I’ve got a question.
Obviously, people continue to bash France, sometimes for good reason.
However, I’m curious. Germany also told the US to take a hike before the invasion of Iraq.
How come no one gives the Germans any shit or calls for a boycott of German products?
My theory is that Germany makes nice beer and cool cars. It’s fine to boycott some sissy-boy wine, but boycotting cars and beers is, well, un-American (and too much of a sacrifice).
As such, let’s give it to the Frogs.
Any ideas?
[quote]turbot33 wrote:
I’ve got a question.
Obviously, people continue to bash France, sometimes for good reason.
However, I’m curious. Germany also told the US to take a hike before the invasion of Iraq.
How come no one gives the Germans any shit or calls for a boycott of German products?
My theory is that Germany makes nice beer and cool cars. It’s fine to boycott some sissy-boy wine, but boycotting cars and beers is, well, un-American (and too much of a sacrifice).
As such, let’s give it to the Frogs.
Any ideas?[/quote]
Yeah, I boycott both countries and Hollywood products too; movies, music etc.–it’s saved me a lot of money.
Cuz the Germans don’t have a history of being limp-wristed faggots. RLTW
rangertab75
You wanna know why? 'Cause people like me (proud German here) would try to kick yo punk ass, almost make it, but then fail miserably.
Well, all joking aside, I think it’s the way France and Germany handled the issue. France seems to be a bit more ‘in your face’, while German chancellor Schroeder simply made one of his ‘I’ll put you to sleep’ speeches. I think that since WWII Germany and the US have had a rather close relationship, considering the fact that the US spent a fair amount of time rebuilding the country and taking care of it. Also, the economic relations between Germany and the US may be a bit more significant than France and the US. Of course, one of the main reasons may as well be Americans just trying to pick one of the two and make fun of them. And the French may just be an easier target.
And heck, if you boycott German cars you’ll be driving $5k Chinese cars soon.
Almost as bad as a grown man driving a Hyundai!
Do you guys seriously call French fries “liberty fries” (aka “Freedom Fries”) or is that just an Urban Legend? I meant to change the name of a food over a disagreement, that’s kind of extreme. And what about French’s Mustard? Well I think I am going to go whip up a batch of liberty Toast and watch as my sister get her hair put up in a Liberty braid.
-Dave
I quite like the French attitude. They don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks and do what they like. Why should they have gotten involved in Iraq? (As long as they dont expect any future economic benefit). They respond when their own interests are under threat so I don’t think you can say they are cowards (Zaire 1978 for example). Iraq isn’t in a particularly good state right now. I am English and would rather not see my country’s troops (or American and Italian for that matter) getting killed for what appears to be no return and a bunch of ungrateful ragheads.
The House cafeteria still serves up Freedom toast. MMMMM MMMM…I stick to my egg whites though
From a European country myself.
I think it’s childish to get in disputes like that because of disagreements. When I read about freedom fries I just shook my head.
Oh its freedom food? Damn it my post was wasted on lack of credible information… liberty food… there isn’t even alliteration in that… stupid, stupid Dave
-Dave
Because the French went out of their way to organize resistance to the invasion and liberation of Iraq.
There are Iraqi’s who are grateful to the US and UK for getting rid of Saddam.
The problems they are having now with sadr are no different from what Germany’s weimar republic went through with private militia’s like the nazi’s. It’s more about personal greed than any real greivance.
Mattyboy,
I’m not sure if I misread your post. Did an Englishman actually say that he “liked the French attitude?”
I’ve been to your country multiple times. This is anectodal, but I’ve never, ever heard any Englishman say anything remotely flattering about the French.
Gentlemen/Ladies, ask yourself this essential question: Is France trully an ally? If the answer is no, why pretend? I keep reading about open/clandestine support for Saddam’s regime right up to the invasion. This coupled with their duplicity at the U.N. makes it difficult for me to call them friend.
JeffR
[quote]lincono wrote:
Yeah, I boycott both countries and Hollywood products too; movies, music etc.–it’s saved me a lot of money.
[/quote]
Sound like you lead a rich life…
Hey boycotters – why don’t you start a movement to send the Statue of Liberty back to France…we don’t need any of their shit, right? Get the petition going!!!
GOOOO US PATRIOTS!!!
This is ridicilious…as is calling them freedom fries…its done to show the french that we are pissed off at their childish behaviour, more than anything else. The problems with france will pass when they realize that they are a second rate power, and that recognize that the U.S. does not need a permission slip to defend herself. With that said, I dont think the squabbles with the french are anything of importance or really new, its more of a brother and sister fighting than anything else, and if things were on the line they would be on our side and visa versa. I dont think this has compromised any intelligence sharing, capturing etc so while its agrravating and annoying, its not too problematic. There for nothing more than making fun of them a little more than usual is my preferred course of action.
[quote]Right Side Up wrote:
lincono wrote:
Yeah, I boycott both countries and Hollywood products too; movies, music etc.–it’s saved me a lot of money.
Sound like you lead a rich life…
Hey boycotters – why don’t you start a movement to send the Statue of Liberty back to France…we don’t need any of their shit, right? Get the petition going!!!
GOOOO US PATRIOTS!!![/quote]
I lead a very rich life, I just don’t support weak minded, weak willed people. Don’t you have some curls to do in the squat rack?
I don’t know why everybody is down on the French?
It is common sense what they did.
Over 5 million Arabs (10%+) live in France.
Why would they French want to agitate them by invading an Arab country?
Similar case with Germany (Turks in their case).
At the very least it is a good political move on behalf of the ruling elite, got to get them votes any way you can.
“I quite like the French attitude. They don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks and do what they like.”
Sounds a lot like the Bush administrations’ approach to foreign policy.
[quote]lincono wrote:
I lead a very rich life, I just don’t support weak minded, weak willed people. Don’t you have some curls to do in the squat rack?[/quote]
And only weak minded, weak willed people make movies and music? I suppose only weak minded folk wind up with PhDs and teach at the collegiate level…concur?
You like this squat rack attack, don’t you? You’ve posted 37 times 'round here and all have occurred in the Politics forum…what are you hiding fella? Who did you used to be? And, care to post a picture of what you’ve earned from all that squatting?
And…where’s the petition? Shall I start it?
They aren’t Freedom Fries. They are Frog Fries.
We don’t really care for the French because they are such ungrateful bastards, or at least their political and media elite are. They have been in decline as a relevant power in international affairs since before the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. Without the might of the United States they would have lost to Germany in WWI, along with the British and the Russians. They put up a six week fight in WWII before being routed. Their leadership, organization, and efficiency sucked, many of them knew it, and yet they did nothing about it.
Presently, aside from bullying a few small African nations, they have no worthwhile military capability to speak of.
Check out the history of the French in Algeria back in the day- not pretty. Lacking to the extreme in the human rights department, one might say.
And yet they want us to consult with them on matters of great important. They try to use leverage with international groups to negate our actions and isolate us. Fuck 'em.
The Germans, on the other hand, haven’t let learned to be quite so brazen. Contrition counts for a lot when you get most of the world against you and are totally and utterly defeated, no matter your superior tactical skills.
In the end, why should the good ole US of A care that much about them anyway? These two countries, along with Russia, seem to be at the core of the consensus against our invasion. Both France and Germany are falling farther and farther behind economically. At least the Germans are still very competitive in some sectors. Economically, they both bet on the wrong horse and have no one to blame for it but themselves, which of course they can’t and won’t do.
Russia, well, the average male life expectancy is falling, TB is on the rise, alcoholism and lawlessness are rampant, and their armed forces are falling apart.
All three countries had extensive business ties to Saddam, far beyond anything the US did. The fact that Saddam owed them so much money of course in no way affected their opinions on the merits of the invasion.
Let them bitch all they want. There’s not a f’n thing they can do about it one way or the other.
[quote]schrauper wrote:
Let them bitch all they want. There’s not a f’n thing they can do about it one way or the other.[/quote]
Actually there is quite a lot they can do about it. The American economy is dependent on money flowing in from overseas. For example the trade deficit (export - imports) is financed by money flowing in.
The government (and thus the Army) is also finaced by this inflow of money some of which ends up in treasury bonds (i.e government expenditude not paid for by taxation).
In the past the US Dollar has been “the only game in town” for the world to park its savings, thus allowing US to propsper beyond what it could produce and save itself.
But France and Germany were the driving forces in introducing the Euro. Now the Euro is at least on par to the US Dollar in terms of a savings currency for the world (i.e. a reserve currency). If money switches on mass out of the US Dollar and into the Euro it is going to be very hard for the US economy (based on credit extended from overseas) and the government/army (who’s budget deficits are funded from overseas) to fund itself.
This is the thinking of the European elite. An example of this thinking: