# French schoolkids no longer welcome in US. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 9, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621 "2003-06-09T11:13:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/1 "2003-06-09T11:13:59Z")
I saw this article, I’ll post it in full as it comes from a website you need to register for to have access. It really is unbelievale and disgusting. [http://www.unison.ie/irish\_independent/stories.php3?ca=30&si=989470&issue\_id=9318](http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=30&si=989470&issue_id=9318) French schoolchildren told to stay out of US A GROUP of French schoolchildren has been forced to cancel a summer exchange trip to America after being told that they were no longer welcome because of anti-French sentiment following opposition to war in Iraq. \
it’s all fair and well when you want to boycott a country because of it’s politics, but to refuse to house some schoolkids, simply because they happen to be French? That’s discriminating. Here in Europe, at least the anger is directed at the Bush administration, not the US citizens. I’m disgusted, frankly. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/2 "2003-06-09T11:36:18Z")
To save the mods some work [here’s a direct link to the story that doesn’t require registration](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F06%2F08%2Fwexch08.xml) I’ll read it and get back to you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/3 "2003-06-09T11:41:34Z")
Unfortunate but not a great surprise. The amount of bullshit misinformation thrown round about the French in the US has been disgraceful IMO. I’m sure there are French people who are as stupid and hassle Americans just because of their nationality but that doesn’t make either side any less guilty of stupidity. Unthinking jingoistic chest beating shite of the highest order. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/4 "2003-06-09T11:43:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > \*\*…it’s all fair and well when you want to boycott a country because of it’s politics, but to refuse to house some schoolkids, simply because they happen to be French? That’s discriminating. Here in Europe, at least the anger is directed at the Bush administration, not the US citizens. > I’m disgusted, frankly. \*\* Really? So when the French asshats redecorated that war memorial, with all sorts of clever ‘Death to Yankees’ and ‘Rosbeefs go home’ slogans, that was a directed anti-Bush statement, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/5 "2003-06-09T11:46:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Really? So when the French asshats redecorated that war memorial, with all sorts of clever ‘Death to Yankees’ and ‘Rosbeefs go home’ slogans, that was a directed anti-Bush statement, eh? \*\* Great point Brutus, because honestly when that happened it wasn’t condemned at all was it? Which part of two wrongs don’t make a right can you really not follow, idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/6 "2003-06-09T11:48:22Z")
Ah yes, I was wondering how long it would take for Brutus to show up and demonstrate exactly why none of us should be surprised at this behavior. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/7 "2003-06-09T11:50:56Z")
As an American living abroad, I sure have had to bear the direct brunt of my government’s “policies.” It sucks. Like these French school kids had anything to do with either government’s behavior? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/8 "2003-06-09T11:52:17Z")
And in walks a unthinking jingoistic chest beater right on time. Hi **Brutus**. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/9 "2003-06-09T11:54:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*Great point Brutus, because honestly when that happened it wasn’t condemned at all was it? > > Which part of two wrongs don’t make a right can you really not follow, idiot. \*\* You ignorant fucking moron. I at no point condoned keeping the French kids out of America. I was responding to **elfje** stupid assertion that “…Here in Europe, at least the anger is directed at the Bush administration, not the US citizens…” It obviously is not so. Reading comprehension not one of your strong points? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/10 "2003-06-09T12:04:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > **It really is unbelievale and disgusting.** I personally know of an American high school student here who had their _French_ host family withdraw support for the student because they wanted to “protest” against the “warmongering Bush”. I’m sure you’ll express the same, exact level of disbelief and disgust at that. > [@](#): > > **Other host families, meanwhile, could not guarantee that the children would not be greeted with “unpleasantness”.** Sounds like the school administrators are seriously over-reacting rather than reflecting an honest concern for danger. I’m unaware of widespread anti-French sentiment anywhere here which takes the form of “unpleasantness”. > [@](#): > > \*\*I had two families refuse outright to host because they did not wish to house a French student, and two others have since withdrawn." \*\* Sounds like they need a much better host family screening process. Withdrawing support of a student like this is dishonorable and stupid. They should be forced to pay some sort of penalty, IMO. > [@](#): > > \*\*Mr van Rooten added that he and his colleagues at Springside had experienced “unpleasant moments (from colleagues, friends, students - and even family) because of our allegiance to the French”. \*\* WTF is an “unpleasant moment”? Is that some sort of PC teacher-speak for “they were at risk of not respecting my value system?” :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > \*\*To bolster his argument, he wrote: “A Pennsylvania senator has introduced a bill in the state legislature to ban the sale of all French alcohol in the state liquor stores.” \*\* BFD. State representatives and senators are often bozos who introduce collectively hundreds of inane bills which never see committee, let alone get voted on. > [@](#): > > \*\*it’s all fair and well when you want to boycott a country because of it’s politics, but to refuse to house some schoolkids, simply because they happen to be French? That’s discriminating. Here in Europe, at least the anger is directed at the Bush administration, not the US citizens. > I’m disgusted, frankly. \*\* It’s not discriminating, it’s called “being an asshole”. Offering to host a child, then withdrawing it over something as silly and disconnected as this is a clear indication of the lack of character of the host families involved, not of Americans in general. Contrary to what some in Europe think about us in the evil US, there are not packs of angry mobs with torches pursuing terrified French citizens, running desperately for the cathedral to claim sanctuary. Nor is our favourite sport “French human safari” or “kick the francophone”. (and before the usual fuckhead wanders into this thread to pick at me, the above is a hyperbolic exageration) You know, in the past year that this war buildup and execution has occured, in all the people I’ve met, the students I’ve taught, all the clients I’ve had long non-business conversations with, co-workers and the weekly “great debates” at work, family members at reunions, etc. - hundreds of people - the _only_ time I’ve personally _ever_ heard one, single, solitary, negative word about the French or France by an American is right here on this message board. In fact, the most die-hard arch-conservatives I know of at work brush the whole thing aside with “well, the French are still our friends, I’m sure things will get back to normal. There’s too much good history between us.” The thing is, in typical middle America here where I am - _no one gives a flying fuck about the French_ - and I **don’t** mean that in a bad way either. To most people who don’t travel outside of the 4-State region, France and the French are sort of a vague and undefined concept anyway, like “clotted cream” or “cricket”. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/11 "2003-06-09T12:16:12Z")
Which usual fuckhead would you be referring to Anth? 😉 If it’s me, I havent responded to you in months and I was sure we had put all that behind us. > [@](#): > > The thing is, in typical middle America here where I am - no one gives a flying fuck about the French If that’s true (and I’ve no reason to doubt you) I’m glad. Unfortunately, there is something to be worried of when politicians are trying to label their competitors as being “French” as if to imply its a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/12 "2003-06-09T12:24:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Really? So when the French asshats redecorated that war memorial, with all sorts of clever ‘Death to Yankees’ and ‘Rosbeefs go home’ slogans, that was a directed anti-Bush statement, eh? \*\* A question. Was that post-Iraq invasion? (I really do not know) If it was, than it can certainly be considered a swipe at the Bush administration, or at least, the american war machine. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/13 "2003-06-09T12:26:18Z")
“Cricket” an “undefined and vague” term in the US? Bah. There are even cricket leagues in Kansas, if you can believe that. 🙂 Now, I didn’t agree with this “damn fool war” (thank you, **Cecil** ) either. But I just have a question. When countries like Norway, New Zealand, and Australia were boycotting French products over the Rainbow Warrior incident and the above-ground nuclear tests, was that a “scandalous xenophobic view” as well? **Anthracite** is very right. I have not heard any anti-French sentiments in PA either, and the actions of two, yes, TWO sets of parents should not be considered representative of the whole of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/14 "2003-06-09T12:34:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*If that’s true (and I’ve no reason to doubt you) I’m glad. Unfortunately, there is something to be worried of when politicians are trying to label their competitors as being “French” as if to imply its a bad thing. \*\* It’s true as far as my experience is, which you can take at face value. I certainly don’t speak for all regions/peoples/situations, but good grief I do meet and talk to a lot of people on a lot of current events issues (it’s something I have to do continuously when visiting clients, sitting on airplanes, in airports, at conventions, conferences, chatting with students, etc.) We see things on the news all the time about “dingus lawmaker, representative of Asshole County, Alabama” introducing something about “making it illegal to french kiss”. What isn’t reported in the news is that this sort of thing happens all the time, and has happened all the time, with the political cause du jour. These things just aren’t paid attention to, except by other news organizations it seems. There is a truck plaza that was close to here, run by a family of Iraqis. You know, the place for lorry drivers and their big lorries to stop off at and get fuel, eat, bunk and shower, get big truck accessories, etc. And they didn’t hide their culture either - the women wore their traditional dress as they served these people who you would expect to be some of the most rough and unpolished conversationalists, to say the least. I asked the owner once, around 1992, if his family had ever had problems during the Iraq war with harassment. His reponse: “Ah, Una, like, no one cares. They usually only gripe about Mexicans and NAFTA.” I said “No one bothered you? Or said anything?”, and his response was “No, the truckers just put up a bunch of American flags on their trucks and got some new bumper stickers. That’s about it. No one cares. The only reason they care about Mexicans is jobs.” Once again, another sample size of one. Frankly, in all honesty Twisty, I’m really surprised there aren’t many more incidents of assholishness towards the French. Think about it - 300 or so million people, you’ld think that there would be at least 10 million assholes, and 1 million supreme assholes. And maybe 100,000 enormous fucking assholes (EFA’s) - the kind that generate serious news. At that rate, I would expect maybe 3000-some EFA events in a year, even if each EFA only had one outburst per year…maybe my math is wrong. 😛 Duke - yes, you are correct - I saw a cricket game last month, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/15 "2003-06-09T12:41:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\* > It’s not discriminating, it’s called “being an asshole”. Offering to host a child, then withdrawing it over something as silly and disconnected as this is a clear indication of the lack of character of the host families involved, not of Americans in general. > > \*\* Maybe it’s not such a bad thing. I mean, better to find out that they are unreasonable assholes _now_, rather than when you’re kinda stuck living in their house. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/16 "2003-06-09T12:43:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > **in typical middle America here where I am** \*\* Is there something about your location that i’m missing? Where in “typical middle America” is “Sutton Coldfield, UK”? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/17 "2003-06-09T12:45:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > \*\*Is there something about your location that i’m missing? Where in “typical middle America” is “Sutton Coldfield, UK”? \*\* We have two houses. One in the UK (Herts), one in Kansas City. I travel a lot, so I also put my location sometimes where I am or just have been. I haven’t updated it in a while. Una ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/18 "2003-06-09T12:46:25Z")
Univerity of Kansas? ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/19 "2003-06-09T12:53:41Z")
I hate to tell you this, **Anthracite** , but if your estate agent told you Sutton Coldfield is in Hertfordshire, I’m afraid you’ve been had.😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/20 "2003-06-09T12:55:34Z")
> [@](#): > > And maybe 100,000 enormous fucking assholes (EFA’s) Could we send in Hans blix to establish wether they actually exist or not? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621.md?page=2)