Up until a moment ago, I felt that the spate of anti-French sentiment in the US had died down a bit, or maybe I've just become immune to it. Then
I read an article in FoxNews, Let's Not Pardon the French, and my blood began to boil.
From the opening paragraph ("The country's less than Western, less than ally-like stances would have seemed less baffling if we hadn't started from a wrong premise: Namely, that France is a member of the civilized world") to the claims about France's kinship with Saddam Hussein and affinity toward "any and all of the globe's uncivilized elements," FoxNews manages to distort everything it can about France.
I've avoided writing about anti-Frenchism, because frankly, I figure that anyone who agrees with me already knows everything that I have to contribute, and anyone who doesn't is too ingrained in their prejudice to be swayed by logic, but this time I just can't hold back.
Here are the facts, as I understand them:
This isn't even an issue about whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not. The fact is that I as an American and France as a sovereign country have the right to disagree with my government and their ally, respectively. You, on the other hand, have the right to disagree with me and France, but to hate me/them for it is simply illogical. Would you disown your brother if he were anti-war and you were pro? How about your best friend? How about your child?
I find it pretty ironic that the United States is built on the foundations of democracy, one definition of which is "The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community" (American Heritage, 4th edition) and yet anyone who is "not with us is against us." I'm not a politician or historian, but that sure isn't what I remember from civics class.
Oh yeah, and for those of you who say the French are arrogant for choosing the French word courriel over the English word email, take a look at menus that say freedom fries and freedom toast.
Discussion: What do you think?
Myth: The "Rude French"
Language: French Influence on English
From the opening paragraph ("The country's less than Western, less than ally-like stances would have seemed less baffling if we hadn't started from a wrong premise: Namely, that France is a member of the civilized world") to the claims about France's kinship with Saddam Hussein and affinity toward "any and all of the globe's uncivilized elements," FoxNews manages to distort everything it can about France.
I've avoided writing about anti-Frenchism, because frankly, I figure that anyone who agrees with me already knows everything that I have to contribute, and anyone who doesn't is too ingrained in their prejudice to be swayed by logic, but this time I just can't hold back.
Here are the facts, as I understand them:
- France is a sovereign country.
- France has historically been an ally of the United States.
- France opposed the war in Iraq.
- Sovereign countries are allowed - by definition - to have their own opinions, even if they differ from those of their allies.
This isn't even an issue about whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not. The fact is that I as an American and France as a sovereign country have the right to disagree with my government and their ally, respectively. You, on the other hand, have the right to disagree with me and France, but to hate me/them for it is simply illogical. Would you disown your brother if he were anti-war and you were pro? How about your best friend? How about your child?
I find it pretty ironic that the United States is built on the foundations of democracy, one definition of which is "The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community" (American Heritage, 4th edition) and yet anyone who is "not with us is against us." I'm not a politician or historian, but that sure isn't what I remember from civics class.
Oh yeah, and for those of you who say the French are arrogant for choosing the French word courriel over the English word email, take a look at menus that say freedom fries and freedom toast.
Discussion: What do you think?
Myth: The "Rude French"
Language: French Influence on English
Comments
Thank you!
the thing you have to add to that is that French RG said that they were no massive destruction weapons that s why france didn t want to engage Irak. Plus we were afraid to destroy the little stability of this region. We know now that we behaved as friends by telling americans not to go there.
This is one of the few anti-anti-french articles I’ve read that doesn’t then contradict itself by being anti-everyone else.
Hooray for common sense!!! (Boo to even more common stupidity!)
Thank you so much for writing this. I realize it’s an old article, but I just found it. Fortunately, I live in an area where I don’t run into much of this, but it happens now and then. It seems to me that we’re going to encounter bigots of some sort in one way or another; it’s unavoidable. But it’s always nice to hear someone responding to one with logic and calm.
Thank you for your very informative site. I enjoy reading it all & listening to the pronunciation. I’m heading off to ‘be’ in Paris for 5wks in August & this has been a great add-on for my preparation. I especially liked the ‘French Influence on English’ piece which I’ve sent to French friends here in Australia, who are always surprised at how many words I use of ‘theirs’. Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much for speaking out! I am an American living in France, married to a French citizen. I am so SICK of this extreme American attitude. I too thought we were a country that believed in freedom of expression, that it was indeed a right, what happened? And why pick on France? Just about every country in Europe is against this disasterous war in Iraq, not just France.
Thanks for laying out some cogent thoughts about anti-Frenchism in America. Let me say that I can however only agree with you in a qualified way.
First, let me say how I agree. I love France. I love the French language. I am a student of European history in general, and of French history in particular, running back to the time of the Franks (Salic or Ripuarian, take your pick…
–or even back to the time of the Gauls. I occasionally daydream about relocating to France or Belgium to work and live, perhaps even for the remainder of my days (I’m about to turn 40). To that end I keep working on my French, which is why I visit this site, and use grammars and Rosetta Stone and French online radio, etc, every day (I’m even listening to French radio right now as I type this out).
I also believe that reasonable minds can differ about current American foreign policy. I also affirm that it is not only the right of allies and friends to differ from US foreign policy, it is their duty to voice those concerns and positions, even in public fora like the UN. But the question for me–and for many Americans–is not one of “rights” at all, and this is where I have to disagree with that part of your remarks.
What irritates many Americans about post-WWII French policy (if I may be so bold as to speak for others) isn’t that it is characterized by a spirit of independence, or even a completely appropriate appreciation of French sovereignty, but the perception that the French currently seem to identify that sovereignty with simply adopting a position contrary to that of the the U.S.
For me–as an admitted Francophile–that is as much a mistake (and even a surrender of sovereignty or independence) than if they habitually took a reflexive and slavish PRO-American stance on global issues. Both extreme positions are a surrender of independence, in that both would be determined by U.S. policy.
One occasionally gets the impression that they derive more pleasure from ‘tweaking the nose’ of the “hyperpower” than from either an objective appraisal of their own long term interests or from a real fraternal appreciation of historical and cultural sympathies. I think this is what gives rise to such attitudes among many Americans.
As to the assertion of our being historical allies, one must admit that such would have to be considered a mixed bag, from the French and Indian War to the armed Vichy opposition to the American landing in North Africa in WWII (and other open hostilities in between) on the one hand, to standing shoulder-to-shoulder against the Germans in the defense of French sovereignty and culture in the trenches of WWI on the other.
Finally, the objections Americans have about France today are probably not too dissimilar from those other Occidentals throughout history have had about French policies, such as the feelings of other Europeans over France’s willingness to ally itself with the then common enemy of the sovereignty of all Western nations: the Ottoman Empire.
Despite current and historical differences, I am yet confident that if France saw itself threatened yet again, whether by (yet another) German invasion or from some other nation (as unlikely as that may now be), you would be able to see (yet another) plot of French soil filled with the graves of Americans willing to help her defend her culture, language and sovereignty–despite all the bumper stickers and the “Freedom Fries” wisecracks.
Vive le France, Vive l’Amerique, and Vive Laura!
Robert
I have read the Foxnews article with much surprise and infinite sadness. The point isn’t, whether one should feel obliged to like or even feel the most remote sympathy towards the French or any other people, but that, historically, active involvement from the part of the media in hatemongering against a specific people or ethnicity has never ended in anything good. I am not only appalled that Foxnews, an international company who broadcasts programs all over the world, including in France, would stoop so low as to publish something like that, but also worried that pretty much every piece of information mentioned in the article (if you can call it that!) is either false, distorted, or presented in such a way as to give one a poor opinion of the French, not only as a culture, but as something they are not: an ethnicity, one almost feels like saying a race… Indeed, as the text progresses, it sems to amount to doing little but to attempt to deny the French their individuality, which probably the most obvious and idiosyncratic characteristic of their culture, and to view them exclusively as a group wholly supporting the actions of one of its members: Hence, if one Parisian journalist published memoirs of past exotic sexual encounters, all French become sexual perverts; one old man gets beaten up by a thug , all French despise the elderly; Many Holliwood stars have choosen France as a second home, but one of them happens to be Roman Polanski, hence all French are child rapists….
On the one hand, I’m tempted to agree with those who say that, when you hear what the rest of the world has to say about the Americans, the French are getting away with it pretty good but. on the other am frightened by the fact that tjis sort of text might fall into the hands of some that might take it seriously, especially since it is published by a main international news network…
Thank you for a wonderful article. I sometimes feel that all the US can do is Yellow journalism, with the facts seldom in focus.
PS: the French were right about Iraq.
It’s refreshing to know there are some citizens of the US who have a regard for other nations in the world. Too often US citizens give the impression that the world revolves around the US and other nations should ask “How high” when the US demands “Jump”. I realise one cannot brand a nation because the crass behaviour of the few, but unfortunately the media gives too coverage to the few. I have found your site very useful even if you do not use english spelling – I forgive you but then I’m NOT English, British maybe BUT not English.
so very late, yet not out of date. the subject is still relevant out here in the belly of the beast, the great american midwest. i still encounter entrenched patches of francophobia.
thank you for the line of defense but here at ground floor level, the fact remains that some newscaster’s tone has set a mindless trend to hate/dislike anyone who comes from a dissenting point of view.
the instant i mention nationality, i am presented with a visible barrage of rejection or hostile behavior. of course there more than enough who balance their sentiment with personal appreciation of the individual. within my own family i meet resentment about the french position against the war.
rabidity is not exclusive, it travels well.
We owe the very existance of our country to the French. That is why the strength of the anti-French sentiment in the US is so appalling. This editorial is the epitome of ingratitude. And he also convieniently forgets that the French are responsible for the aqualung, Braille, bicycles, sewing machines, pencils, hot airballons, parachutes, barometers, batteries… the list goes on.
“Oh yeah, and for those of you who say the French are arrogant for choosing the French word courriel over the English word email, take a look at menus that say freedom fries and freedom toast.”
Point taken, and yet, isn’t that what you’re critisizing here? Wasn’t it stupid that people changed the word to “freedom” whatever (or am I mistaken, and you actually think this is acceptable?)?
So why would it be any less arrogant when the French do it?
It seems a given that the French are highly nationalistic. So are the people who hate the French. To me, it sounds more like two sports fans arguing over who has the best team than anything that should be taken seriously, and it has largely faded. No one calls anything a “freedom” whatever anymore, and the French have become bigger hawks than we are.
Yoo silly aanglo saxon types…..
I cannot see the arrogance in courriel.
” mail ” is courrier,
” mail ELectronique ” is courriEL.
A perfect logic missing from ze aanglo saxon types.
Email has been in use in French probably before Columbus discovered the USA, meaning ” enamel ”
The US may become more humane one day when the president addresses the citizens in Spanish !
the lesser educated americans are scared right now -the country has spent all it’s money on silly wars and gas guzzlers and economic fire and vim has shifted erlsewhere-it is understandable that jingoistic xenophobia is on the rise
I agree with your “tweaking the nose” comment. France both invites US criticism and yet deserves our continued affection as both a past and present ally.
Fox should be able to use hyperbole in its editorial criticism of France however. The French has done worse to us.
I am a French American since birth and dearly love both of my countries. I simply don’t understand anti-frenchism. Yes French people are proud and nationalistic but then again, so are Americans!
Although this article is primarily regarding American’s view of the French it is sadly similar for a lot of British. It’s not my opinion but being a French-learning Francophile I do come across anti-frenchism every now and then, almost always without any proper justification though.
If they had a proper argument as having researched and were commented on “Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup / Rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv” for instance then I’d listen. In all other cases of “oh, the waiters are so arrogant and rude” then I’m sorry but it’s just petty playground-level banter as far as I’m concerned.
“Fox should be able to use hyperbole in its editorial criticism of France however. The French has done worse to us.”
I think it’s drawing an improbably long bow to describe a vicious, hate-filled rant, devoid of any hint of ironic humour or gradation of sentiment, as hyperbole.
And if it is some attempt at self-parody, Fox would do well to notice two things about this form.
Firstly, parody needs to be funny, at least to some readers.
Secondly, it is not self-parody when one simply behaves according to one’s established patterns.
No French hyperbole I’ve ever read about the US has been close to the bottom of the Fox barrel.
What’s more, if one or more individuals had stooped that low, that’s not even an acceptable schoolyard justification for reciprocation in kind.
Don’t waste your time trying to convince those anti-French Neanderthals about the fact that France is one of the most – if not THE most – civilized country on the planet and that it has indeed been a good ally over the years, the French Surete passing along information to our government about terrorist movements. These dopes don’t know a thing about U.S. history, let alone French history. They are the victims of the Anglo-Saxon penchant for fist-pumping, woo-wooing about nothing. When the crunch comes, they’ll be the first to get put away in the concentration camps and then they’ll realize how they’ve been duped by the elite puppeteers into believing a ton of lies, not only about France and other “ferriners,” but also about their own USA.
THANK you FRANCE for opposing US imperialism; please continue, more vigorously
ONE thing an IMPERIALIST hates is opposition
OTHER empires: roman, japanese, spanish, british, nazi, ottoman, french, ming, portuguese, dutch, etc; see the ong “list of the largest empires”: http://en.wikipedia.orgwiki/List_of_largest_empires
IT’S why the US hates WIKILEAKS, that gives the lie the US peaceloving claptrap
Laura, consider the source. Fox “news” is concocted by ignorant rabble.
Consider the source.
I had two days in Paris unexpectedly, so I did not have time to learn French. I did buy a book to get around and tried not to ask any locals any questions in English. I did ask the hotel personnel.
I first want to say, the French are rude. The flight attendant yelled at me and said my bag was over 13K and I should have checked it, I did check it on the way back and it weighed 12k. The cab driver was rude, driving to the hotel, the hotel staff while checking in was rude. If you don’t know French it is like going somewhere deaf.
I think they are terrible. I live in Hawaii and have tourist from all over the world, there is a culture here too. I hear language from all over the world, not one time have I been rude because someone did not know English. In fact because there are so many japanese tourist here, I have taken the time to know the basics.
The French think everything about them is the best. The service was terrible. I also did not think that the food was any better than other places I have been.
Du Louve was ridiculous that you can not get an English tour everyday, when I went on a Sunday, they did not have them. All the signs are written in French, so you have no idea what you saw. I bought a book there, but they had no English books that corresponded with the museum, so you could do a walk through.
When we went to the outdoor cafe, they put the English speaking inside, I couldn’t believe it. Everyone around me was speaking English. All the people in the cute outdoor tables were speaking French or another language.
I would never go back there or recommend anyone to go there. It is expensive and not worth it. There are a lot of other places to go like Venice that are romantic and the people are nicer.
Vive la France! America prides itself for its diversity…”admirable!” n’est-ce-pas? Yet, here in the Midwest, I’ve been insulted many a times just for covering my bald head with a ”béret” MY HAT OF CHOICE…
.
I’m French and use to live in California.
I consider myself a citizen of the world as I have been living in more than 10 different countries, speak four languages…
Sad to say that I use to tell my neighbors I am from Canada as they were so stupidly brainwashed… One of them had a “boycott France” sticker on the back of his car. I asked him why during a barbecue at his place: “I support our troops…”. This is so short minded that I could not even bother pushing the discussion further…
This was also the time of the riots in french suburbs that Fox so called news were attributing to Muslims making statements that it was the price to pay for not fighting terror… No mention about the majority of non-Muslims involved in these unfortunate events…
I then realized the poor quality of the generalist media in the US and the fact that little information from the outer world was presented to the public. End of the day, my neighbor was a good man but never knew I was actually French…
I suppose the prejudice, close mindedness, deceit, and rudeness that I experience at the impressional age of 12 in Paris will always live in the back of my mind. My parents and I were traveling to India in the summer of 1976 and were in the middle of Charles DeGaul Airport…(however he spelled his name) and nobody we encountered would speak English to us. It took about 20 minutes to get any help in the middle of an ‘international’ airport! From there it got worst…everyone was trying to rip us off once they realized we didn’t speak french. The taxicab driver, the hotel owner, restaurants, tour guides, etc. And I have experienced similar rudeness by french speakers in Montreal while trying to find a post office in 1984. Add to this the times France has opposed common sense aid. For the US military…like when they made the US Air Force fly around french airspace during the attempted hostage rescue in Iran in 1980 and I think its pretty easy to see why Americans dislike the RUDE FRENCH.
I agree, I am a european and living in this country, love it, but also love europe. The way I see it, as human beings we all need to help each other, when its right. Attacking each other is not solving anything. The French maybe arrogant, but the americans are ignorant about many Issues. Just a note, there are many amerikans living in Europe, I wonder why is that?
Thank you to all of you for your friendly comments. They make a refreshing change from French-bashing.
On courriel : I agree with Monty P.
There already were words such as matériel ( hardware ) and logiciel (software ), so ‘courriel’ was a logical step. When it was adopted, it was not totally new: it had been in use for some time, I believe, in French-speaking parts of Canada.
I fail to see why it might be arrogant for us not to choose email, an English word. It’s not that we’re against English words ( we use plenty of them ) but surely it’s logical for French speakers to choose a French word – or am I missing something ?
Thanks again for this civilized and interesting forum. And: yes, I’m French myself.
Salut à tous
I spent ten days in France this spring. Can’t speak french very well but never encountered any rudeness. But, I was not rude myself. Most people I encountered could speak some english. France is the most visited nation in the world. We will return.