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Travelling to/from France
Topic has 52 replies.
 
 
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13/05/2008, 14:43
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powerdesal

Joined on 07/01/2006
Fujeirah, U.A.E
Posts 2,240
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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Why would the "Tabloidists" dislike Americans more than the "Guardianistas" or the "telegraphists" ?
ps. I read them all - how sad is that?
Steve Fujeirah Emirate, U.A.E + 50 (in France) ...........................................................................
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13/05/2008, 16:34
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Catalpa
Joined on 23/08/2004
Southern Manche - 50
Posts 1,537
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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13/05/2008, 17:23
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Judith
Joined on 01/02/2006
Posts 296
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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Will wrote: | Be pleasant to the French and they will be nice to you.
But if you still want reassurance, go to Avranches (western Normandy, near the coast), mention General Patton - travel roughly east through Mortain towards Falaise, saying the same, particularly when you see the monuments to various small groups of American WW2 heroes. That should show how Americans are really received in at least one part of France. |
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Indeed. They'll probably ask you your opinion of George Bush, as we were recently asked what we thought of Carla (Mme Sarkozy) during their visit to Windsor. As already said, it is more an antagonism towards the govt policies, rather than Americans in general, and their knowledge of any politicians other than the big-wigs (eg Tony Blair, but none of the Cabinet), is no more than the Americans' or British knowledge (except on thhis forum, of course) of French politicians. If you try to speak a little French, and are pleasant, saying bonjour etc, they'll take you as you are. You will likely find as many biased French people as you would find biased people in any country, but if you find them, just say, je ne comprends pas, shrug and move on. Much the most sensible thing to do.
Judith ex W1 and now in the Aude
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14/05/2008, 11:18
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Renaud

Joined on 23/08/2004
Barnes / Mirambeau
Posts 631
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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Powerdesal: Why would the "Tabloidists" dislike Americans more than the "Guardianistas" or the "telegraphists" ?
I regret my earlier posting disparaging tabloid readers. Stupid to generalise like that, my point was that most anti-Americanism is encouraged by lazy people in the tabloid media finding an easy target in people who aren't exactly like themselves.
I agree that Guardianistas (and therefore BBC journalists) dislike the USA on principle. What principle it is hard to say other that the 'make it happen' culture in the antithesis of the grunidad 'we are all guilty*' school of paralysis. Though most grunidad readers I know are pleasant types who have nothing against individual Americans.
The Telegraph and Telegraphists such as myself have no trouble with the USA or Americans though perhaps saddened by the collateral damage caused by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfelt bull-in-a-china-shop foreign policy.
* A quote from a Peter Simple trendy vicar that describes an attitude of mind.
Gus www.relax-in-france.com
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30/06/2008, 12:55
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brillow12
Joined on 09/12/2007
Posts 23
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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Interesting question. I wonder also is there any thruth in the suggestion by the Telegraph Newspaper that the whole world dislikes the French.
длинний слипер Self esteem should be earned, not taken for granted.
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30/06/2008, 13:14
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Pierre ZFP

Joined on 12/11/2004
PdC(62)/Luxembourg
Posts 1,975
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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Nah - it's just a throwaway line trotted out now and then by lazy journalists or a standard of the TV show 'QI' to get a cheap laugh.
Remember, apples and blackberrys do NOT count towards your 5-a-day
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30/06/2008, 14:50
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dr orloff
Joined on 13/04/2008
Posts 98
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Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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I've travelled all over the world and I have found that Americans are virtually universally unpopular. However, in reality it's the idea of America - its politics, perceived cultural attitudes and brashness that is disliked, rather than Americans themselves. I have encountered few places where there has been resentment on a personal level towards Americans just for being American.
It's also true that Americans are regarded as stupid. They're not of course but large numbers are unbelievably ignorant of the rest of the world. However, the minority who do possess a passport will quickly overcome that perception.
I have personally found Americans to be amongst the most openly friendly and hospitable people anywhere.
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France Forum » Travelling to/f... » Travelling to/f... » Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?
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