Defender in Paris, and Mystery Guest

[Doug]

Here's a pic from yesterday on the streets of Paris, Defender in the background. The fellow up front is Erik, the blogger responsible for http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/, a wildly pro-American French blog.

Erik is being detained by police at the moment this pic is being taken, for waving an American flag at an Anti-US D-Day rally in the streets of Paris. He's trying, at least. But he's up against Le Monde and virtually all the French media who are so anti-Bush and anit-American it's sickening.

Anyway, the Defender in the photo gave me an excuse to vent among friends. Based on my recent trip to France, I can say that the French population is mostly still pro-American although anti-Irag war and anti-Bush. But their gov't and media are disgusting in the intensity of gargage and lies they are feeding their people.

DW

[Screehopper]

Getting detained, for waving the American flag? Always the French.

I still remember the news when the French government banned the word "email" in all government correspondences because the word "email" is too American.


Hypothetical Situation:
French police officer: "Is that your backpack Monsieur? The one with the patch of the Canadian flag on it?"

Canadian tourist: "Yes that is my pack."

French police officer: "Come with me. You are being detained because you are publicly displaying another country's flag within the boundaries of France."

[wicks]

Makes you think that the US, Britain, Canada, etc., ought to have taken some long-term stake in France in exchange for investing so many lives and so much equipment in liberating the place.

[Joe P]

My favorite conversation

Frenchman: You American Pigs are always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.

American: Do you speak German?

Frenchman: No! Why

American: You would be if it weren't for us American Pigs.

[chrisvonc]

Outstanding! LOL

My favorite conversation

Frenchman: You American Pigs are always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.

American: Do you speak German?

Frenchman: No! Why

American: You would be if it weren't for us American Pigs.

[whistler110]

And now France and Germany are plotting to take over Europe, don't we live in a strange world.

You can't really blame the French for not liking Americans, they did cost them a lot of oil deals with Irag and protesting/ arresting protesters seems to be an French past time.

[wicks]

Maybe France should be privatized and turned into the world's largest theme park. Working for Disney would be about equivalent to their present socialist existence.

[Mike Hippert]

LOL great idea!

[Doug]

Funny! Eisner = Chirac? Villpin = Mickey?

;)

[cdn_expedition_co]

Any of you chaps ever been to France? Europe? Even have passports? Obviously not.

- I doubt that the guy's only offense was waving a US flag, and you'd be pretty stupid to believe otherwise.

- I'm actually shocked that the guy had an American flag. American tourists often hide their identity beneath Canadian flags. Watched a New Jersey schoolteacher hand Canadian flags out to her American students at Heathrow airport, telling them to attach them to their backpacks with the words "People over here like Canadians more than Americans"

- The French, and most other countries, love Canadians. Might have something to do with the fact that althought we spent the entirety of the war sacrificing lives for other people's freedom, we never shove it in their face with comments like "If it weren't for us you'd be speaking German". Especially when the US was a little late to the party and spent the first few years profiting from their allies losses. Ever notice that the only world economy to pick up during a war is the US?! Odd isn't it.

- As for the long term stakes in return for our investment... A very American view. Some people do things because they are the right thing to do, and need to be done. In the US it's all about the payback.

- France may be upset about revenues it lost from its Iraqi oil interests, but I'm sure their loss pales in comparison to the profits being taken by American companies. BTW, How's that new oil pipeline in Afghanistan working out for you guys. Taleban my ass. Caspian oil, most definitely.

[Doug]

Wow, Steve. I'm almost speechless...

1. Been to France. Have passport.
2. The 'guy' is not a tourist. He's a Frenchman. A month ago in Aix en Provence, I found it completely unnecessary to hide my 'Americanism.' The French people are NOT full of hate. Their MEDIA, and certain of their bureaucrats, play on hate to connive to their own ends. Only a tiny percent of the population get conned into demonstrating such lies. The rally Erik 'crashed' was a literal handful of people in a city the size of Paris. And we all know how these political 'rallies' are made anyway -- a little cash in the right places, some carefully sowed seeds of hatred, etc...
3. Nobody was making any comments as you describe above until Chirac started with his bull***t, candy-assed high-minded illogic in an attempt to salvage and retain the cash flow from his illegal profiteering on the food-for-oil program.
3a. As to whether we are right or wrong in Irag: In 10 years we'll know if what we are doing is right, but not until then. In 20 we'll know better. If Africa and SW Asia are living in theocratic nuclear states where the internet is banned, women must hide and are denied education, and hate is collectivized and nurtured, then we were wrong.
4. The US pays out much more than it gets back, all over the world. Canadians are often with us, carrying the load of the planet while others scoff at our efforts. Today, we just turned the entire oil industry back over to the Iraqis. Sure people will say its a puppet state and America is still robbing the poor Iraqis from all their oil profits. Of course, individuals and companies will continue to profit and abuse, but that's been true to the dawn of time everywhere on earth -- and it's not just Halliburton that does it. At least the US attempts to prosecute and lock up proven abusers via a legal system and laws that are not perfect, but at least we have a CHANCE of making it work even if our top man is on the take. Try to find a French bureaucrat in the Bastille because he took a bribe? Not likely. Dozens of high placed Americans, however, have done time for similar offences.

5. France's population is not inherently upset. Chirac and his cronies are, and they continue to stir up their poplulation to support their revenge-motivated stupidity.

Whew, that was fun while it lasted.

DW

[wicks]

Ummm, OK. Steve is the MAN, and we are unworthy. ;)

And wrong again on France. My passprt has Calais all over it!

Interesting Doug on the French political ethics blindspot. Ties into a little I've learned about what the French did in VN as well. Apparently all the South VN generals were on the take except for one, Ngo (DW that's Phuong's grandpop), who refused repeated enticements by his comrades who were close with the French. Was the ony one that earned his rank over entire career one step at a time. Likely another example of such political influence. Ngo feels the South VN were weakened by immoral influences of the French in Nam.

[RichardMoore]

arrived home yesterday after a 5 day camping trip in my D-90 to Normandy. The French pulled out all the stops to make visitors to D-Day 60th welcome - US/UK/Canadian flags and bunting by the lorry load in Normandy towns and villages with crowds of people lining the streets to wave at the willys Jeeps, Dodge Weapon Carriers etc - literally hundreds of WWII vehicles all driven by guys in authentic uniform. Some folks even waved at my green defender - mistook it for a vintage truck but we waved back anyway. Didn't come across any anti US or anti Brit sentiments - just the opposite - there were plenty of French at the US Cemetary at Colleville [behind Omaha beach] Turned out to be the trip of a lifetime

[Doug]

Richard, great to hear! Blast the media for only telling us the ugly side of things. Here's a great page of good news:

http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2004/06/good-news-from-iraq-part-iii-bigger.html

DW

[snuffer]

Hey Steve, spoken like a true french Canadian. During WWII who could have produced the arms and equipment needed to stop Hitler and the Axis? I think nearly all of Europe was within range of the German bombers.

You reminded me of something I heard early on when the US tried to form a coalition to go into Iraq.
"Going to war without the french is like going to war without your accordian.

And no the word french/france does not need to be capitalized as far as iI am concerned.

Luckily I have been able to avoid travel to france so my passport does not have any french stamps on it.

Follow-up Post:

Oh and why do I have this opinion about france without ever having gone there?

It's like this...if something looks like shit, smells like shit, I don't need to taste it to know it is shit.

[Buckon37s]

Ah, Canada. When are we going to take that over anyway?

[TDI Guy]

France sucks. I wouldn't want that stamp on my passport if you were paying me to go there. And, if for some reason I was forced to go there I would never be wearing a Canadian flag. Who and what the hell has Canada ever fought for and lost lives for? I would wear a suit made from an American flag and underwear from a French flag... :)

Sorry. I just had to.

[Doug]

Guys, I think we are going to lose Steve.... Steve? Earth to Steve?....

Canadians have been right there many times. D-Day, Afganistan -- I really don't have time to research it but they are usually in there scrapping along with the rest of us dogs when the going gets tough.

Who needs 'em in Iraq tho? Just a policing action til we get the little mobsters and petty thugs locked up or sent to the House of Virgins... (Unless of course Iran starts getting serous in their efforts to turn things upside down.) Always sumthin.

DW

[wicks]

Richard,

I watched a tele program about the ceremonies, etc., in Normandie and was very cool to see you had been there. Sounds terrific as I am sure it was.

Apart from all of the goings-on, the terrain around Normandie looks like it makes for some lovely greenlaning...

[RichardMoore]

thnx Wicks - I'm pleased you caught some TV coverage, Yeah it was cool - I'm going back in August to see some of the stuff I missed, I want to visit Utah Beach and St Mere Eglise [where the US Paratrooper got hung up on the Church Spire ] .

It is a great place to explore by Defender, I will have my wife and youngest son with me [who sits up front in the centre seat] so I won't have time for off roading. Shame some of you US D-90 owners can't get over with your trucks- you would have a great time - don't let the current political situation put you off - us Brits have had a love/hate relationship with the French for the last thousand years!

[OCD90]

Having been to France and nearly all Canadian provinces...and with a few passport stamps from elsewhere...

I do appreciate the sacrifice of the Canadians in WWII as they dutifully fulfilled their obligations to the Crown.

I'm glad that a French-Canadian can snipe from behind her current mother's broad and protective skirts. It's easy to be critical of this country, that for no cost at all, provides the protection that allows Canada to thrive.

That, said...Canada is GREAT--the French I can do without.