# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/81 "2003-06-11T12:31:47Z")
> [@](#): > > misguided Huh? ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/82 "2003-06-11T12:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GoHeels \* > \*\ ***elfje:** > > The point I was trying to make can be found in the paragraph I wrote directly underneath my anecdote. Specifically, > > **elfje:** > > By your logic, since I got called a “fucking American bastard” by one guy in Germany, I can conclude the prevailing German zeitgeist is anti-American drunk dickheadedness. After all, since a few American parents turned out to be idiot Francophobes, you’ve concluded that somehow, this is the default American reaction to anything French. > **no, that wasn’t my logic, nor my conclusion. If you read the story, you will see that, first of all, the teacher (or organizer of the exchange programme) experienced “unpleasantness” because he teaches French. I haven’t heard of any English language teachers being heckled because they teach english. Secondly, Mr. Van Rooten stated in his email to the organizer of the French school, that this (the cancellation of the trip) was done in the kids best interest and well-being. Implying that if they would come over, their well-being could not be guarantueed. A sign that it is not a simple case of 4 sets of parents being rude, but that in that particular shchool among those particular students and parents, anti-French feeling seems to be quite strong. Again, I do not equate the whole of the American population with those particular people.** > > No, the much more reasonable conclusion I can draw from my unfortunate incident in Munich is that my three German buddies are far more representative of their country’s people than the drunk guy. I can conclude that from actually having BEEN to Germany and witnessing first-hand how hospitable they really are. > **great. I’ve a few German friends myself. I even like the German language. More so then I like French.** > > I respectfully ask that you give us the same benefit of the doubt. Better yet, come across the pond and see for yourself. And bring a Frenchman with you. Preferably a rich one, so he can buy all the drinks. 😃 \*\* I do give you the benefit of the doubt, and if you read all my replies, you will see I’m telling the truth. ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/83 "2003-06-11T12:37:15Z")
Neurotik, sorry for doing what I was doing, I just thought it’d be easier for people to see what I was replying to, if I quoted the whole thing. and **TwistofFate** : thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/84 "2003-06-11T13:03:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > \*\*I never make a claim unless I’m absolutely certain I can back it up. SO if I say “seem”, and you shout “not true!”, then it’s up top you to prove me wrong. \*\* This is a very common misconception. Those responding to a controversial claim _may_, as **Anthracite** has done, provide evidence to refute it. But by the standards of this board it is always up to the original poster to justify questionable claims when asked to do so. We are under no obligation to “prove you wrong”. Next time you feel outrage over some localized event, I hope you will not pick a title for your thread that suggests, without justification, that an entire country and its people are to blame. And spare us the feigned shock that you “touched a nerve”. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/85 "2003-06-11T13:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*If it’s a Greenpeace vessel, they’ll be doing me a favor. > > What the fuck did these morons expect? When you decide to go fuck with nuclear tests, it would be wise to expect a certain level of casualties. \*\* **Brutus** You are a fucking ignorant dipshit. Firstly the Rainbow Warrior “affair” was an act of terrorism by a GOVERNMENT (yes a government not a terrorist organisation) and it occured in a democratic country that supports free speech. That means Greenpeace was free to be here using our harbour, they were also supported in their no-nuke testing stance by most of the country. Which is why N.Z became the first nuculear free country in the world. So the situation is, a democratic country provides a base for an organisation exercising it’s free speech and a foreign government commits an act of terrorism in the harbour of a country it is “friendly” with. Reguardless of whether you agree with Greenpeaces motives or actions or not, it was an act of terrorism. Imagine the same thing had happened in a U.S harbour! Secondly, the nuke testing wasn’t in your backyard so we appreciate why it didn’t worry you all that much, but neither N.Z nor Greenpeace expected casualties when docked at a harbour NOT out “fucking” with nuclear tests. Keep your fucking dipshit opinions to yourself you arsewipe! ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/86 "2003-06-11T13:53:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackmannii \* > \*\* > > And spare us the feigned shock that you “touched a nerve”. \*\* it wasn’t shock, it was genuine concern. As I had posted in previous replies, I was angry because of that article, i wasn’t the most articulate about it (but then again, this is the Pit, not GD), and for that, I am sorry. I did not post this in order to offend people, and if I have (which is clearly the case), i wish to apologize. I’ve only ever met up with felloow Dopers once, so i doubt that any of them can vouch for me (as to my character, I mean), unfortunately, but I am, in fact, quite a nice person. At least I endeavour to be. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621/87 "2003-06-11T19:33:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfje \* > \*\*Neurotik, > > sorry for doing what I was doing, I just thought it’d be easier for people to see what I was replying to, if I quoted the whole thing. > \*\* No, no, no. Quoting the whole thing is good! You should just end the quotes after every quote, reply, then open the quotes up again, like so: > [@](#): > > Quotey quotey Wrong! > [@](#): > > No, you’re wrong No, you are. > [@](#): > > No, you are Etc., etc. Not really a big deal, it’s just my handle acting up. As for the misguided remark, I stand by it. You seem(ed) intent on using an isolated incident in one location to try and make blanket assumptions about 300 million people and the general social climate that is occurring over here. Frankly, I hear and heard a lot of this from non-US dopers and when I was living in the UK. I just get tired of it. You don’t understand American society as well as you think you do, and your media doesn’t give an accurate portrayal about it - just like the US media often doesn’t give the best picture of what is going on abroad. Moreover, **Antonius Block** included a link showing that there was another American school trying to keep the exchange going. So it’s not widespread, it’s a local incident with a few muttonheads and I suspect that the “can’t guarantee safety” crap was a fig leaf to try and make it sound like the exchange families weren’t the twits that they, in fact, are. Not only that, but the US is a huge country with lots of people and lots of governments. Extraordinarily stupid crap gets proposed and done a ridiculous number of times every week. For every newspaper to pick up and express outrage about every single little thing instead of writing editorials about the Palestine situation, the budget situation, the tax cuts, etc., etc., etc. would just be moronic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-schoolkids-no-longer-welcome-in-us/180621.md?page=4)