Why is it ok?

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by castlegazer
I absolutely don't think its OK! I personally love France and the people therein. I spent most of my school years studying France. But please also remember tha the French have a history of being quite racist against the Arabs in their country - just study Le Pen. Racism of any type should not be tolerated. I eat French Fries!

Oh I know - DH was so shocked about Le Pen. We were able to get T5 during those elections and I had a livingroom full of French men watching it and yelling at the TV DH goes once a year to fill out paperwork so his Mom can vote for him, then he spends the rest of the year worrying about who she'll vote for.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by faithinkarma
That is so sad. That other child has to have learned such behavior at home. I'm surprised a kid that age would even recognize French.

He asked DS what language DH was speaking.

I've been trying to figure out what's going on. It's not the norm for his shool. But from what I found out today there are a few new students that just moved to the area and they've been giving some of kids a hard time, mostly those that are in ESL and those that they noticed speaking other languages at the carnival. Thankfully DS has several friends who's parents are also from other parts of the world and they've been sticking together. I'm hoping and praying next year at his new school will be better!

 

[Son of the Morning]

Last year, during the surge of idiocy being referenced, during the months leading up to the Iraq war, there were two foreign exchange students in my high school from France.

The way that a good chunk of my school acted (and really, still acts)... well... I have never... ever been more embarassed to be an American.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

TinkBoo&ElliesMum:

Let me take a crack at this, since you gave me about 6 or 7 "rolling eyes" smilies today.

Let me first state that I am not a racist, nor do I generalize about people or countries or lump people together just because of their ethnic backgrounds, skin colors, accents, etc.

France's friendship is a very touchy subject with many people because of their governments past history with the U.S. They are supposed to be our allies, yet it seems to be an alliance of conveinence on their part. They have a notorius reputation of "rolling over" and not getting involved in wars or actions that we and our other allies are involved in. Imagine counting on a friend to stick by you when you really need them but then that person decides not to. This is a very simplified explanation but you get the gist.

Quoting MissyPie:

"For some reason, people who would never ever say anything negative about minority groups feel comfortable bashing France. It's a strange mentality in our country right now. Why MUST everyone agree with us? Why MUST everything be done our way? Why do WE get to decide who can have what type of weapons?"

WE get to decide because, for good or bad, we are one of the few remaining Superpowers who other countries look towards to take the lead when things go wrong in the world. We have given our blood, sweat and tears to get where we are in the world and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a tough cross to bear but if we want to continue to live in the luxury that we do, it needs to be done.

This of course is just my opinion.

I am truly sorry for the people in this world who are picked on, persecuted and wronged just because they are "different", but when you think about it, aren't we all.

 

[faithinkarma]

Then as one of the remaining superpowers it behooves us to take the lead and create an environment where picking on someone because of their race is not done. These people who think it is alright to look down on others do not exist in a vacuum. They do what they do because they have given themselves permission to act in such a way. And they feel empowered to give themselves such permission because this country made it PC to crap on the French. Be angry with their government, do not take it out on their people.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by faithinkarma
Then as one of the remaining superpowers it behooves us to take the lead and create an environment where picking on someone because of their race is not done. These people who think it is alright to look down on others do not exist in a vacuum. They do what they do because they have given themselves permission to act in such a way. And they feel empowered to give themselves such permission because this country made it PC to crap on the French. Be angry with their government, do not take it out on their people.

This country has been trying to do just that for many, many decades. Unfortunately, no matter how much training or indoctrinating a person receives, that person will not change unless they want to. But keep trying, maybe someday everyone will live in peace and harmony.

 

[Beth76]

I LOVED Paris and wish I could have spent more time there and in France. I didn't encounter any "rude" people either.

When the whole French-bashing thing was going on, I remember seeing people (on the news) throwing their bottles of French wine into the gutters in protest. Hello Morons!!!!! You already PAID for the wine, you might as well enjoy it. After we saw that my husband and I went to our local wine shop and bought French wine and Cheese and enjoyed it immensely.

I have never felt any ill-will towards France and it's people. I could care less if their government doesn't support us. That's their right. I'm so sorry your children are being harrased because of their wonderful heritage. My background is almost 100% German, BTW, and they don't have a very good track record either. I would much rather be FRENCH than German!

 

[faithinkarma]

Originally posted by DukeStreetKing
This country has been trying to do just that for many, many decades. Unfortunately, no matter how much training or indoctrinating a person receives, that person will not change unless they want to. But keep trying, maybe someday everyone will live in peace and harmony.

My point was that when you have legislators calling for bans on all things French to the point of renaming french fries, it is difficult to convince the average person that looking down on the French is wrong.

 

[MICKEY88]

it is totally wrong to judge people in such a way..


one fact that the media has overlooked regarding the French...

There is a french Judge who had been tracking Al Quaida after a bombing in France, he had volumes of information , names etc.... a computer he had seized in his investigation contained many names of terrorists/ training locations/ etc...

prior to 911 he had tipped the US off to the guy who was arrested crossing into the US from Canada with the car full of explosives headed for LA to start the new Millenium off terrorist style...


after 911 he shared volumes of info with the US, and that is why we were able to locate the German cells and come up with so much info so quickly, it wasn't our investigative prowess it was his years of collecting intel, he gave