Monday, November 21, 2005

Parlez vous français?

I don't really, but you surely didn't think I'd keep my mouth shut about France and their breakdown. I've never been one to discriminate against or be prejudiced about entire countries or ethnic groups. I just wasn't brought up that way. The only time I start to examine the flaws of someone is when they begin to dissect mine. I'm a live-and-let-live kind of gal. I never really paid much attention to France or the French because they just weren't part of my existence. Pretty much the only French people I'd seen much of were figure skaters. And quite honestly, they didn't impress me much.

There was Surya Bonaly. In the 1994 World Championships she thought she was robbed of a gold medal, so she showed defiance by standing beside the medals platform rather than standing on it. Then Bonaly was coaxed into standing on it, but she removed her medal immediately after being presented with it, to everyone's shock and disapproval. She also rebelled by doing an illegal jump in her program. She was a spoiled, rotten brat.

And then there was Philippe Candeloro. They always talked about how popular he was with the ladies, but I always thought he looked kind of sleazy and stinky, kind of like Pepe Le Peu or something but worse. He was a good skater, just like Bonaly, but they both suffered from excess ego and inconsistent performances. Sounds pretty French to me.

Apparently, to hear the French tell it, setting cars on fire is a national passtime. Well, how can they accuse us Americans of being wasteful? There are many other blogs and articles with much better thought-out and detailed explanations as to why France has lost all of its credibility. But frankly, I never really thought they had much to begin with. They certainly did their share to help us back in the day when we were establishing our independence from England, but even then it was because they thought it was in their best interests.

I do love the Statue of Liberty though, what a lovely gift.

12 comments:

mikster said...

I have a hard time understanding their thinking/policies.

Mahndisa S. Rigmaiden said...

11 21 05
Ha ha ha. Good post. Funny and thought provoking all at once. I wish I could write humously. And yeah, my interaction with French people overseas wasn't too cool. I was in Amsterdam changing money and some FRenchman wouldn't get the hell out of my space. The money changer had to yell at him. Apparently they do not respect space boundaries there!

Mahndisa S. Rigmaiden said...

11 21 05

BTW Happy Thanksgiving:)

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh, ze French. I enjoy their wines. And I enjoy their...wines. And I enjoy their...wines. And that's about it. Surrender monkeys! I stopped buying their wines. Oh, and Alexandre Dumas was a great writer.

Rae Ann said...

mike, that's because they are totally irrational!

mahndisa, thanks for the compliment. I might have punched him for invading my space like that. Did he smell bad? lol And Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

dh, French kissing is good, but that's about all the French stuff I've tried. And I doubt that they 'invented' that anyway. And I like French fries, but we all know what those really are... (freedom fries, lol) Oh, and I do like Laughing Cow cheese spread. Forgive me.

Anonymous said...

Oh...and the Statue of Liberty. A cheap trick to get us to take all their rejects over here. Just like those creeps. Treat somebody like dirt, then send a cheap trinket and expect them to do your bidding.

Assorted Babble by Suzie said...

I am a live and let live kind of gal too, however I personally have been treated very rudely by the French both in their country and ours. And I would consider myself a very friendly person to strangers....but it made no difference. They definitely have an attitude towards US and do not mind expressing it...snobby..might sum it up nicely.

Yeah on the statue...wonder if they will keep their miniature one there!

Assorted Babble by Suzie said...

P.S. Rae Ann our favorite perfume is from there...Givenchy (shhhhhh)

ghartstein said...

There's a reason they have good perfume and wine. The lack of daily bathing makes many French folks stink to high heaven (and this is written from personal experience), they need perfume to smell less offensive....though many wear way too much and stink more. The wine helps you forget you stink. Oh yeah, they're really good at surrendering too!

Rae Ann said...

dh, I like Lady Liberty. Cheap trinkets work pretty good on me. LOL

madman, yeah, French dressing is good too now that you mention it.

suzie, yeah, I forgot about those perfumes. Givenchy's fragrances are definitely my favorites, and Lancome too. I guess I should confess that I worked for L'Oreal Cosmetics for a few years (pre-kids). Damn, my French connections are adding up too much! *ashamed*

mr g, it would take an awful lot of wine for me to forget b.o.! LOL

Assorted Babble by Suzie said...

That is funny...I remember months ago when I wrote that post....and your connections and favorites. Also humorous about Mr G's comment...and your comeback. LOL

I think you missed recently my latest post on the French. (quotes)Someone reminded me there of the stink...and hairy armpits and legs...yuck!

It has been difficult w/me trying to stay in line w/the boycott...where wine, cheeses, handbags, and perfume are concerned.

josh williams said...

When the Normandy invasion reached Paris and the allies guns could be heard from the city Charles "DeGall" (the gall of the frog)permitted the resistance to retake Paris before the Allies could formally liberate the city.
I was talking to a limey one time about this, he had at one time owned a home in Normandy and to indeer himself to his neighbors he bought a 100 year old church bell to replace the one that was stolen from the church during the war.
He made a good point that after WW1 there were not that many Frenchman left to fight, or they were still liking their wounds from the Somme and such. The point is I met a limey who did not hate the frogs! Think I will buy a lottery ticket.I still think DeGaul was a fuck face.