Even as a child, I saw the hypocrisy of shaving a woman's head and marching her down the street with her half German baby. I don't consider survival tactics as collaboration. Seems to me that we confuse the population with their government. Like the Russians, for instance.
I hope that the French can bring in a conservative government, and some control over their Muslim population, before it's too late. I know they helped us during the Revolutionary War, but it was more to punk Great Britain that to help us ;-) Either way, we benifitted.
War is completely grotesque. You've heard of the old joke about the tree lined streets in France? Well, they used to string piano wire across the road to decapitate motorcycle messengers.
There were some real heroes out of that war. Thank you for reminding me, and everyone else reading your posts. You must be sick of all the French bashing by now. Years ago, I was on a private message board on Yahoo, that dealt with sociopaths in our lives. There was one member named Jackie, and she lived in France. Obviously every culture and system is different, and she had been put on medical leave from her job, and couldn't find another one because of her age. Mind you, this was 5 yrs ago, but I still wonder what happened to her. She was a multilingual translator for the American Army after WWII, but couldn't get a visa to emigrate to the US. She married someone like my ex, her own family was pretty hateful as well. Some of us investigated immigration policies from various countries to get her away from a very bad situation. I told her to get a tourist visa, and come live with me. I'd rather have someone like her living here on an expired tourist visa, than Mohammed Atta(of course I was thinking of run of the mill illegal immigrants at the time-not the 9/11 nightmare). Anyway, her cat died, and she quit posting. Like I said, I still think about her.
It probably comes across that we hate everyone who is French. That's unfair, and I know that.
Thank you for posting your family's story. Those airmen owed their lives, and it is wonderful that you all were able to stay in touch.
Ah but so much damage to undo after such a long legacy of socialist policy making.
"and some control over their Muslim population, before it's too late."
Again is this possible now? cities like Marseilles are almost unrecognizable to me an an adult, during my childhood I could recognize the French heritage quite easily, they are more akin with the Tunisian and Moroccan countries that i have visited these days.
"There were some real heroes out of that war. Thank you for reminding me, and everyone else reading your posts. ."
There where some great heroes of the day in France, I remember the friendly taunts my English Father would have with my French Grandfather (both where in the forces) when I was a child, I understand them better now for what they where. My Grandfather spoke of the fear of betrayal and discovery that was constant living amongst the enemy not knowing when discovery or betrayal would occur. This was a different kind of courage not more or less than any other soldier faced but it was a different kind of service during the war that is all. I can only guess and wonder what it must have been like.
"You must be sick of all the French bashing by now"
No because in some ways I am often in agreement with those comments, sounds strange yes?
I remember quite well the 9/11 morning sitting in a hotel room in New York as I was visiting my sister (she worked at Goldman Sachs and was late that morning)
I remember the painful sights that we all saw heard the calls of loved ones on cell phones and wept yes wept for them and their loses especially when I heard the fate of the firemen and policemen.
I remember feeling so proud of my country on the day when France said in support of the American people that same day (9/11) Today in France we are all Americans. Again this brought me to tears.
Now unfortunately my country has again brought me to tears, but not with hope or pride, but with shame this time.
Over the veto in the security council against the US led resolution there can only be shame in my opinion.
"It probably comes across that we hate everyone who is French. That's unfair, and I know that. "
No I think that there are some hurt feelings in the USA and that will take much time to repair previous good relations. I can only hope a common enemy and a return to conservative government in France will see this opportunity blossom.