Self-Doubt Leaves French Feeling Down in the Mouth (Crapweasels AND Frogs, what could be worse?

The Scotsman ^ | January 22, 2005 | Susan Bell

[quidnunc]

Paris – It is official: the French are a nation of depressed pessimists, wracked with self-doubt and unable to see a positive future.

This gloomy portrait of the current state of Gallic morale - or rather the lack of it - was made public yesterday in a damning report by France’s prefects, the country’s top administrators.

"The French no longer believe in anything," the report said. "That is the reason that the situation is relatively calm, for they believe that it is not even worthwhile expressing their opinions or trying to be heard any more."

The country’s 100 prefects went on to use the words "lifelessness", "resignation", "anxiety" and "pessimism" to describe the attitudes they believe prevail in France today.

The report, which is dated December 2004 but has only just been made public, would appear to be contradicted by the three days of strikes launched by public sector workers this week.

However, analysts point to the fact that disillusionment and apathy are so great that not even France’s formerly powerful unions were able to predict the turnout for the strike. Opinion polls show that 65 per cent of the French support the strikers, leading observers to say that the country is showing its discontent by proxy via the strikers.

"It’s a fact: France and the French are pessimists," said Alain Duhamel, a respected French commentator.

-snip-

[Sonny M]

They should be pessimistic.

They won't even have a country in 40 years.

[SmithL]

What a shame for France, that they're unable to produce a Ronald Reagan of their own.

[IamConservative]

Not to worry, the still smell like a laundry basket in a locker room. They still got that.

[Middle-O-Road]

It's just the first step in the transition to Islamic extremism.

No problem. Move along.

[Ukiapah Heep]

The pessimism is well deserved.

[Drango]

It's wrong to be French.

[bill1952]

"they believe that it is not even worthwhile expressing their opinions or trying to be heard any more."

Well, well. The French and I finally agree on something.

Now, someone should inform their Foreign Minister...

[bahblahbah]

"The prefects’ report also warned that it played into the hands of the extreme right-wing National Front party."

So would that be better or worse for us? There whole political spectrum is fscked.

[elfman2]

Anything I could say would be like kicking a sick dog.

[marty60]

If you don't believe in ANYTHING, then EVERYTHING is acceptable. I think that's a quote from someone.

[xzins]

Could it be that Chirac is actually Jimmy "Malaise" Carter?!?

[John Lenin]

This is what happens to a country that mocks God and has no beliefs in anything except self gratification.

[dufekin]

France really is able to produce a Ronald Reagan of their own; he surely would find his way with haste to Ronald Reagan's America. In other not-so-breaking news, extreme liberalism is a severe mental disease that results in a slow-motion self-inflicted genocide. I know--I was a liberal once; it was abjectly miserable.

[chilepepper]

french pessimism is the reason they *really* hate the US, its exhuberance, optimism, energy and tendancy to do things right...

i am amazed at the french ability to screw the pooch, with the blood soaked french revolution being a perfect example, giving rise to both the gullotine and totalitarianism...

[Cornpone]

As I heard today outside smoking my evil cigarette and talking with my buddies it is about time for America to go save France again and regenerate the gene pool...after all its been almost 50 years since we saved their 'honor' from Dien ben Phu...of course we lost 50,000 of our sons doing it.

[GSlob]

According to learned opinion, French Disease is syphilis, not pessimism ("Syphilis sive Morbus Gallicus", Girolamo Fracastoro, 1530). Something does not compute.

[MisterRepublican]

La boo hoo hoo, pooor Frenchie!!!

[Bigg Red]

"The French no longer believe in anything,"

^^
Sartre must be proud.

[elhombrelibre]

I think you're quoting Eric Hoffer. He said, "Those who believe in nothing will soon believe in anything."