I've never been to france nor do I plan on going any time soon. I have a friend that went there for a week with the foreign language class in high school. I think it was six years ago. He said it was a great experience. The food and locations were truely to die for.
Two co-workers had something negative to say. One went with her family in the summer of 2000. She(chinese/irish) said the same thing about the food and scenery but that the people were very rude once they knew that they were American. Another friend said that his father(vietnamese) went there for a business trip pre-9/11 and said the same thing about how he was treated rudely after they found out he was American.
Now taking in to consideration that this was pre-iraq, pre-9/11 and pre-Bush days; what reasons would french people have to behave negatively towards American tourists? If current anti-American attitudes exist in France from international politics then what are it's roots for past incidents?
I support the Bush administrations efforts in iraq. I certainly wouldn't treat an iraqie with disrespect if he came to my place of work as a paying guest. Especially if he or she were a tourist. What reasons do I have to mistreat complete strangers in my country? None really. I was born here but my parents came here decades earlier. I can relate to my parents birthplace but I'm an American at heart and wouldn't feel at home anywhere else. I could survive anywhere and be successful doing whatever but I prefer this place.
I heard that there was a growing resentment towards McDonalds in france because it was a successful American business and that fast food in general is dispised. Food especially I suppose is more then a cultural thing france. Being directly associated with ones traditional dishes has it's positives and negatives. If nothing else they have their history of good tastes in the culinary arts.
Yet past annimosity can not all be based on food alone. Was it because of our ecomony? Silicone Valley was the place to be during the late 90's. The United States does have some of the lowest taxes in the world. We import more goods then we export. Why would anyone be jeleous of someone else's economy? Just because it's stronger doesn't mean we are better as people.
So am I just feeling irrationally inferior because of something we as a people did or didn't do in the 90's? Perhaps france is and always have been manuvering itself to be in a position of worldy influence like America by undermining everything we do. Napolean had his day in the sun. Does his influence and glory still reign in the hearts of modern frenchmen? Are french people just inherently racist against a mixed society like America? I am not in a position to answer any of these questions. Maybe there is someone out there that can. I doubt it but you never know.
So if you have had a negative experinece in france recently or in the past ten years then I would like to hear from you. Was it something you did that got that responce or was it because of what you were. Also I would like to get some reasons as to why you feel that french people are racist/rude towards Americans/non-french citizens.
Thanks.
Two co-workers had something negative to say. One went with her family in the summer of 2000. She(chinese/irish) said the same thing about the food and scenery but that the people were very rude once they knew that they were American. Another friend said that his father(vietnamese) went there for a business trip pre-9/11 and said the same thing about how he was treated rudely after they found out he was American.
Now taking in to consideration that this was pre-iraq, pre-9/11 and pre-Bush days; what reasons would french people have to behave negatively towards American tourists? If current anti-American attitudes exist in France from international politics then what are it's roots for past incidents?
I support the Bush administrations efforts in iraq. I certainly wouldn't treat an iraqie with disrespect if he came to my place of work as a paying guest. Especially if he or she were a tourist. What reasons do I have to mistreat complete strangers in my country? None really. I was born here but my parents came here decades earlier. I can relate to my parents birthplace but I'm an American at heart and wouldn't feel at home anywhere else. I could survive anywhere and be successful doing whatever but I prefer this place.
I heard that there was a growing resentment towards McDonalds in france because it was a successful American business and that fast food in general is dispised. Food especially I suppose is more then a cultural thing france. Being directly associated with ones traditional dishes has it's positives and negatives. If nothing else they have their history of good tastes in the culinary arts.
Yet past annimosity can not all be based on food alone. Was it because of our ecomony? Silicone Valley was the place to be during the late 90's. The United States does have some of the lowest taxes in the world. We import more goods then we export. Why would anyone be jeleous of someone else's economy? Just because it's stronger doesn't mean we are better as people.
So am I just feeling irrationally inferior because of something we as a people did or didn't do in the 90's? Perhaps france is and always have been manuvering itself to be in a position of worldy influence like America by undermining everything we do. Napolean had his day in the sun. Does his influence and glory still reign in the hearts of modern frenchmen? Are french people just inherently racist against a mixed society like America? I am not in a position to answer any of these questions. Maybe there is someone out there that can. I doubt it but you never know.
So if you have had a negative experinece in france recently or in the past ten years then I would like to hear from you. Was it something you did that got that responce or was it because of what you were. Also I would like to get some reasons as to why you feel that french people are racist/rude towards Americans/non-french citizens.
Thanks.
