I talk to people from France every day and hear their political opinions regularly, some of which I agree with and some of which I do not. I've been to France and most of Western Europe for that matter. France, for the record has a more widely diverse political spectrum than the United States, and they are quite vocal in their particular versions of politics.

I agree that we get less influence in current popular music from Europe than would seem natural, given the global nature of the world. While in Europe I heard the most popular songs there several times a day, like the pop music here, then after returning never heard them again, not once. I've thought there was some market manipulation in that regard here. Nobody here seems to notice.

Oh I forgot, I get French news articles thrust in my face daily. Today I was made to read one in French, which was annoying since French is not what I would consider one of my languages.

Excuse me but with such stars as Yanni,Zamphyr the pan flutist and David Hasselhoff I pray pop music from Europe remains there.

Look what happened when we opened the Canadian boarder...Howie Mandel, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion...only God knows whats being done across the seas lol.

interesting where this is going, Timorek.

Turned into a French bash. I find it odd that the criticisms the French harbor can't be admitted to as real.

John Adams our second pres. after realizing the English had a problem with us trading with the French decided to burn the White House... as if that was going to do any good HA!!!

the French had a constitution that we borrowed heavily upon to write our own... by the way, the other half of our Constitution is pretty much plagerism from the Brits Magna Carta......

No small wonder they think we are idiots!!! WE as a people don't know what I just shared is because of them.

So, I ask you all that hate the French and anything Continental, if you think I'm out of my tree for suggesting that maybe...JUST MAYBE... they are all ahead of us in terms of honing a sophisticated society that is inclusive and not a consumer driven nightmare of childish playground bullying and drama??????

OOPS... didn't intend to infer John Adams burned the White House... I should proofread things better... SORRY!!!

The War of 1812 was over our trade with the French to the angry resentment of the British. GB decided to mess, but they didn't get too far did they?

We got into Vietnam courtesy of Eisenhower in the 50s... nobody remembers that!!! The UN was still in its infancy and the French had been carrying the load in Vietnam... so we went in to help. Who screwwed us up????

The Kennedy White House? LBJ inherited a big ol' mess and tried to spank them all into submission so we could bolt and run outta there....didn't work, did it????

SO>>>why the hatred for the French?? We've been pals longer than any two other nations!!!! WASSUP TO THAT?

I love to french!!ooh lala

yeah... me too you cute lttle devil!!!

spider,

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

I loved that movie

wouldee you ole rascal you..

It's weird but I do not think this has turned into a French bashing thread? People just state their opinions, and many believe that the French hate America and Americans because that is what the media and some politicians here told them.

Remember the whole Freedom Fries fiasco? How asinine was that? This was crap I remembered from kindergarten, and should never be part of.... for lack of better terms grown up politics (if there is such a thing )

I have mixed feeling about the French, but that is yet another topic I will do after the debate about Conservatism and Liberalism and how the meanings were switched here in the USA without the Americans noticing...

Of course a person on this thread actually went to France and he was told that Americans are jack-asses :-D

So there is first hand experience there :-D

KLC -
I learned to hide my american identity to avoid hostility.
included my accent, my clothes, my food preferences etc.
I secretly snuck to special stores that sold 'american' grocery items on occasions like for corn muffins.

Just curious, how long ago was that, when you were there? I noticed it because a Brit living in the USA for a few years - that I kind of expected. Were you living there long?

Did you work at an American based company?

Sorry, if it seems like a few questions, I am just curious. Usually I have found they are nice to Americans, but I think that's because they are usually on vacation. I was last there in 1995 - 1997 and I sensed a difference between that time and the early 80's. London I thought was different to the north of England so I would be curious to know which part of the country you were based in.

Usually Europe is about 2-3 years ahead in fashions, gadgets etc than the US and Canada. What I noticed more when I lived in the USA was the lack of things. You hear so much that america is number one but it seemed rather backwards than forwards to me. Canada has a lot more, such a bigger stores, more selection. I was quite surprized

I am British, planning on becoming a US citizen before I go back for a visit there (only to see my family and perhaps a couple of castles I would like to visit).

Your brother in law is probably right, just wanted to know I wasn't the only one that thought it. Does he still think it is a free country?

I would expect you would find it more prevalent in the north of England. I have a friend there who had a hard time moving back home to Birmingham after living in London for several years, and spending some time overseas. We put it down to a very parochial attitude in the north particularly for women who seem to be a little independent and have travelled outside of their hometown.

I found that the fashions over there seem to hit the USA a few months later.

Ummm Gypsy, you can keep your fashions, I just need my jeans and T-Shirt

FACT;

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $43,500. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-06 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in 2005 and 2006 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end 2006. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise trade deficit reached a record $750 billion in 2006.

then why is everything made in Japan???

or china for that fact!!!

And when I travel the world, people will know I'm American if they talk to me. If the ya'lls, aint's, and the whole southern drawl don't tip them off first. And if they got a problem with where I was born and raised, I'll just laugh at them. Its not like I had farking choice as to where I would come into the world.