Why does the US "hate" France?

[Zardnaar]

I remember something about renaming French fries freedom fries. Thats just stupid. I know France opposed the war on Iraq but the last time I looked France was a sovereign nation (with nukes) so IMHO its up to the French people/parliment to decide their own foreign policy. If they opposed the war on Iraq fair enough.

I have to admit at times even here France bashing has been popular (Nuclear testing in the south pacific) and theres jokes about how everyone hates France (Germany, US, UK, NZ etc) or how the German army has a nice big practice ground for it panzers to the west. However some of the opinions here at CFC however seem to be over the top. Did the French president run over Bush's dog or something?

I'm somewhat weak with some periods of American history but didn't France support the American revolution? Build the Statue of Liberty? US troops fought alongside them in WW1 and liberated France in WW2. Seems to be more commen ground and historical periods of friendship than opposition.

Or is it just a temporary thing due to the current US administration/French government.

 

[stratego]

Originally posted by Zardnaar
I'm somewhat weak with some periods of American history but didn't France support the American revolution? Build the Statue of Liberty? US troops fought alongside them in WW1 and liberated France in WW2. Seems to be more commen ground and historical periods of friendship than opposition.

Those were in the past.

But seriously, I don't think US hates France. France is like an annoying little brother to the US, but the US would definitely help out should France get attacked.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Anglo-saxon countries dislike France because it's the hereditary ennemy of England. Once you've said that, you've said everything.

PS : For Sims, I define Anglo-saxon countries as something cultural and not ethnical, so please, don't tell me craps about the US not being anglo-saxon.

 

[addiv]

I don't think France is hated as much as it seems. There's just some disagreement with the (independent) position France is taking on international politics. People who truly hate the country of France because of that are just stupid.
BTW I think the anti-American rhetoric is still bigger than the anti-France rhetoric.

 

[EmpireofVirtue]

The question shouldn't be "why do we hate France". The question should be "find me only one reason to not hate France".

And anyway, as Addiv has told. Americans hate french people because they hate us even more.

 

[addiv]

OK, I might need to take back my previous statement...

 

[h4ppy]

Originally posted by EmpireofVirtue
The question shouldn't be "why do we hate France". The question should be "find me only one reason to not hate France".

And anyway, as Addiv has told. Americans hate french people because they hate us even more.

Wow, your ten days went by fast.

 

[EmpireofVirtue]

Originally posted by h4ppy
Wow, your ten days went by fast.

h4ppy, tell me you disagree!

 

[Bobo the Ape]

I don't think France is hated as much as it seems. There's just some disagreement with the (independent) position France is taking on international politics. People who truly hate the country of France because of that are just stupid.
BTW I think the anti-American rhetoric is still bigger than the anti-France rhetoric.

I agree. I've never even encountered "freedom" fries anywhere. This is just a temporary squabble. There's been many in the past and they always blow over.

 

[h4ppy]

What?

 

[EmpireofVirtue]

Have you seen the demonstrations in France? People there supported Saddam against Bush! I've seen on Fox that 35% of French people wanted Saddam to win against the US!

It's obvious they hate us! I'm just saying the truth! Why would I be banned once again?

 

[stratego]

France doesn't hate the US either. It's just easy for people to ignore the things we agree on and focus on things we don't agree on.

 

[stratego]

Originally posted by EmpireofVirtue
Have you seen the demonstrations in France? People there supported Saddam against Bush! I've seen on Fox that 35% of French people wanted Saddam to win against the US!

It's obvious they hate us! I'm just saying the truth! Why would I be banned once again?

How big was the sample that they survey? I'm sure you can find a place in the US where 35% wanted Saddam to win against Bush.

 

[Stegyre]

Originally posted by addiv
OK, I might need to take back my previous statement...

Well, I don't think EmpireofVirtue speaks for all Americans. S/he does not speak for me. I have nothing against the French. Politically, it does feel like "the French" suffer from bit of an inferiority complex that makes them hypercritical of the U.S. On the other hand, the U.S. is plenty arrogant at times (a lot of times) and deserving of criticism. (Maybe I just feel that way because of my AABB leanings -- Almost-Anyone-But-Bush.)

That squabbling aside, both countries are actually close allies, as are France and Great Britain (the archetypal "Anglo-Saxon country"), so I think that Marla's comment is a bit off base.

 

[Zarn]

Originally posted by EmpireofVirtue
Have you seen the demonstrations in France? People there supported Saddam against Bush! I've seen on Fox that 35% of French people wanted Saddam to win against the US!

It's obvious they hate us! I'm just saying the truth! Why would I be banned once again?

Most French don't hate us. They hate our policies. That 35% was mostly venting French for their frustration with my political party. I doubt 35% really wanted us to lose. It goes the other way too. Most Americans frustrated with France are frustrated with the policies not the people. You however are a rare exception.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I wouldn't say I hate France.

I strongly dislike the current French foreign policy. I find French arrogance annoying. I think that the United States should consider France an enemy and I wish the greatest ruin upon France. That is all true, but I think hate goes too far. The word hate suggests a very deep and strong dislike that does not go away, regardless of any change in circumstances.

That is not the case. If, by some magic, a pro-US regime were installed in France, my dislike would immediately go away. If I hated France, that would not be the case.

 

[stratego]

Originally posted by Zarn
Most French don't hate us. They hate our policies. That 35% was mostly venting French for their frustration with my political party. I doubt 35% really wanted us to lose. It goes the other way too. Most Americans frustrated with France are frustrated with the policies not the people. You however are a rare exception.

Even though I rarely really agree with you, I'm going to have to agree on this one.

 

[Archer 007]

Originally posted by SeleucusNicator
I wouldn't say I hate France.

I strongly dislike the current French foreign policy. I find French arrogance annoying. I think that the United States should consider France an enemy and I wish the greatest ruin upon France. That is all true, but I think hate goes too far. The word hate suggests a very deep and strong dislike that does not go away, regardless of any change in circumstances.

That is not the case. If, by some magic, a pro-US regime were installed in France, my dislike would immediately go away. If I hated France, that would not be the case.

Agree with you, but I dont wish ruin to France. I just wish the US gains power at a faster rate.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Originally posted by Stegyre
Well, I don't think EmpireofVirtue speaks for all Americans. S/he does not speak for me. I have nothing against the French. Politically, it does feel like "the French" suffer from bit of an inferiority complex that makes them hypercritical of the U.S. On the other hand, the U.S. is plenty arrogant at times (a lot of times) and deserving of criticism. (Maybe I just feel that way because of my AABB leanings -- Almost-Anyone-But-Bush.)

Generally speaking, I agree with the idea. However, even if it's true when you say that French people have in a general an inferiority complex towards the US, I wouldn't say French people are hypocritical because of that. I don't find french people in general that much hypocritical.

That squabbling aside, both countries are actually close allies, as are France and Great Britain (the archetypal "Anglo-Saxon country"), so I think that Marla's comment is a bit off base.

Sorry, you didn't understand the idea. I've never said anglo-saxon people hated french people, I just believe that if anglo-saxon people like to make jokes about French people, it's mainly because of History things like the hundred years war, etc... That doesn't change the fact France, Britain and the US are close allies according to me !

 

[Kinniken]

Originally posted by EmpireofVirtue
Have you seen the demonstrations in France? People there supported Saddam against Bush! I've seen on Fox that 35% of French people wanted Saddam to win against the US!

It's obvious they hate us! I'm just saying the truth! Why would I be banned once again?

I don't know how that poll was done, but at least in my university (which has quite a lot of students of Arab origins, not the most likely to support the war...) just about everyone is against Bush, but few people hate the US. Certainly not a third.
As for the war, which I supported, naively believing Bush's WMD claims, nearly no one else did. But once it started, everyone wanted the US to win fast, if only to spare Iraqi civilians.
Furthermore, I would like to remind US posters who think France hates the US because polls showed 90% of Frenchmen were opposed to the war that the same was true all over western europe (except the UK, which was closer to half) and that in eastern europe opposition to the war was usually in the 70% range. And that's on the continent (NA excepted obviously) with the strongest support for the US
If public opposition to the war translates into hating the US, I think the US has two friends left: the UK and Israel. And the first of those is not clear-cut.

BTW, my first "big" thread on CFC two years ago was a poll with 16 "funny" answers on the same theme. It turned into a flame war after ten posts, something I would have known had I not been so new then. I predict the same fate for this thread.