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13/05/2008, 17:23 Judith Joined on 01/02/2006 Posts 211 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  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. 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 W1 and Aude    Report

14/05/2008, 11:18 Renaud Joined on 23/08/2004 Barnes / Mirambeau Posts 590 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? 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    Report

30/06/2008, 12:55 brillow12 Joined on 09/12/2007 Posts 23 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? 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.    Report

30/06/2008, 13:14 Pierre ZFP Joined on 12/11/2004 PdC(62)/Luxembourg Posts 1,649 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? 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. Fool me once, shame on you Fool me twice, shame on me Fool me 3 times and you can see a statistical tendency    Report

30/06/2008, 14:50 dr orloff Joined on 13/04/2008 Posts 46 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? 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.         Report

30/06/2008, 15:26 Anton Redman Joined on 23/08/2004 Gironde Posts 1,921 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? I believe one reason believe one reason for comparatively low passport takeup in USA is that an American Citizen can visit Canada, Mexico & Bermuda without a passport. There are a large number of French Avenues and Rues named after Theodor Roosevelt and John F Kenerdy.    Report

30/06/2008, 16:33 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 2,906 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  Anton Redman wrote: There are a large number of French Avenues and Rues named after Theodor Roosevelt and John F Kenerdy. Are there ? I have not seen any. John Di Free resource site for new and aspiring Virtual Workers    Report

30/06/2008, 16:35 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 2,906 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  Anton Redman wrote: I believe one reason believe one reason for comparatively low passport takeup in USA is that an American Citizen can visit Canada, Mexico & Bermuda without a passport. Another reason might be that they have no idea how to fill in a form. John Di Free resource site for new and aspiring Virtual Workers    Report

30/06/2008, 17:56 Anton Redman Joined on 23/08/2004 Gironde Posts 1,921 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? Bordeaux has : Boulevard du President Wilson and a Boulevard do President Roosevelt Paris has : Avenue du President Kennedy and du President Wilson        Report

30/06/2008, 18:10 cassis Joined on 28/12/2007 Manhattan and Glasgow Posts 309 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? I am in France and I quite like Americans.  With one proviso.  As long as they buy a decent flippin' map and don't turn up hours late.  Many seem to have no idea how long it takes to drive from A to B and they underestimate time/distance (or get lost because they are using a crappy free map picked up in a service station). Zoggy played guitar, jammin' good with Weird and Golly. Lyrics copyright Sausage Music 2008    Report

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