# Screw France **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792 "2003-02-04T21:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/201 "2003-02-24T20:33:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Even typing that I know absolutely nothing about Europe is silly, just as if I stated that a European knows nothing about the USA. Why? You have amply demonstrated that you in fact know nothing about Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/202 "2003-02-24T20:35:35Z")
No, I haven’t. Everyone on Earth knows at least a little about Europe, save a few isolated tribes in S. America and Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/203 "2003-02-24T20:36:03Z")
So, which National Geographic issue was it that covered poor French plumbing and dirty Frenchmen, Clint? ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/204 "2003-02-24T20:37:00Z")
It was the same issue thast covered ignorant Americans and our “Cowboy” President. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/205 "2003-02-24T20:40:04Z")
It’s not seeing “eye-to-eye”, it’s “ignorant & prejudiced-vs-informed”. How can you interpret defending something against your loud-mouthed, ignorant assumptions as “snobbish”? It’s nothing of the sort. And how can you interpret defending something as an implicit criticism of your country? Unless you’re horrifically defensive. Nobody in this thread has done anything of the sort, either. I have spent many years visiting and living in your country (yes, even your state! I saw a tornado! Clichéd, but true), and it’s magnificent. Though there’s a few cubic feet of Wichita that I probably wouldn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/206 "2003-02-24T21:00:31Z")
Maybe the people of France get a bad rap because of French politics, but it’s their duty to see to it that such folks don’t gain power in their country. Socialism? My first post on this thread was exaggerated, of course, but it was inspired by someone who was going on about how lovely every aspect of France and the French people are, but Americans, on the other hand.:rolleyes:" I will refrain from making generalizations about the French people. The French government is still fair game, however. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/207 "2003-02-24T21:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clint in Wichita \* > \*\*The French government is still fair game, however. \*\* Agreed! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/208 "2003-02-24T21:44:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clint in Wichita \* > **Maybe the people of France get a bad rap because of French politics, but it’s their duty to see to it that such folks don’t gain power in their country. Socialism?** Educate yourself, Clint. [Chirac is a Gaullist.](http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/04052002-043343-5775r.htm) Assuming you don’t know what a Gaullist is, I’ll let you in on a secret: Gaullists are not socialists. ---
**Author:** ![xcheopis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xcheopis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xcheopis)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/209 "2003-02-24T21:58:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clint in Wichita \* > **Maybe the people of France get a bad rap because of French politics, but it’s their duty to see to it that such folks don’t gain power in their country. Socialism?** May Americans get a bad rap because of American politics, but it’s their duty to see to it that such folks don’t gain power in their country. Democracy? ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/210 "2003-02-24T22:01:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xcheopis \* > \*\*May Americans get a bad rap because of American politics, but it’s their duty to see to it that such folks don’t gain power in their country. Democracy? \*\* 😕 There’s a better form of government? ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/211 "2003-02-24T22:03:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Educate yourself, Clint. [Chirac is a Gaullist.](http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/04052002-043343-5775r.htm) Assuming you don’t know what a Gaullist is, I’ll let you in on a secret: Gaullists are not socialists. \*\* Why do I get the feeling that you just picked fly shit out of pepper? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/212 "2003-02-24T22:16:20Z")
What, you think it’s not significant that the president of France is actually not a socialist, whereas you kept blaming the shortcomings of current French politics on that exact ideology? ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/213 "2003-02-24T22:26:20Z")
I said, "_Why do I get the feeling…"_ because I don’t know much about that form of govt. and I can’t look it up right now. If I’m way off base, I apologize, although the Chirac’s politics don’t necessarily reflect on the entire French govt. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/214 "2003-02-24T22:27:05Z")
For once I agree **gasp** with **TwistofFate** Clint, Ireland is a gorgeous country, and you’re a fucking imbecile. ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/215 "2003-02-24T22:27:05Z")
I said, "_Why do I get the feeling…"_ because I don’t know much about that form of govt. and I can’t look it up right now. If I’m way off base, I apologize, although Chirac’s politics don’t necessarily reflect on the entire French govt. ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/216 "2003-02-24T22:39:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*For once I agree **gasp** with **TwistofFate** > > Clint, Ireland is a gorgeous country, and you’re a fucking imbecile. \*\* Sorry about that…things got a little heated, at least on my end. I’m sure Ireland would be nice to visit, if that’s your cup of tea. I think Amsterdam, Rome, London & Venice would be pretty cool as well, as far as major cities go. However, I’m not an imbecile. I won’t budge on that! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/217 "2003-02-24T22:49:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Clint in Wichita \* > \*\*I said, "_Why do I get the feeling…"_ because I don’t know much about that form of govt. and I can’t look it up right now. If I’m way off base, I apologize, although Chirac’s politics don’t necessarily reflect on the entire French govt. \*\* Why, France is a _democracy_, dear Clint. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty much the mold with which many European democracies were formed. 1789, and all that. Look it up when you have the time. The French government can indeed be (predominantly) Socialist, as it has been in the past. The make-up of the current _Assemblee Nationale_ (parliament) can be seen [here](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/fr.html#Govt). As you can see, the RPR (Gaullists) is the largest party in parliament now. As for the government, it is currently led by [Prime Minister Raffarin](http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/en/p.cfm?ref=33565), who is of the _Democratie Liberale_ party. To confuse you some more, the Head of State is the aforementioned Gaullist Chirac, acting as President. I know, it’s hardly a clear-cut two party system with a flat organisation structure. But it’s definitely not a Socialist government per definition. ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/218 "2003-02-24T22:56:51Z")
Thanks for the link. Clearly Chirac isn’t stupid. His stance on Iraq (IMO) is either motivated by complete insanity, or France’s economic ties to Hussein. My guess is the latter. Same goes for Germany, Russia, and China. These govts. are all in bed with Hussein IMO. They don’t want us to gain proof that they are, nor do they want to lose billions owed to them by the current Iraqi govt. They would compromise our safety in the name of cash…the very thing they accuse Bush of threatening to do!! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/219 "2003-02-24T23:00:59Z")
There you go again, Clint. Read some more. Then form opinions. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/220 "2003-02-24T23:05:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*OK, it it makes you feel better, Rush sucks! [sub]There, now you can hate me again [/sub] 🙂 \*\* Damn! Now I’m agreeing with everything you’re saying! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792.md?page=12)