# Why do so many Americans dislike the French?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 25, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877 "2013-03-25T01:23:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/62 "2013-03-25T22:29:32Z")
> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> In all of my trips to France, I found the French pretty nice. Sure, some Parisians are snooty..but that is true of most capital cities. The best French people I met were in Caen (Normandy)đ
I am partial to St Malo myself. Spent a month vacation based there. I could on the other hand do without the 700 odd steps to the top of Mont St Michel.
> [@cougar58](#):
>
> go to Montreal sometime. even those French speaking folks hate people from USA that do not speak French.
I have run into that, and I even speak french [with an american accent.]
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### Author:  [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/63 "2013-03-25T22:34:49Z")
> [@ombre12](#):
>
> Compared to the Germans who for the most part of history were deemed pussies. Who could be beaten by the French with one hand tied behind.
> [@Uther\_Penguin](#):
>
> Yep. From ~850 on, German armies mostly fought other German armies. From ~1700 on, German armies fought with many allies gainst the French and sometimes kinda won, sometimes lost. In 1864, the two German Great Powers fought small Denmark and won, in 1866 they fought each other (again). Then, in 1870, for the first time, the German side without allies beat the French armies fair and square. WWI and WWII, Germany lost.
>
> So, while France could be said to have had a mixed martial history, the military prowess of Germany certainly is a stupid myth. Or a remainder of nationalistic Wilhelmine legend.
Except not so much. The Germans were certainly _reckoned_ pussies in the 19th century, and the French were heirs to a magnificent fighting tradition, due to the endless times, 17 ?, the latter invaded the former: much of this was sending in crack troops into peaceful farming land and stealing their stuff: rather like sending US Airborne troops against the Amish every now and then. The French of Louis XIVâs and The Revolutionary Armies could have learnt little from the nazis or soviets later.
This was mostly due to France having been melded into a strong unified state by the French Kings in the early middle ages, and centralised in the Revolution, whereas the Papacy broke the Empire and Germany, whilst existing as a people, splintered into many fairly weak disunited states. Which cannot have been foreseen when the German Franks split the Empire into France and the East.
In the meantime, Germans were engaged in the Teutonic Crusade, the other Crusades, and fighting a lot of people points east; plus visiting Italy a lot â they were placed centrally and couldnât concentrate on France exclusively. Plus they were highly reckoned as reliable soldiers, like the Swiss were, by the sort of people who hired military forces. Not to mention the Emperor Charles V smashed the French at Pavia.
Them during the 18th century, Frederick showed what could be done with limited means against overwhelming odds; and Prussia/Germany began a pattern of being the underdog fighting against giants that lasted until 1945. They didnât have any choice in this; but they still fought brilliantly with clever staff-work and skill. To anyone comparing Prussia against Napoleonâs France, it might be noted that Prussia had a population of 5 million against Franceâs 38 million ( however hard Napoleon devoted himself to diminishing the latter ): it was a wonder they fought at all.
Both have a great military heritage; but the French had the better hand.
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### Author:  [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/64 "2013-03-27T19:23:37Z")
> [@willthekittensurvive](#):
>
> apparently the post WW2 US army had so many complaints about the French, the released a FAQ:[112 gripes about the French](http://www.112gripes.com/)
Youâve got to admit, if American soldiers in 1945 liked the Germans better than the French, the French must have been doing something wrong.
For what itâs worth, I briefly visited Paris a couple of years ago and I found the French to be polite enough. I just got the impression that speaking English fluently was a lot less common among the French than say, the Dutch. I never really bought the whole âThey speak English but pretend not to because theyâre dicksâ thing.
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### Author:  [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/65 "2013-03-27T21:27:25Z")
> [@ombre12](#):
>
> And I find the idea that the French being âsurrender monkeysâ to be particularly ludicrous ⌠Given their glorious military history.
>
> Compared to the Germans who for the most part of history were deemed pussies. Who could be beaten by the French with one hand tied behind.
I offer, for your viewing pleasure, the military history of France.
> **[The Complete Military History of France](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html)**
>
> A documented list of the complete military history of France.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/66 "2013-03-27T23:06:58Z")
> [@Flyer](#):
>
> I offer, for your viewing pleasure, the military history of France.
>
> [The Complete Military History of France | Text](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html)
Hey, they added entries! I first saw the core of this when it was posted here ~ a decade ago. Itâs longer now, but itâs still a ridiculous conglomeration of a couple of truths, a far larger number of half-truths, a massive truckload of omissions and some flat out errors ;). Those French - always good for a laugh!
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### Author:  [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/67 "2013-03-27T23:08:05Z")
> [@Flyer](#):
>
> I offer, for your viewing pleasure, the military history of France.
>
> [The Complete Military History of France | Text](http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html)
Excellent!
No wonder the term âcheese eating surrender monkeysâ fits them, so well. đ
My SO just this second, showed me a tin of Altoids breath mints. Printed on the white paper wrapper inside of the tin is the phrase, âWave this in case of surrenderâ!
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! đ
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### Author:  [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/68 "2013-03-28T01:29:08Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#):
>
> Jackie Kennedy weighs in [http://www.france24.com/en/20110914-recorded-interviews-reveal-candid-critical-jacqueline-kennedy-opinionated-schlesinger](http://www.france24.com/en/20110914-recorded-interviews-reveal-candid-critical-jacqueline-kennedy-opinionated-schlesinger)
My girlfriend, whose father is French but has lived in America since he was about 20, relates a story where during a family vacation in Paris, her father ordered dinner for the whole table since his wife and daughters didnât speak French very well. The waiter, after diligently taking down the order, then complimented him on his ability to speak French! Apparently his French has picked up an American accent in the last few years. Still, this does prove that itâs possible for an American to be complimented on their French in Paris. You just have to actually be a Frenchman!
> [@Ulfreida](#):
>
> I have an American friend who lived in France and speaks the language with a close to undetectable accent who told me the story of a guy from Texas who visited her there. Stereotypical Texan â tall, large, genial, loud, wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots everywhere. He spoke French fearlessly and unintelligibly with a broad twanging Texas accent, grinned a lot, and the French universally loved him.
Are you aware of _[Lucky Luke](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Luke)_? Itâs a French-language long-running comic series featuring an American cowboy in the Old West. Iâve had my girlfriendâs family ask me about Lucky Luke several times upon learning that Iâm from the Western U.S., even though Iâm from Oregon and lumberjack stereotypes are a lot more appropriate. Cowboys and the Old West are a well-known trope in French. This Texan probably seemed to the French to have walked directly off a page of _Lucky Luke_.
> [@DMark](#):
>
> They are simply unpleasant to visit and meet.
>
> Perhaps it would be different if I had traveled more in the countryside, or visited other parts of France - and given the opportunity, I might even consider it. But to be quite honest, if I never return to Paris again in my life, that would be quite fine with me.
To be fair, this is exactly what most French people say about Parisians.
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### Author:  [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/69 "2013-03-28T02:14:16Z")
I suspect some of it almost has to stem from our shared cultural history with the UK. Iâve experienced tons of criticisms and jokes about France from the British. Now, in both cases, American and British, itâs often (Iâd say usually) good natured joking, but either way, the same jokes tend to be used by both countries â almost assuredly coming from Britainâs long and colored history (and oftentimes rivalry) with its neighbor. The irony is, perhaps, that part of that ârivalryâ involved the French helping America against the English in the American Revolutionary War, but whaddya gonna do?
The people who **actually** hate France in America are, in my experience, the same people who hate âEuropeâ as an amorphous blob of terrible living conditions and extreme unhappiness caused by SOCIALISM. The usual âhateâ is mostly just lame jokes no different than youâd hear about your chosen sports teamâs rivals.
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### Author:  [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/70 "2013-03-28T02:47:54Z")
I work for a French-owned company in the US and many of my cow-orkers are French. To a person, they tell me that Parisians are disdainful of any one who is not _Parisienne_
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### Author:  [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/71 "2013-03-28T03:05:47Z")
One of the YouTube channels I subscribe to is a Swedish guy, and he says âExcuse my frenchâ when he burps, and Iâve generally gotten the impression that theyâre generally targets in Sweden as well. Perhaps more of a âyeah, I know Iâm stereotypingâ kind of way, but itâs more than just an English-derivative thing.
As for more serious American disdain, recall also that when we launched F-111s to bomb Libya in the 1980s, the French refused permission to fly through their airspace. Right or wrong, justified or not, itâs yet another case of the French impeding or working against American interestsâwhy should anyone be surprised if Americans look a little down upon a country constantly working against them?
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/72 "2013-03-28T03:27:29Z")
> [@August\_West](#):
>
> I work for a French-owned company in the US and many of my cow-orkers are French. To a person, they tell me that Parisians are disdainful of any one who is not _Parisienne_
I do too. That is a sweet deal. They tell us that just by working for them we are better than the normal American enemy plus we get awesome vacation and benefits. Well smack my ass and set me down to a meal of snails and frog legs any day. I love it all. I would stop wearing deodorant again if they just sent me a memo telling me not to. I am a âReal Americanâ in every way except that I love the French.
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### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/73 "2013-03-28T05:00:05Z")
I was in Paris for a very short stay, and found everyone reasonably polite and helpful. However I rode the Metro from the airport and the B.O. was pretty rank.
Milan, on the other hand, was filled with rude, offensive people. Horrid place.
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### Author:  [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/74 "2013-03-28T14:14:34Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#):
>
> I do too. That is a sweet deal. They tell us that just by working for them we are better than the normal American enemy plus we get awesome vacation and benefits. Well smack my ass and set me down to a meal of snails and frog legs any day. I love it all. I would stop wearing deodorant again if they just sent me a memo telling me not to. I am a âReal Americanâ in every way except that I love the French.
Amen brother! 4 weeks of vacation/year? Sold!
8 weeks paid paternity leave for each of my kids? Merci!
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/75 "2013-03-28T14:43:51Z")
> [@appleciders](#):
>
> To be fair, this is exactly what most French people say about Parisians.
Iâver heard that too from multiple French people. Iâve found that to be the case in my limited experience. The French are warm and friendly and love having outsiders visit so they can show off their country. Parisians are rude and obnoxious.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/76 "2013-03-28T14:48:15Z")
> [@squeegee](#):
>
> Milan, on the other hand, was filled with rude, offensive people. Horrid place.
Those were American tourists. đ
Thirding the comment on Parisians. Ditto food. Paris is full of bad food and bad people. The rest of France is rather nice, friendly and delicious.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/77 "2013-03-28T15:24:33Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> Iâver heard that too from multiple French people. Iâve found that to be the case in my limited experience. The French are warm and friendly and love having outsiders visit so they can show off their country. Parisians are rude and obnoxious.
Thatâs how it played out when I worked at a French helicopter company back in the day- the Parisian interns were generally snooty, while the guys from Marseille and elsewhere were a lot of fun and interesting to talk to.
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### Author:  [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/78 "2013-03-28T18:52:01Z")
This has been referred to obliquely in this thread, but I remember a news item about De Gaulle announcing that he wanted all American military personnel to leave France; this was sometime in the late 1960s.
A report asked, âDoes that include the American soldiers and sailors _buried_ in France?â
De Gaulle had no answer for that.
Also, when he and FDR met for the first time in World War II they took an instant dislike to each other; FDR thought De Gaulle was too sure of his postition as leader of the Free French, and De Gaulle resented the fact that Roosevelt did all the talking.
And, of course, after the warâwhich the French could not have won without American presenceâthe French became resentful to Americans, since they wanted to be able to defeat the Axis all by themselves. Ingrates. :mad:
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### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/79 "2013-03-28T19:08:50Z")
If you are thinking of taking a trip to France⌠make sure to go to Normandy.
The Normands have not forgotten what the Americans did for them. And they are deeply grateful.
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### Author:  [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/80 "2013-03-28T20:23:29Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#):
>
> If you are thinking of taking a trip to France⌠make sure to go to Normandy.
>
> The Normands have not forgotten what the Americans did for them. And they are deeply grateful.
This puts the Parisians in a contemptible _tour dâivoire!_
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### Author:  [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-americans-dislike-the-french/653877/81 "2013-03-29T02:29:26Z")
One time while visiting France I wanted to see their famous tapestry about the battle of Hastings.
The train was completely full of French people. And I thought âWow⌠So many French people are so interested in seeing that tapestry just like me.â
We came to one stopâŚAnd EVERYBODY got off except me and my wife. Well short of the stop where the tapestry was.
Turns out it was the anniversary of D-Day. Which I had completely forgotten about. They were all going to visit the cemeteries where the American soldiers from WW11 were buried.
I felt slightly ashamed about the whole thing for myself, but developed a whole lot of love and respect for those âungratefulâ Frenchies.
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