# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/121 "2003-02-07T21:33:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > \*\*Actually even though this was my longest one, I still don’t really know what makes a thread long. \*\* Boobs, bombs, and Bilbo. In that order. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/122 "2003-02-07T21:36:02Z")
Oh, and I forgot farting. Maybe file that under bombs. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/123 "2003-02-07T22:56:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > **WOW, I was just blowing off a little steam when I heard that the French once again have snubbed us and then I see that this is the longest thread I started.** Can’t wait to hear your enlightened opinion on the Dutch, German, and Russian stance in this matter. They’re not with you, so they must be against you. :rolleyes: That stupid phrase needs to die, quickly. It’s utterly moronic even for a 5 year old in the playground, let alone the leader of the most powerful democracy in the world. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/124 "2003-02-08T01:20:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Can’t wait to hear your enlightened opinion on the Dutch, German, and Russian stance in this matter. A fine group of people who generally supported us in the past. > [@](#): > > That stupid phrase needs to die, quickly. It’s utterly moronic even for a 5 year old in the playground, let alone the leader of the most powerful democracy in the world. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/125 "2003-02-08T01:33:10Z")
The Russians supported the US in the past? And yet another phrase that needs to die. Do you live your entire life on oneliners? ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/126 "2003-02-08T02:14:04Z")
I just flew in from Marseille and – BOY, are my arms tired. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/127 "2003-02-08T02:15:04Z")
Yes and they continue to do so, ever hear of the ISS, although they didn’t like when we called it alpha one. I make a distinction between the USSR and Russia. Are you against one liners? And actually no, I do very few and far between one liners, this one just felt appropiate. ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/128 "2003-02-08T02:55:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*That stupid phrase needs to die, quickly. It’s utterly moronic even for a 5 year old in the playground, let alone the leader of the most powerful democracy in the world. \*\* For the last year or so, the only people I’ve heard saying it are people bitching about it being said a couple of months after 9/11/2001. If you want the phrase to die, take the first step. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/129 "2003-02-08T03:12:04Z")
Well, sure. I didn’t come up with it in this thread, as you can see. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/130 "2003-02-08T08:48:25Z")
> [@](#): > > If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. This is easily the stupidest sentence I’ve ever read. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/131 "2003-02-08T16:06:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*This is easily the stupidest sentence I’ve ever read. \*\* What about “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate”? Though I suppose you could bubble out as well… ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/132 "2003-02-08T16:35:06Z")
or the beaker ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/133 "2003-02-18T12:47:37Z")
Kind of [speaks for itself:](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=524&u=/ap/20030217/ap_wo_en_po/eu_gen_eu_chirac_eastern_europe_1&printer=1) > [@](#): > > BRUSSELS, Belgium - French President Jacques Chirac launched a withering attack Monday on eastern European nations who signed letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq, warning it could jeopardize their chances of joining the European Union . . . **“It is not really responsible behavior,” he told a news conference. “It is not well brought up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet.”**. . . > > He warned the candidates the position could be “dangerous” because the parliaments of the 15 EU nations still have to ratify last December’s decision for 10 new members to join the bloc on May 1, 2004. > > Chirac particularly warned Romania and Bulgaria, who are still negotiating to enter the bloc in 2007. > > **"Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to (sign the letter) when their position is really delicate," Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way."** Can this be characterized as anything but the words of an arrogant, patronizing bully with no qualms about abusing his power in order to put down dissent among the wogs? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/134 "2003-02-18T13:08:48Z")
Chirac was really out of line with that move. Miller, I can take jokes about my own people when I can read the intent about them. I don’t find all of them automatically funny, nor automatically offensive. It is all about intent. the remarks were a pile on on the French. I think there has been way too much of it recently and it has to be dealt with. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/135 "2003-02-18T13:25:26Z")
Chirac has yet again proven himself to be a total and utter fucking dick. Remember, though, that he got in to power this time round for the sole reason that he was the only half-viable alternative to Jean-Marie Le Pen. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/136 "2003-02-18T13:26:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*. Ity wasn’t harmless, it was perpetuating a stereotype that all french women aren’t hygenic. \*\* Nope. The post you were replying to and your own are pertuating the silly idea that not shaving underarms is unhygienic, while it’s only an arbitrary social norm. If it was really an hygiene issue : 1)All men would have their underarms shaved… 2)Women and men alike would all shave their private parts too… ---
**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:** [February 18, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/137 "2003-02-18T13:28:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doghouse Reilly \* > Can this be characterized as anything but the words of an arrogant, patronizing bully with no qualms about abusing his power in order to put down dissent among the wogs? Hey nobody said Rumsfeld had a monopoly. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/138 "2003-02-18T13:29:21Z")
point taken. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/139 "2003-02-18T14:05:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > \*\*Hey nobody said Rumsfeld had a monopoly. \*\* I can’t recall Rumsfeld ever abusing his position to make threats against countries that don’t agree with him, hinting that he’ll wield vindictively a power that he doesn’t really have. He’s spoken forcefully about what we’ll do to our enemies, of course, but after all that is his job–and no one questions whether he’s got the power. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792/140 "2003-02-18T16:51:44Z")
I freely admit that my initial reaction, weeks ago, to France’s perceived opposition was “What the hell?” But upon looking deeper into the issues over these many weeks, I really don’t feel that France is “betraying” the US in any manner, nor that they are being unwise or irrational, or that they are not our ally from an overall standpoint. And I think efforts to characterize the French people, culture, and the nation itself in the very negative light in which some are doing so is profoundly wrong. I don’t think France is deserving of scorn for their position on Iraq. Someone mentioned earlier about having allies that were brave enough to stand up to the US when they thought the US was incorrect, and that’s a very good point. France has stood by the US on many other occasions in the past, and will certainly do so again in the future. Iraq, as important as it may seem, is one issue of thousands. The US does not need a bunch of “yes men” countries; we need countries that tell us like it is, and play straight with us. And if France feels honestly that it is not in their national interest to have a war with Iraq, OR that they simply feel the US is wrong, well, they should tell us so. I would be much more concerned about French actions with respect to their relations with agriculture and England and the US, and with things like the Ira Einhorn “sudden French citizenship”, than I would be about Iraq. But even still, those are **just a few little** other issues of disagreement. I mean, good grief - you can’t expect even best friends to agree on everything, can you? Think of all the ways in which the US and France support and help and assist each other, and how close our cultures really are, rather than picking on a few differences. The French are not a people of “cheese, wine, snooty waiters, and the Eiffel Tower”. They are a people - human beings together, organized as a Nation - with a colourful and full history, a profoundly rich current culture, and hopefully a good future as well. They are people with hopes, dreams, fears, loves, and hates, like everyone else. They are very close to us in so many ways, that these disagreements are just sad. France, do what you feel is right. Just do it because you DO feel it is right. (However, I am very disappointed that the early snide rolleyes of **cowgirl** on the 1st page here towards Americans was uniformly ignored by everyone. I do not feel that was constructive or proper.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-france/152792.md?page=8)