[Alneyan]

Originally posted by Slynky:
I'm certainly not qualified on the subject. I'm only drawing conclusions based on some other facts. And, as Dennis Miller would say, "Of course, this is just my opinion, I could be wrong."

I think things (relationship) between France and the US turned bad several years after WW2. The US kept troops there. France said to get out. The US left. My dad was one of them and from firsthand knowledge, I can tell you a lot of people in the US were upset. He told me of a newspaper graphic that had a picture of gravestones in France with a caption that said, "Some of the US soldiers can't leave."

In the late 50's or early 60's, the "world" decided a universal language was needed (and there is no need to repeat my story). I'll just add that ANYONE with any sense would have to understand the economic impact/benefit of having one's country's language chosen. The final 2 Languages, French and English, were debated hotly. When French was, hmmmmmm, "discarded" and English chosen, I'm saying that left a bitter pill in French stomachs. I'm saying, fueled by the feeling their country was being occupied after the war and the selection of English over French as an international language, many French people became upset/angry. And just as a lot of people in the US are upset that the French seem to be a big "thorn" in the US/Iraq/terrorist situation, a lot of French still harbor ill feelings about the US.

Now, I realize there are lots of side discussions one could delve into. It's certainly a complicated subject. And I'm no authority for sure. But with firsthand experience while visiting France, I'd have to say I experience more aggression there than any other country I visited. And part of the reason, I believe, I tried to explain above.

(pardon any typos...rushing this through from work)

Really interesting there. I would also like to point out there were already tensions during WW2, near the end of the conflict, when the future status of France was debated between Churchil, the current US president at this time (sorry, I forgot his name. *Sighs*) and De Gaulle for France. And then aftewards what you said occurred, France was ruled by De Gaulle and the US troops had to leave France. (Quite strangely, I don't recall having studied any of this in our history. Well, maybe it isn't really strange after all. )

Then for the issue of an universal language, I don't think it has directly affected the French, but the government then could have been upset by this decision, leading to a few legislations here and there. (Even though English as a universal language makes sense to me, but perhaps saying so will get me sued by some French. ) It could have happened, taking advantage of the French pride, but I am no expert on such fields.

Now the interesting question would be to know if other tourists from other countries (Germany for instance) have also felt this aggression. We would know if Frenchmen do have a problem with America and Britain, or if they have issues with everybody who isn't French. (That would be quite a lot of people) Quite paradoxal in either case when you know France is one of the most visited country in the world.

We Americans REALLY suck when it comes to speaking a second language.

Frenchmen and Americans do have similarities after all. Your average French will speak an average French, not very good from time to time, a few will be able to speak fluently two Languages (French slang does NOT count as a foreign language), and I have yet to see a French able to speak *three* Languages, that is to say a French who has a common understanding of these three Languages, including French.

As for your points, I haven't traveled a lot myself so I cannot really speak of such topics. But it makes sense, especially the first statement, the odds for a old French to speak English are... well, so low that the Hearth of Gold is required to meet such a person.

[ September 16, 2003, 19:47: Message edited by: Alneyan ]