The French

[den]

I'm sick of French Bashing. It is hackneyed, cliched and not funny. The fact that it keeps showing up is annoying, and to my mind using it is a waste of space that could have been better used to be amusing in.

Comments

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

That's sort of how I feel about the Catholic priest bashing--it's about as tired and charming as assuming that all gay men in general are pedophiles.

I've always had some trouble with the concept that the country that brought us the concept of the national army was so militarily inept, anyway.

Inept?

[ursuscal.livejournal.com]

They didn't do too well during WWII, but that had a lot to do with the fact that their leaders were mostly old fossils, still trying to fight a cavalry war in a mechanized era, and depending upon an incomplete Marginot Line. But hey, the U.S. has a "Star Wars" program. I figure it's about the same.

And I don't know too many Nations who'd want to go up against the French Foreign Legion.

Re: Inept?

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda curious as to how many national armies could have done half so well in 1940. Besides, the French hardly rolled over and played dead without a fight; it cost the Germans 60,000 killed (God knows how many wounded) to start running the French into rout mode.

They went down, yes, but considering what they were up against they made a pretty damn good showing for themselves. (Ditto the Poles, who actually inflicted slightly more casualties on the Germans during their own defense.) If Rommel could speak highly of their armies at times, I'd take his word on it. ;)

Re: Inept?

[targaff.livejournal.com]

There are, of course, such issues as the scuttling of a significant navy of ships in Toulon harbour so that the allied forces couldn't use them. Or the fact that the much glorified Resistance didn't even constitute 1% of the population of the country at the time as being "ze French spirit" - in fact it was probably closer to one tenth of one per cent. There's a reason this is the fifth age of French history, yet only 3 are taught in France; it's the arrogance and wilful ignorance of what it means "d'etre francais" that winds people up, and I can't see any harm in rubbing it in whenever possible, particularly when they take any and all opportunity to sneer down their overlarge, aquiline noses at everyone else.

Particularly after a fluky 2-1 win.

Re: Inept?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

In 1940 the only thing that stopped the Germans was the English Channel. Becks should have been replaced by E.Channel and maybe you'd have a chance. You're just bitter.

Re: Inept?

[targaff.livejournal.com]

Flooding the pitch, now that's an idea...

Bitter about what, the match or the war? I'm not too bothered about either, to be honest - the match was a fluke, although they'd played better overall, and the war, well, I thought that was singlehandedly resolved by the then-uninvolved Americans? Or are we not allowed to mock them now, either?

Or, indeed, are you just bitter about the lack of recognition given to the Australian contribution? ;)

My point, reached by going around the houses somewhat, is that they're not above it with anyone else and their quintessential Frenchness sets them up to be mocked in turn. I hope people will mock me for being British; so long long as they can identify the difference between a people and a person, I don't really care. Generally there are good reasons for the stereotypes that exist and there's no real harm in reiterating them as long as people recognise them for what they are. They help maintain an entente cordiale far more than uptight aloofness ever would.

Bruce.

Re: Inept?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

You are a pommy, of course, and therefore eminantly mockable. Mock mock mock, I say!

Re: Inept?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I know a bloke who was in the FFL. He joined up after his tour in Viet Nam on Project Pheonix. He's the sort of bloke you want on your side

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I thought "Zis is le suck!" was a pretty funny line, actually. :)

-The Gneech

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I must admit to being amused by that line. At least it was original.

[jainasia.livejournal.com]

the most recent thing about French Bashing that's pissed me off is that the US has the NERVE to ask France for help now. And they are reluctant. Gee, big freakin' shock! (It was in the paper some days ago, and that paper could have been from some days ago as well. I read it at work)

[ceruleanst.livejournal.com]

Yes, "freedom fries" and "friendly fire" sound rather alike. I'd sooner accept an invitation from Macbeth to go hunting.

[jainasia.livejournal.com]

Yes, "freedom fries" and "friendly fire" sound rather alike.

Haaa!
Would you like some friendly fire with that BigMac?
Ohhh, that's good

I'd sooner accept an invitation from Macbeth to go hunting.

ahhh, a play I haven't read in years
I should get my copy out and read it.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

If it's the English doing it, that's one thing; by now it's almost traditional and pro forma over there. But American French-bashing, I couldn't agree with you more. It's childish and stupid. What did the French do to us? They had the nerve to tell Bush he was wrong... and be right about it.

People forget

[ursuscal.livejournal.com]

that if it hadn't been for French help during our Revolutionary War against England, we very well might still have a Monarchy to answer to, instead of a rube from Texas.

Re: People forget

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Some of us haven't forgotten. Unfortunately, the new refrain seems to be, "So what have you done for us lately?"

Besides being stupid and childish, the current round of American French-bashing smells strongly of blackmail. Incompetent blackmail. "If you don't do everything we want, we'll call you names and make fun of you!"

Re: People forget

[lostwanderfound.livejournal.com]

"Your mother smelled like Elderberries and your father was a hampster!"

Re: People forget

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

I'm seeing attack ads and columns against Kerry which are still saying things like "he has French relatives."

It's absolutely despicable, even when you strip off the raw bigotry involved.

Re: People forget

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

At risk of sounding like a Liberal Elitist, anyone whose vote would be seriously swayed by something like that should be disqualified altogether from voting on the basis of being Too Stupid To Live.

One hopes that there will in fact be a backlash effect, though, along the lines of, "Good god, how dumb do these people think we are?"

Re: People forget

[weibchenwolf.livejournal.com]

*grins a little*Which is worse?