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How stupid is France?! (pg. 5)
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| Eugene |
| quote: | Originally posted by ahlamalek
Still my English is better than your French :D |
so?
FYI I speak several languages, not just English and French
and you can't tell me that I don't speak the language or am not familiar with the culture etc.
I love France and its culture and language, but I'm against its isolationist policies and its arrogance some of which can be compared to America's. |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by daffodil
haha, i've seen enough of it to make me ill. i may be american, but i have to admit that i don't think i like americans as a whole. and i never said i wasn't stereotyping ;) |
Hmmm you've seen enough of it to make the expert assumption that americans only go to McDonalds and have no appreciation for foreign culture? I've lived about 3/5 of my life in Europe and Asia and even I don't think that I've seen enough to make a broad generalization such as that ;) |
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| Eugene |
| As we speak I'm writing an e-mail to that author telling her that she is an embarassment to America and its citizens like me. |
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| Eugene |
Here's my email:
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Julia,
After reading your article on France I can say that you are truly an embarassment to America and its citizens like me.
Your narrow-mindedness and extremism are perfect examples of why so many people around the world dislike us. |
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| ahlamalek |
| quote: | Originally posted by occrider
Well true, I may be speaking out of my ass because I don't live there but allow me to make a few points. If Quebec wishes to preserve the French culture of Quebec this wouldn't be an issue to begin with right? So why not let the people decide? Why doesn't Quebec open up a Quebec only radio/tv station where all the local talent and cultural programming is show cased and people can flock to if they were so interested in local culture. Why place restrictions and limitations on the choices and options people have just because you think it's a good idea that people don't listen to too much German music, or watch too much American tv? |
:)
you are describing cultur as if it was a market where people are free to choose their products/services. Cultur is not a product nor a service, its the basis of any nation, it is what makes it distinct from another cultur/nation, etc. If it is lost, it is gone for ever. The government's duty is to protect the culturs in his nation. (note: the restrictions imposed to communications i.e. radio and tv are federal rulings not provincial). In quebec for example, you have the usa less than a 100km from 90% of quebecs' population. The US is a giant, its productions are, movie and music budgets don't even compare to tiny studios over here. How can local artists compete with American or other mega stars?? They don't have the same means, power and $$ to promote themselves.
Its a downward spiral, because the more foreign artists get heard here, the less monies get thru to locals, the less they can promote themselve and compete, the less local cultur gets heard. Locals can't identify themselves to local cultur, because there's no artist, movies and arts to refer to, etc... the cultur gets assimilated in less than a 100 years. |
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| daffodil |
| quote: | Originally posted by occrider
Hmmm you've seen enough of it to make the expert assumption that americans only go to McDonalds and have no appreciation for foreign culture? I've lived about 3/5 of my life in Europe and Asia and even I don't think that I've seen enough to make a broad generalization such as that ;) |
enough is a relative term. what's enough for me isn't enough for others. i'll admit i have a low tolerance for being annoyed and i've been known to go on rages that start with generalization and stereotypes such as, "i hate stupid people!" or "i hate virginia drivers!" or "has anyone every HEARD the word 'please'?!"
so my comment about tourist americans is my personal opinion and pet peeve and i really have nothing other than my perceptions to back it up. |
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| festayre |
Bon, je vais tenter de m'expliquer :
1. Vous parlez tous très bien anglais :D et français !
2. Avant de "globaliser" tout le monde, vous feriez mieux de le faire chez vous. En Californie, il y a beaucoup de Mexicains et ils parlent espagnol, il y a des radios, des télévisions uniquement hispaniques, sans parler du reste (même la documentation administrative, isn't it ??). C'est ce qu'on appelle une exception culturelle je pense. Donc on peut faire comme on fait depuis des millénaires : parler français en France !!! C'est la moindre des choses.
3. La France n'est ni rétrograde, ni anti américaine. Pourquoi ?? Quel a été le premier chef d'Etat étranger à venir aux Etats-Unis après les tragiques événements de 2001 ?? Le Président de la République Française, Jacques Chirac.
Les cadets de West Point ont participé à la parade militaire du 14 juillet (fête nationale française) sur les Champs Elysée  . Tout comme un superbe camion du FDNY  . Mais que vous faut-il pour vous prouver qu'on n'est pas anti-américains ? Qu'on mette la bannière étoilée sur tous nos bâtiments publics ??
4. La France est beaucoup plus ouverte que les Etats-Unis. Combien d'enfants des High Schools américaines peuvent situer une ville française ?? Ou la France sur une carte du monde ?? Combien d'enfants peuvent dire qui est le Président français ?? Pas beaucoup. Nous avons un chapitre complet de notre programme de géographie en classe de 3e (enfants de 14 - 15 ans) ainsi qu'en 1ère (16 - 17 ans). C'est inévitable. Si un film français veut être diffusé dans les salles américaines, il doit être tourné deux fois : une fois en français mais aussi une fois en anglais. Car vos chers compatriotes n'aiment pas les films doublés (traduits).
5. Notre président est élu directement (démocratiquement). C'est à celui qui aura le plus de votes de la population. Chez vous, ce sont les grands électeurs (les gouverneurs je crois) qui votent pour élire le président. C'est moins démocratique déjà.
6. Les Etats-Unis sont une jeune démocratie qui n'a pas une Histoire aussi longue que la nôtre donc c'est normal, nous sommes un peu fiers de notre passé, surtout qu'il nous en reste quelques vestiges (que vous pouvez venir visiter)
Conclusion.
Nous avons beaucoup de choses en commun, beaucoup de choses à apprendre l'un de l'autre et en définitive la France n'est pas anti-américaine. Ceux qui sont anti-américains en France ce sont les communistes, les anarchistes, les écologistes ainsi que les faschistes -> pas le gouvernement actuel. NOT THE ACTUAL GOVERNMENT
PS : J'ai écrit ce message en écoutant Miles Davis. Désolé d'avoir écrit en français, cela me permet de faire passer plus facilement ce que je désire exprimer. Le français est la langue diplomatique ;) . |
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| DrummeRaver86 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eugene
so?
FYI I speak several languages, not just English and French
and you can't tell me that I don't speak the language or am not familiar with the culture etc. |
How many languages do you speak?
Languages are one thing I'm very proud of. I'm only 16, yet I know 4 fluently. My great grandfather used to say that every langauge a man knows makes him double the man. Like someone said earlier, language is practically the key to cultural identity. I think that most will agree with me, French (being a Romance lngauge) is one of the most beautiful languages created. If it chooses to purify itself, who are we to critique that?
J'espere qu'on pourra trouver une facon, bientot, de vivre comme des freres et de ne pas critiquer tout que l'autre fait. |
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| Eugene |
| quote: | Originally posted by DrummeRaver86
How many languages do you speak?
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I speak:
1) English
2) French
3) German
4) Russian (an extremely hard language to learn BTW)
My Russian is fluent of course because I'm from Russia. But my French is fluent too (even with mistakes), and German also, although to a lesser degree. |
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| TuanAnh213 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eugene
I speak:
1) English
2) French
3) German
4) Russian (an extremely hard language to learn BTW)
My Russian is fluent of course because I'm from Russia. But my French is fluent too (even with mistakes), and German also, although to a lesser degree. |
that is damn impressive...did u go out of your way to learn french and german? how? |
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| Eugene |
| quote: | Originally posted by TuanAnh213
that is damn impressive...did u go out of your way to learn french and german? how? |
Yep.
I love different languages and cultures, and when I was in college I took German and was the best student in the class. I learned French in high school (4 yrs) where I had an EXCELLENT teacher -- as you can see, 6 years after graduation I'm still fluent -- and I also was the best student in his class. |
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| DaveSaenz |
| quote: | Originally posted by Izzy
i agree.
btw since we're on the subject of languages, which one do you guys think sounds the best? in my opinion its italian, then french. i wish i knew how to speak one of them.... you know to impress the 'ladies' :toocool: |
Spanish
Italian
French
It only impresses N. America ladies though if that's what you mean...:stongue: |
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