Flights From Paris to U.S. Cancelled

MSNBC | December 24, 2003

[No Blue States]

I wont forget either, and although France was proven a plastic fair weather ally they are not alone in that regard.
Someday I might forgive if they make serious and sincere steps to be a true ally again, but Like You I will never forget or trust them again. We have enemies that have proven to be greater friends than France in the last few years. French Bashing is a good thing, why deny them what they worked so hard for.

[Conservative til I die]

My friend is French-born and even he thinks the French are scum.('Rats' is his preferred terminology).

[Conservative til I die]

France was the first country to recognize the United States of America, and aided us in our war for independence.

And we fought a bloody, protracted war (two of them actually) against the British, who are now are greatest allies.

Times and people change. What's your point?

[Conservative til I die]

Are you planning to respond to every anti-French post on this thread? You are beyond obsessive.

[Conservative til I die]

They come to France to live nice, sweet, middle-class French lives.

That's not the idea I hear from the relatives back in Germany (yes, it's a different country but same region, similar situation). The Africans and Muslims coming to Germany seem to be doing so for the welfare benefits and are not assimilating at all.

[JIM O]

He would if he could, but he has been baned.

[Conservative til I die]

But disgusted by silly anti-French attitudes toward one of our most important allies, historically and today.

France is not an important ally today. They are absolutely irrelevant at best, a detriment at worst. Our true allies our England, Poland, Spain, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and a lot of the smaller "New European" countries.

In other words, you're delusional.

[beezdotcom]

He would if he could, but he has been baned.

bane n. 1. Fatal injury or ruin:

Yeah, I think you got it about right... ;-)

[God luvs America]

My original thought was wrong but my reaction to the french was normaal and happen stance based on their history.

[aristeides]

Be it the Monarchy, the Republic or the Empire itself, France as a glorious model of human progress and equitable governance has no validity in any epoch. Particularly so, from the American pov.

So it would appear you include even Lafayette in this general condemnation.

Permit me to point out that Gen. George Washington had a very different opinion of France and the French from the one you apparently have. I quote from his letter to Lafayette of Feb. 7, 1788:

I shall myself be happy in forming an acquaintance and cultivating a friendship with the new Minister Plenipotentiary of France, whom you have commended as a "sensible and honest man;" these are qualities too rare and too precious not to merit one's particular esteem. You may be persuaded, that he will be well received by the Congress of the United States, because they will not only be influenced in their conduct by his individual merits, but also by their affection for the nation of whose Sovereign he is the Representative. For it is an undoubted fact, that the People of America entertain a grateful remembrance of past services as well as a favorable disposition for commercial and friendly connections with your Nation.

[witnesstothefall]

Again, what is your point? Shall we marry the aspirations of American liberty to the whim of France because Washington admired the qualities of his French aide 200 years ago?

You haven't put up an argument to refute my point in the least. How exactly do you think Lafayette is relevant to events today?

So it would appear you include even Lafayette

No it wouldn't, but thanks for trying. Lafayette was the exception that proved the rule of French avarice. France has had centuries since then to prove its fealty and worthiness as an ally, and it has failed again and again. Indeed, the way it led opposition among permanent members of the UN Security Council, out of all proportion to its standing among major powers, while hiding behind the most cynical of claims of knowing our interests better than we ourselves, to defend a tyrant of Hussein's record against us at all costs - well that just speaks for itself.

The worst insults an American can hurtle at France are beside the point. What they really deserve is our indifference. If this were 1788, and I were Washington, I'd be singing the praises of Lafayette and France, too, as would any American on the winning side of the Revolution. But Washington and Lafayette are long dead, and irrelevant to the question of 21st century alliances.

[aristeides]

I thought you were saying France had never done anything good. I take it you have retracted that. Good.