This tie is a mere $108.
Posted on 07/04/2003 7:32:47 AM PDT by Valin
PARIS - The July 4 holiday is taking on extra meaning this year for many French, offering a chance to repair frayed ties and honor U.S. sacrifices there.
Despite differences over the Iraq war, many citizen groups and tourism promoters hope to use the occasion to point out that France has long been - and will remain - a friend of the United States.
More than in years past, France wants to provide an ``extra welcome'' to American visitors this year, Paris tourism officials say. An array of festivities are planned.
From offering free champagne to cooking up barbecue meals, more than 100 Paris hotels, restaurants and other establishments will reach out to American guests Friday, the Paris tourist office said.
A grass-roots initiative led by about two dozen veterans, educational and French-American groups Thursday began placing 67,500 roses on memorials and tombs to honor U.S. soldiers who fought in France in the two world wars.
"Many people - Americans and French - needed this," said one organizer, Anne-Colombe de la Taille. "We've seen the U.S.-French relationship break down, so we wish to give a strong signal about the U.S.-French friendship that has existed for such a long time."
In an open letter titled ``The French have not forgotten,'' the groups pointed out that France was the first country to recognize an independent America, and said this year marks the 225th anniversary of a U.S.-French friendship treaty.
"It's like a family. There are conflicts, but in the end one remains a family. You stay together," said de la Taille, who once lived in the United States and whose daughter was born there.
Whether because of a weak U.S. dollar or lingering concerns about France's opposition to the U.S.-led war on Iraq, visits by Americans to Paris have plunged recently. Tourism was down nearly 25 percent in the first four months of the year compared to a year earlier, according to the capital's tourism office.
Well then France, start acting like it.
And when you do, I will refrain from calling ya'all cheese eating surrender monkeys.
5.56mm
They will only spit in your food once.
Becki
Look folks, this wasn't a little tiff over trade, this was france endangering American lives by activily creating dissention in the UN, by working harder than they've ever worked before to derail things in the UN, and support a regime that was killing, torturing, and maiming their own people. Not merely a few political dissidents, but average people who live in fear every day of their lives. It's not merely the french government that did this, it was the average frenchman who totally supported their government.
No, we're not family and we won't forget.
This tie is a mere $108.
I must have been sick when they taught about that place when I was in school.
France?
C'mon, you know the place! They are in the axis of weasels, and they provide safe harbor for all of the world's most revolting people: terrorists, murderer's, pedophiles, etc.
Roman Polanski, James Dewayne Nivette, Ayatollah Khomeni, Ira Einhorn, and on and on.....
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