutatis mutandis...

AzJeff

The Germans invaded on 5/10/40 and France signed an armistice
on 6/22/40 - 5 weeks.
Poland was conquered in 4 weeks.
It was strategy and tactics that beat the French - not cowardice.
When the best French divisions went toe-to-toe with the best German divisions (near Gembloux, Belgium), the Germans were handed their hats.
The Germans conducted an unexpected attack through the Ardennes, which was thinly held by French reserve divisions.

Paris was declared an open city - they saw what happened to Warsaw (bombed for 20 consecutive days by the Germans) and Rotterdam.

The French did not surrender until the Germans had overrun 2/3+ of their country.

FoF Graphic

Layman

At least the British tried to defend someone else's home.

Layman

I thought the jokes were funny.

And many European countries have signed on with us. Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania.

Layman

I don't think I have standing to concede anything on behalf of "Christian theocrats."

But I was speaking in terms political, not religious. There are plenty of religious liberals. Plenty of secular conservatives.

Layman

Like I said, it wasn't about individual cowardice. It was about handing the Germans tons and tons of supplies, weapons, and warships, strategic ports and airfields, as well as the alignment of colonial possessions with the Nazis.

One graphic example, the French should not have surrendered their Navy and thereby force the British to attack it. It should have sailed immediately for British ports and waters. They would have been very useful in the Med. Naval War and the U-Boat war.

August Spies

Ex-idaho: how many frenchmen do you know? The french are not pompous, americans and british are. (note: I am american)

And why are they hated in most countries? When I was in europe I read an article about a poll done on all european countries to find out who was the most hated and most liked in europe. English and Germans were the most hated and the Irish were the most liked. They didn't mention france (cause they weren't at the top or the bottom) but they certainly aren't that hated, only America seems annoyed.

Lamunus

Could I just point out that this is actually a joke about the Italian Army - who were easily beaten by the French in WW2

My grandfather says he first heard it while fighting in Italy, just before the Americans swooped in to take the glory in Rome, condemning 100,000 British soldiers to death by allowing the Germans to become entrenched instead of encircling them when they had the chance. Let's hope our current collective endeavour will show the same skill in American tactics. Or maybe they'll let Europeans do the thinking, hmm?

Lamunus

August Spies

And many European countries have signed on with us. Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania.

Layman, no offense but you sound really silly in this thread. What does this list prove? Ill tell you, it proves the goverments of those countries are willing to back the U.S. (since it benefits them) despite the fact that the VAST MAJORITY of their citizens are opposed to the action.

Wow, im so impressed that a lot of goverments refuse to listen to their populations! Three cheers for democracy!

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Personally I think most people are just jealous of the french, or at least they should be.

France and Germany dominate, and rightfully so, modern philosophy.

France has top notch theater, film, literature and art.

France has an amazing revolutionary history.

France's revolution marks the turning point of modern (western) history. Most western ideologies (even right wing ones) find their root in that.

English is, in many ways, mispronounced french.

etc... etc...

Personally it seems like you are really grabbing at straws. You try to act like the french alway surrender, when I point out this is silly and untrue that they have been a huge military power for much of their existance you come back with "oh they invented the guillitine or oh yeah sure but napoleon was a dictator". So? Prior to Napoleon ALL great military powers were dictatorial. what do you think the Roman Empire or Gangas Kahn built themselves on?

It was about handing the Germans tons and tons of supplies, weapons, and warships, strategic ports and airfields, as well as the alignment of colonial possessions with the Nazis.

are you implying that some other countries did not do this? This is what happens when you lose. At least France had the french resistance, more than I can say for Belgium, Poland, Norway, Chezh, etc... etc...

Chuck

I'm not entirely sure that "French jokes" bespeak a widespread anti-French sentiment. Maybe I'm biased - I'm an American (majoring in French) and I've always found the French people warm and welcoming as long as I attempt to speak French to them and observe basic ettiquette.

There are jokes about every nationality, race, and religion; while some are hurtful, the majority don't reflect a widespread animosity towards a certain group. I'm of Polish descent, and Polish jokes don't really indicate a raging anti-Pole movement in the United States.

The French expect Americans to behave towards them as they would behave towards Americans; i.e. use the language of the country that they are visiting when possible, observe the customs of that country.

But maybe I'm too much of a francophile to see the bigotry

And I do laugh at French jokes.

Chuck