It's a fair comment. My personal experience with the French has been good. The important thing, where your comment is concerned, is to point out that the "ranters" you mention are speaking about French politics-- about how the nation behaves, not how each French person behaves.

The distinction needs to be clear.

For example, I'm sure many (and maybe most) Iranians are very nice people, who treat others decently. Iran as a nation, on the other hand, does not deserve as much credit. When the president of that country says the Holocaust didn't happen and that Israel should be wiped off the map, the natural and sane response is "Iran is bad and should be changed." Iranians are still likely good people, though.

I believe that the French have one of the best health-care systems in the world; that their way of life is respectable; and that most French are decent, warm people. But unfortunately, the onus to prove their worthiness as a nation is on them. Attacks on the French value system and nation come from bitter memories of France's behavior in WWII/Vichy and its socialism-driven counterpoise to the US which has resulted in disastrous political events.

There is also a lingering question of anti-Semitism in France which Dreyfus, then Vichy, and today some of the highest anti-semitic acts rates in the world only reinforce.

Also, France as a nation is often hypocritical and self-righteous, supporting brutal dictatorships and giving asylum to literally the world's worst dictators after those people have ravaged their own countries and peoples for the sake of money.

Some might like (love) to respond here that the US does the same thing. This is true-- to some extent. The US supports dictatorships and pursues incorrect policy and should certainly be taken to task for it. And the US gets its fair share of blame, scrutiny, and outright hatred. The point is that if we are to make such accusations at the US, we should be making them at France, which is often considered "off limits" for political criticism.

Americans have a particular thing for France since they perceive it to be ungrateful after it sent its young men to die for French freedoms. This is a bit simplistic-- the US pursues its own interests when it goes to war. But the French did benefit from the cost of American life and treasure and it's not unreasonable to think that the French nation should express gratitude and friendliness (which it often does do) to the US.

I think Sarkozy is taking a good tack. Saying that France likes the US (while Chirac could only turn his nose up) while affirming its independence on policy, strategy and belief. France is certainly entitled to determining its own course; more than that, it is obligated to self-determination. But when policy is determined almost solely as a reaction to the US (as has been the case with France in past years) self-determination is sacrificed and France becomes merely what America is not.

Most of our prejudices fade away when we come face to face with people!

Get well soon.

God bless.

 

 

Deporting Moroccan citizens from France to punish the Kingdom for not buying French fighters? Khhhh!
That's not racism, just pure, unadulterated FS wickedness and stupidity. Fortunately, that's not going to happen, since France is not that kind of country, and, since the Moroccan economy is increasingly basing itself on exports rather than on remittances, it is likely that a lot of Moroccans residing in gray, rainy Europe will want to go home to that beautiful sunny country of theirs, and contribute to its development.

Lynstine, get well. I understand you have a long road ahead, but I also know you're likely to get the best possible treatment. After all, French surgeons are among the world's best, and they're sore losers too!