Article

2005-09-26 Fifth Column

To Some in France, U.S. Sinking in Storm

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Posted by anonymous5089 2005-09-26 07:06|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 More people died in a heat wave in France than died in two record-strength hurricanes in the US.

I suspect the heat wave death count is higher than the US has suffered from hurricanes in the last decade or two.

France should pluck the freaking redwood from its eye before it goes lecturing us about the mote in ours.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2005-09-26 07:43|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-09-26 07:43|| Front Page Top

#2 Sorry but I will not defend the French, or more exactly their MSM, on this occasion

Some of my ROE:

I hate anti-French racism a la "How many troops take it to defend Paris? Never has been tried" (tell that to the people who fell at Verdun and at the two battles of la Marne).

I tend to dislike disparaging remarks about the 1940 soldier: this was a battle lost by the generals not by the soldiers. BTW: the day I open my own blog one of the very first posts will be about the structural reasons explaining why the French officer corps has sucked so much after Waterloo.

I would tend to remind people that there are more pro-American French that shown in the polls: for reasons who go from leftism to natinal-europeism the MSM and the French scholar system have made very difficult to say that one is pro-American: a columnist who approved Iraqui Freedom was boycotted by his friends and even got physical threats. After two years he folded. You have no idea of the barrage of hate issued by the French MSM. Worse than in Soviet Union except that the Russians knew their press lied, the French don't and they believe it. It would take a looooong time of desintoxication in order to undo its effects (time to have Radio Free Europe target France). However when I was at Coleville (aka Omaha Beach) I saw an old man who had come to flower a grave and he was definitely French.
Meaning that it is OK for me to say all you want about the French elites and MSM but have some restraint but before bashing French foot citizens remember both this old man and the Gospel: "Father, forgive them because they don't know what they are doing".

When I post an explanatory post don't rebound on it for French bashing. Makes me feel a traitor.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2005-09-26 08:56|| 2005-09-26 08:56|| Front Page Top

#3 JFM, I can understand your frustration. It's hard to see a country that used to be at the forefront of Western Civilization pouring its heritage down the pissour out of sheer resentment.

You probably wouldn't get this kind of reaction if your government would just be honestly opposed to us, like Putin, rather than pretending to be an ally. As they say in Texas, don't urinate on our leg and then tell us that it is raining.

Posted by Ernest Brown 2005-09-26 09:11|| saturninretrograde.blogspot.com]">[saturninretrograde.blogspot.com] 2005-09-26 09:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Note: The French MSM has pontified a LOT about the Blacks in New Orleans (1) and just this morning they were hinting that the difference betweeen Katrina's and Rita's death tolls was due to Rita hitting a whiter population. So, if one day you meet a French talking of racist America don't forget of mentionning the Ivory Coast and France's help to the Rwandan genociders, ask how many votes were lost by the French politicians involved . Then scream ZERO and bash him on the head about French racism and how they are only interested in Blacks when it allows bashing America.

(1) And they presented its major as a hero. A Black and Democratic Rudolf Giuliani.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2005-09-26 09:35|| 2005-09-26 09:35|| Front Page Top

#5 Amen, JFM!

You're spot on on french racism and the tired old clichÃ©s directly drawn from the english repertoire... The sad thing is, anglos see us basically as we (french) see the italians, thus proving you're always someone else's latin wimp (I don't feel latin at all, btw, even if I AM a wimp myself).

We too got popular stereotypes about the USA, which may surprize Us readers (did you know that the americans can't fight and are pÃ®ss-poor soldiers? ;-)), but anti-americanism is much more than simple "ethnic" prejudice, and is in fine very unhealthy for France itself, as it is irrational and a camouflage for our own very serious problems. I'd suggest reading Jean-FranÃ§ois (another JF) Revel about that, his book on anti-americanism is very revealing and was translated in english IIRC.

Posted by anonymous5089 2005-09-26 09:44|| 2005-09-26 09:44|| Front Page Top

#6 "the day I open my own blog one of the very first posts will be about the structural reasons explaining why the French officer corps has sucked so much after Waterloo"

Pleas do,I'll be looking forward to read & discus that subject.

Posted by Evert V. in NL 2005-09-26 09:48|| 2005-09-26 09:48|| Front Page Top

#7 JFM: Rita was a much weaker storm than Katrina. It hit the beach with 120 mph sustained wind speed. Katrina's sustained wind speed was somewhere in the 160-170 mph speed range.

While not an exact comparison, a 175 mph wind has about twice the kinetic energy of a 125 mph wind. That doesn't give you a comparison of the total storm energies, but it's the only yardstick I have handy right now.

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-09-26 09:53|| 2005-09-26 09:53|| Front Page Top

#8 To JFM and A5089, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your commentary, and how glad we are to have your wisdom, insight, and patience here at RB. Us Yanks tend to give you and La Belle France a hard time, but you return each day with good humor and teach us a little more. So, thanks.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2005-09-26 10:10|| 2005-09-26 10:10|| Front Page Top

#9 Ditto, Sea.

Unfortunately, the side of France that the US sees is the side of the elites and the MSM. Not exactly putting your best face forward JFM, no?

Of course, the side of the US France sees is the same elite/ MSM propaganda, too.

Posted by AlanC">AlanC 2005-09-26 11:27|| 2005-09-26 11:27|| Front Page Top

#10 The difference is that we in the U.S. have always assumed that our elites are only in it for themselves (just like the rest of us) and we don't trust them farther than we can throw them.

Posted by DoDo 2005-09-26 12:15|| 2005-09-26 12:15|| Front Page Top

#11 "the day I open my own blog one of the very first posts will be about the structural reasons explaining why the French officer corps has sucked so much after Waterloo."

I agree with Evert V., I'd love to see that!

The French intellectual elites have been enslaved to totalitarian-minded philosophies for a long time now. Check out the first section of Michel Serres's CONVERSATIONS ON SCIENCE, CULTURE AND TIME (fr. Eclaircissements) talks about the Stalinist reign of terror he encountered at the Ãcole Normale SupÃ©rieure in the early 50's.

Posted by Ernest Brown 2005-09-26 12:32|| saturninretrograde.blogspot.com]">[saturninretrograde.blogspot.com] 2005-09-26 12:32|| Front Page Top

#12 It's Joan of Arc syndrome, the French elites will stab true French patriots in the back everytime they get the chance.

Posted by Ernest Brown 2005-09-26 12:33|| saturninretrograde.blogspot.com]">[saturninretrograde.blogspot.com] 2005-09-26 12:33|| Front Page Top

#13 In my experience there is also a difference between Parisians and all other French people.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-09-26 13:42|| 2005-09-26 13:42|| Front Page Top

#14 "the day I open my own blog one of the very first posts will be about the structural reasons explaining why the French officer corps has sucked so much after Waterloo."

I theorize Napoleon III took the Batons out of the knapsacks.

Posted by Shipman 2005-09-26 13:49|| 2005-09-26 13:49|| Front Page Top

#15 To JFM and A5089,I agree your comments and insights are informative and welcome.JFM when you start your blog it will go in my daily reading,I look forward to it.It would be a great help to us if you could link to some English speaking French blogs and try to get some of your friends to stop in here at RB once in awhile.
I'm as guilty as(if not more so)of France bashing as anyone else,I mean no offense to you personally.I like you,your a smart,personable person and enjoy our talks.
(personable,person...sheesh)

Posted by raptor 2005-09-26 14:10|| 2005-09-26 14:10|| Front Page Top

#16 A scholar friend told me of how the French newspapers heaped scorn on Napoleon Bonaparte in exile. When he landed on the French coast they were still negative, but on a daily basis, as he came overland to Paris, they turned 180 degrees. By the time he arrived, they were overflowing with praise and admiration of their emperor, almost lost for words at their excitement and joy at his victorious return.

Feh. He was not impressed. He had long known what they were.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-26 20:20|| 2005-09-26 20:20|| Front Page Top

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