h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Since the advent of the Euro's difficulties, I have read, both in national newspapers and in blogs, items indicating an absolute hatred of France and the French. Can anyone explain this? We no longer live in the final years of th 18th century and fear the "Terror" or Napoleon's armies, so what is the problem? I can understand some inter-nation rivalry, but the reason for the real hatred shown by many British commentators is a mystery to me. I should say I live in France and find the people friendly and the French way of life very acceptable indeed.

Do you have a link for that?

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

I suppose it comes partly from history, as Britain and France were enemies for pretty long periods in the past,
and probably partly out of jealousy because we're such a nice fluffy country full of nice fluffy people.

That's what it looks like from here.

It's a tradition or an old charter or something.

Nothing more than a joke these days...nothing wrong with a bit of ribbing.

As long as it´s not some jibe about surrendering, that just shows the person knows nothing about history.

What you mean in the context of cheese-eating, lamb-burning, garlic munching soap-avoiding surrender monkey?

yes its a bit of ribbing and humour. They call us 'les rosbiefs' apparently actually to do with our suposed ruddy complexions

I have a very close woman friend from France..though she is actually Basque and lived here for about 20 years.

They do food amazingly well. and you can go to the most crummy place and it will always be excellent.

But yeah there's history. We will always have Agincourt and Crispian's day in 1415

End with a song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8&feature=related

That's the Kenneth Branagh version which I actually prefer now.

3 dots - Nice to bump into another R.Rankin Fan!


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When I was doing French 'A' level (quite a few years ago) our techer told us she had soon an old textbook, in France, which began with the sentence, (in French) 'The English are our heriditary enemies'!

My father, being a huge francophile and a huge Churchill admirer, reckons that the french still resent us for the sinking of their fleet during WWII to keep it out of German hands.

Not sure if either of these things are true though!

soon ---> seen

I think it is because both the French and the English had big empires and lost them, but the French still think they're the greatest people in the world, while the English have developed a feeling that they are inferior and should apologise to the world for the way they are. It really irks the English that the French have such a high opinion of themselves.

Where do you get that idea about the English Gnomon? We are are forever accused of arrogance.

I also think there is a problem for the French to do with WWll that they were occupied by the Nazis..and the whole Vichy government thing that co-operated with the Nazis..and Britain was one of the liberators.

Heavy Sleeting - finally something I agree with you on! The French have a huge chip on their shoulder about needing us to rescue them. Contrast that with the Dutch and Flemish who love us for it. The liberation pricked the French bubble of superiority that they have enjoyed since the revolution and they hate us for it.

(Finally, I have said something controversial without equivocating, and I have agreed with Effers at the same time! Is the world ending?<biggrin.)

drt

But I wouldn't say that the French felt superior since the Revolution..or maybe they did because it was a getting rid of the power of monarchy and aristocracy..and a more grown-up form of govenment.

But there was their defeat at Waterloo of Napoleon..and then the huge rise of British power in the 19 century, and the industrial revolution and the Victorian age when British Imperial power was at its height. Our Empire was much bigger. A third of the world was red.

(Are we about to disagree again? )

On this particular subject Effers we do not look like disagreeing. Indeed the Empires were a case that led to further discontent between Britain and France. They envied us, as did holland, belgium, germany and portugal. And we often fought about it.

To paraphrase Blackadder, 'our empire covered half of the globe, and theres was as small nut factory in Tanganyika'. (yes I know he was referring to Germany, but the comparison is still apt.) France had an empire in the east, but it never approached the comprehensiveness and extent of the British Empire, and was consistently troublesome to them, whereas the UK ruled over lands 'so much as the sun will never set', with comparatively little trouble until after WWII.

And (I am sorry, it's time for me to equivocate again) I am not an apologist for empire. With hindsight it seems wrong. They did not have the luxury of hindsight at the time. The British, on the whole,(and I know there are extremeley worrying exceptions) did a good job of dismantling the empire. The french still worry about it now.

Let me state clearly - I do not endorse the racsist, colonialist attitudes of the past. However, these great men and women of the past were doing what they thought was right at the time, and they did a blo*dy good job of it. When the time came to release their rule, they on the whole did a far better job of that than France. That whole saga rankles the french I think. Particularly those I have met in Cambodia, who seem to be deperately trying to extend French influence there once more.

It used to be the same over here. We were taught the French were "Erbfeinde" (hereditary enemies) and fighting one war per generation was every true German´s duty.
Adenauer and DeGaulle put an end to that by starting that City Partnership program - sending us youngsters to and fro and having us lodge with families worked a treat.
Mind - I still say we should conquer France. I want their cooks.

Its very interesting the different attitudes the French had to their colonies.

The French considered them part of France. Indeed I spent some time in French Guiana which is still a colony. You'd think you were in France. Everything for sale is French nearly.

At least the British had a bit more respect for the local culture...well a bit. And I'm not excusing our behaviour which was disastrous in many parts of the world. I have visited Australia and seen what's happened to Aboriginal culture. Most of it is wiped out..and its incredibly upsetting to see many of the present ones permanently smashed on alcohol and drugs...even the kids.

What's the difference between toast, and the French?

You can make soldiers out of toast.