When did calling someone French become an insult?

[Tashtego]

Have you ever thought of WHY people are leaving the middle east to go to (mostly) Europe? Why is over 100 000 iraqi people expected to leave Iraq and come to Sweden this year? Must be the bad weather down there, or?

And I am sure the TEN MILLION russian soldiers, and TEN MILLION russian civilians, that were killed agree that it was the spilled american blood in WW2 that made all the difference and finally stopped the germans. No wonder the russians are pissed off today.

I dont like the french either, but maybe atleast some perspective would be a good thing?

Ah, if only the Swedes could have been such passionate allies of the Soviets back then too. They could have supplied the Red Army with steel and heavy equipment instead of the Germans. Then the US's already meager efforts could have been reduced, perhaps avoided altogether. Then the whole of western Europe could have enjoyed the tender embrace of Uncle Joe instead of just Eastern Europe.

[horns666]

France has Gojira. That's not a bad deal there. Those guys fuckin' bring it...

Yes, and Symbyosis..and I love them..

Actualy "Listenable" records is a GREAT label!!!

[horns666]

I was just in Paris four weeks ago. Fantastic architecture, food, and wine. Luckily we left for Munich before the post presidential election parties/riots started. We also noticed billions of near east beggars, which could be why the French have a thing against muslims.

Bill - Notre Dame was a big letdown after seeing Sacre Couer. Then again, I don't know if you were serious.

Really..yeah , I was very seriously and I'll take your word for it.

[fett]

You guys just don't have a sense of history. The French bashing started after we entered WWI. Whether you like it or not, the AEF saved Europe. For the time being. Then the '40's happened and France was a "Plum" and the Germans picked it. They were stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. During WWII the Allies landed in France and drove the Germans back to Germany. And we won. The PC thing to do was to let Degaulle (SP) ride into Paris as a "Liberator". The US knew that was a joke. Then Chuck became the Pres and basically bashed the US during the "50"s. That's how it started. It's that simple. It has nothing to do with what France is doing today. Once a country as important as France gets a rep as a counrty that needs to be bailed out, it's hard to live down.

[kelly user]

considering they have never won a war. ......... idiots run their mouth and can't back it up, even though were doing the same thing in iraq. but we can kind of back it up.

[monk]

Ah, if only the Swedes could have been such passionate allies of the Soviets back then too. They could have supplied the Red Army with steel and heavy equipment instead of the Germans. Then the US's already meager efforts could have been reduced, perhaps avoided altogether. Then the whole of western Europe could have enjoyed the tender embrace of Uncle Joe instead of just Eastern Europe.

We were not allies with anyone. There is a difference between being trying to be neutral and being an ally. We exported iron ore to whoever wanted it. Before things started to heat up we exported just as much to Britain as we did to Germany. That, of course, changed after Britain first shoot themselves in the foot when signing the AGNA-agreement and thus giving Germany total naval control of the Baltic sea, and secondly when Chamberlain/Churchill for anything but obvious reasons totally failed to gain control of the port of Narvik, and with it the total control of Swedish flow of iron during the winter. That might have been one of the biggest mistakes ever, and certainly one of the most important reasons for why Germany was allowed to become so strong during WW2.

We are not proud, nor ashamed, of anything we did or did not do during WW2. We do not have to thank anyone, and we do not expect anyone to thank us either. I agree that the French may be in debt to the US and the allies for freeing them from the German occupation, but what I reacted on was the so common saying that the allies "won" WW2 (not financially), made all the difference and that the whole of Europe should just get down on their knees thanking you. The Germans were finally defeated in the battle of Berlin, by the Russians, in one of the most bloodiest battles ever, and not in Normandie or anything else. Anyone who helped defeating the Germans during WW2 deserves a thank you from everyone who were saved.

I dislike the French (government) because of their stupid politics and their bad influence on the European union as well as for "inventing" socialism.

That is not the same thing as not liking "the French" (the people living in France) though. Most French people I have met so far have been really nice even though they do behave in a certain way. They also have the best kitchen in the world, and what would we do without them supplying the rest of the world with cheap light bulbs, drinking glasses, pen and pencils, forks and other high-tech stuff?

[442w30]

what would we do without them supplying the rest of the world with cheap light bulbs, drinking glasses, pen and pencils, forks and other high-tech stuff?

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about with this part of the post, though some of what you stated before is insightful.

HighTech french? Tableware cheap?

No one should underestimate the commitment of the Russians, or the bold tactics of the germans, but this is about the French being sterotyped as A-Holes, a role that you even admit overall they as a people and government are willing to take.

People are people, pride is pride, the ugly American is also the confident Entrepreneur from a land of promise and resources.

Kinda makes you a little cocky I guess, as does living south of the land of Meat Boilers and importing spices while you eat snails and eggs.

BTW: I understand that you don't tip French waitstaff, that's a plus, they must compensate restaraunt employees fairly, or maybe that's where the attitude comes from

[Rsmacker]

considering they have never won a war. ......... idiots run their mouth and can't back it up, even though were doing the same thing in iraq. but we can kind of back it up.

Erm, the French have been pretty tasty over the years, ever heard of Napoleon?
Mind you, he didn't get the better of Russia either!

Fett has it right, De Gaulle, what a complete bell-end.

Oh, and I love the Swedes too - more masters of pornography. Ding Dong!

[442w30]

Swedes made great Mausers (and took great care of them).
I love Ikea = loganberries, swedish fish, and Meatballs

[monk]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about with this part of the post, though some of what you stated before is insightful.

HighTech french? Tableware cheap?

I just realized that everything I own that is French-made is particularly grunt-technology stuff like light-bulbs, forks and glasses. Nothing electronically complicated or such, thus the "high-tech" comment. Of course they make other stuff too.

No one dislikes the French like Mark Twain, though.

http://www.twainquotes.com/French.html

Loganberries? I had to look those up on Wikipedia and they appear to be an American thing.

[Guitardude86]

[quote=Rsmacker;931907]Erm, the French have been pretty tasty over the years, ever heard of Napoleon?quote]

Napoleon eh? Hmm.. Ah, oui! He was a good chess player!
Here's a game he played, recreated for our viewing pleasure..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD6iVqeteIM

[442w30]

Loganberries? I had to look those up on Wikipedia and they appear to be an American thing.

Really? Ikea is the uber-swede store here and they have loganberry everything, drinks, jellies, etc. Before they moved in, I never heard of a loganberry! That's pretty funny that you don't know about them. If they are from America, it must be the Northeast.

I love Gooseberries though...

The only thing French I have that I know of is a Ford Explorer transmission and maybe some cheese. I think everything else is chinese

[nsubulysses]

The point in time when it became insulting to call someone French was back in 1994 when Dumb and Dumber came out.

Lloyd was all like, "Let's go to Aspen."

"I don't know, Lloyd. The French are assholes."

[DonP]

And I am sure the TEN MILLION russian soldiers, and TEN MILLION russian civilians, that were killed agree that it was the spilled american blood in WW2 that made all the difference and finally stopped the germans. No wonder the russians are pissed off today.

I dont like the french either, but maybe at least some perspective would be a good thing?

Perspective? If the Germans didn't have to worry about a western front, Russia might have been toast.

On the other hand, if Germany didn't go after Russia and concentrated on Britain, the UK might have been toast.

It was teamwork that won the war.

[monk]

It was teamwork that won the war.

Of course. That was my point, kind of, but I failed to get it across!

Really? Ikea is the uber-swede store here and they have loganberry everything, drinks, jellies, etc. Before they moved in, I never heard of a loganberry! That's pretty funny that you don't know about them. If they are from America, it must be the Northeast.

I love Gooseberries though...

The only thing French I have that I know of is a Ford Explorer transmission and maybe some cheese. I think everything else is chinese

Nah, never heard of them. According to Wikipedia they were created, by mistake, by an American named Logan somewhere in California. Do you not mean "Lingonberries" instead?