Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Perhaps this belongs on the "French-bashing" thread, or not?!

Penny,
Jean-Pierre's french is very correct and the translation did not require any cleanup. I can read french fairly well, but having the translator helps at times. American slag will not translate into french with the on-line translator. tom

Some of you may have noticed that I hold the Belgian people in high reguard. I spent 3 years in Belgium at shape hqs from 69-72. I married my wife in Belgium and my son was born there. My wife is not from Belgium, but from Italy. She still has an uncle that lives near Mons. I learned to speak french while in Belgium. The Belgian people allways treated us americans well while I was there. My wife lived in southern france prior to the family moving to Belgium and she has told me many stories about how they were treated by the local french. I had contact with many french people while I was in europe in paris, near the Belgium border and in southern france. Everywhere i went it was the the same a deep dislike for anyone not french. No one can make me like the french or make me quit bashing them. no matter how much someone whines about it. tom

Pumpgun; Thanks for that link, never knew one existed, "kool" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wetibbe; Very well stated. You were fortunate to have had the world travels and learning opportunities, and you always speak as one with knowledge and etiquette. Hat is off to you sir!

As one born in the 30�s and of German ancestry; then having had a 30 year career being constantly referred to by derogatory slurs, I would like to add my (somewhat limited educational) observations.
Such derogatory words/adjectives applied to various races or individuals are either done in jest or out of personal dislike or animosity. Unfortunately, or fortunately, (however you look at each individual case) such comments are going to occur and no amount of �correction� is going to really make a difference.
One should realize that after awhile these derogatory slurs should just run off like water off a duck�s back (unless, of course, there is guilt on the part of the �offendee�). I was initially offended, but after a little while��so what�? ... it goes with the territory!
Ever notice how people from one of the races you noted above call each other by the name(s) they object to so vehemently, but laugh and jive when they frequently refer to each other with the same word(s)?
I personally believe that the �names� (to which we refer) really have no actual weight, but only serve to be ammunition for the recipient(s) to 'whine' about publicly�

(and that is my 2-cents from this �Ole-Kraut, M-F&%$#, pig ba$tard, SOB, etc., etc.!)

I believe the criticism of the French is purely cultural. For example, no one has implied that American Citizens of French ancestry are necessarily suspect in a plot to take over America, merely because of their DNA. No one either has stated that those of partly French ancestry are "some sort of mongrel concoction".

Birdwatcher

Belgium, in history has always been neutral but anyway.... has always been a battlefield for armys of other countries

That's more or less how I feel here...

I suppose all of you have noticed that (like most of Belgians) I am "pro-America".

It does not mean that I dislike Frenchmen..... as I already said, I'v got some very good friends in France and I use to spend my holidays there.
But I have to admit that the french mentality sometimes gets on my nerves....... the difference of culture between Frenchs and Belgians is quite perceptible It must be worst between Frenchs and Americans.....

But, honestly, I do not think the one is better or worse than the other.

As long as we just laugh about "froggies" it will be OK for me I'll share that with great pleasure.
I just hope that things will not turn to gratuitous aggressiveness

I was in France this summer and we were watching tennis on TV . It was a ladie's match with Mary Pierce

Mary Pierce has something special; she has both nationalities: French AND American....so, when she wins the speaker tells about his compatriot. If she doesn't win : ......poor american girl!

Jean-pierre,
I am sorry if I have made you feel like you are in the middle. It is certainly not my desire to do so. tom

to B's W:
I wish that I knew american literature as good as you know the french one.
Respectfully: J-P

don't worry about that! but it's a kind of fact..... I am neither French, nor American..... (OK..... a little more on the US- side.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />...)

Hi, Jean-Pierre. I can't really take credit... it's my job. I've been teaching French and French literature for a looooooong time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Like you, I wish I knew American literature as well as I know French literature! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

B'sW

Jean-Pierre welcome to the campfire. I have some family who live in Belgium (he is a retired DOD school teacher). I haven�t been able to go visit, but I plan on taking my son to Europe when he is a little older.

I have been to many parts of the world: Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. I have been in the lucky position to work hand-in-hand with citizens of even more nations.

The people I enjoyed the most are the Thais and the Finns. The people I enjoyed working with the least were the French. My main problem when working with the French was their bigotry towards my interpreter. We had an agreement that when the French were in our area they and their interpreters could dine in our facilities with reciprocity in theirs. I spent two weeks in Sarajevo (the French Area of Bosnia) and the French made it difficult for my interpreter to eat in their dining facility because he was from a Muslim family. He was supporting his extended family with the pay he got from the US, and couldn�t afford to eat on the economy. Eldin was about as Muslim as I am a Christian� which isn�t very good (I try and so did he but we are both weak). He drank booze and ate pork, but I trusted him with my life more than once and knew he would stand by my side.

I also had problems with Irish expatriates. I was in a bar in Bangkok and three Irish gents came up to me and angrily asked me if I was American military, they were boozed up and looking for a fight. Not wanting any trouble I told them I was a college student (which was a sliver of the truth) and avoided a fight. I know what a Thai prison looks like and didn�t want to spend any time in one.

I believe in trying to fit in when living in another country� but I am an American and I am proud to be from the best country on the planet.

Newguy,
Visiting Europe is certainly something worth to be done......but be sure to choose what you want to see ; things are very different from country to country,

As you'v already travelled a lot, you must know about that.

Anyway, if you think I can do something for you, just ask; I'll be glad to help!

I'm not surprised that you met Frenchs who didn't like muslims... some of them have good reasons for that.

Once , I heard french cops who said : "90% of the muslims give a black name to all of them." just too bad for the 10%!

Idajo:

Thanks for your kind words. My maternal grandfather was Snider, German, but the family tree traced his family back to the Mayflower. Several generations of Americans. My paternal grandfather emigrated from Swolle, Netherlands, a Dutch miller and Dutch reformed preacher.

When we compare the involvement of France in WWII and that of Germany, the history is crystal clear. The Germans created more chaos and mayhem than anyone in memory. Absolutely horrendous. The holocast, 6 million Jews, super race experimentation, robbed/ plundered Europe's treasures, invaded countries, slaughtered millions, destroyed Europe, fired missiles on England, torpedoed shipping on the highs seas by the scores and hundreds, disrupted whole economies for years, killed thousands of Americans.

And what did France do ? They were US allies. The underground, resistance and freedom fighters. Saved thousands of GI's from the Germans, cheered the allies and threw bouquets of flowers at Americans when France was liberated. France loved Americans.

And what do we see on this board. Attacks on France, insults, slander, defamation, ridicule.

But what do we see about Germans ? Silence. Nothing - nada -zip. Why ?

I was associated with the French for decades and I never had any problems with any of them. It was my attitude. I liked them and they knew it. And I respect and admire their culture. They are right up there with the worlds best people Americans, British, Canadians and French. *( Not to dis many other very worthy nationalities which I also admire and respect ).

Bill Tibbe

OK Bill, you win. How do we all become French citizens? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Birdie:

You are demonstrably a closet liberal even though you may try to conceal it. Your comments are stereotyped and a dead give away. And you are an outrageous apologist for Mexico.

The takeover plan which Mexico are implementing may have some connection to DNA but the plans are clear and concise. There is overwhelming evidence of the intention. They are colonizing America. They fully intend to "take back" - Aztlan. That is the whole indisputable intention even though Aztlan is a concocted scam.

You, like so many liberals, persistently and disingenuously, attempt to disguise the facts by camouflaging your remarks in couched lingo and deception.

My focus has never been on Mexican citizens as a whole or race or DNA comonality. It has always been on illegal immigration. Criminals who are violating the soverignty of the USA, trafficking drugs, destroying fragile environments, polluting and contaminating out National Parks, destroying fences, invading Indian reservations, kidnaping, robbing, crashing vehicles, maiming, destroying property, laundering money, evading taxes, raping, murdering, stealing identities, counterfeiting, freeloading, shop lifting, spreading virulent diseases among our children, forcing clinics and hospitals into bankruptcy, burdening Americans with unbearable extra taxes, polluting and disfiguring neighborhoods, taking jobs from needy Americans, burdening water supplies, occupying needed housing, dropping anchor babies, escalating population,malingering.

These are the mongrels.

Bill Tibbe

WETIBBE; Good points and good questions. After giving thought to what you have written, I would offer the following:

Germans were our foes and the French were allies in a common war. Perhaps we (Americans) feel that our allies (French), which so many of our American relatives gave their lives for to preserve their liberty, should at least owe us their loyalty. On the other hand, the American G.I.�s who died fighting the Germans in a declared war was just one of those unfortunate things in history.

The �bad-guys� got the �whuppin they deserved! The �good-guys� should stick together!

That�d be my best �guess�! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Mr.Tibbe,
I have been reading your drivel since you joined
this fire. You are full of [bleep]!
The French are jackasses'! They are anti-American...
You're a fool for thinking that the French culture is anything but arrogant and weak. They are the original politically correct culture,and they are allowing the Islamic minority to destroy their country.
Eff the Frogs!!!
Bart

WETIBBE said:



Bill, I don't think the Mayflower picked up any passengers in Germany after sailing from Plymouth, England. Your German grandfather probably came over on the German ship, "Maiblume," which is a different deal altogether.

Me? Liberal? Well I WAS in the Peace Corps and I DO post under "Birdwatcher" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But disingenuous? um, methinks you're stepping into pot called the kettle territory with that one again Bill.

No apologist for Mexico here, but the problem starts at home. WE HIRE THEM, by the millions. Untill that stops they're going to keep coming, no matter what the entirely corrupt and disconnected Mexican Government may say.

We do agree that the French get a bad rap re: "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />), most folks forget that the Brits would have fallen too in '40 if the Germans had been able to drive to London.

Also, the famous Battle of Agincourt was apparently something of a fluke, I was googling around on that era and it is amazing the number of times the French trounced the British AND their archers during those times.

Birdwatcher

*** You are ignoring this user ***


I think frenchy tibbe's posts have been much better lately. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Birdwatcher... I guess I am a liberal too, I find myself agreeing you you way more than I disagree. I was never a "Volunteer" but I have done a lot of work with NGOs in disadvantaged areas, mostly in Thailand and Cambodia.