posted
Frankly, if the US had a large border with Germany in the late 30's they would have rolled right over us given our state of preparedness. The UK was saved by the channel, then the RAF.
As for the "you'd be speaking X" debates the proper response from almost any "foreigner" to an American would be " at least I can speak more than just one language".
Speaks three languages = trilingual Speaks two languages = bilingual Speaks one language = American
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Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
The funniest thing is that the person that compiled this "jokelist" for posting on MILITARY.COM obviously have no idea or grasp whatsoever of France's current and recent MILITARY condition or quality. Just the french foreign legion kicked the US Marine's ass up between their shoulders in several trans-atlantic trials and exercises a few years back, they're more singleminded and ferocious than bloody Spetznaz.
Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Surrender jokes aside (which have been around for a long time), France and the US, as political entities, have been close allies for most of the last two centuries (certain issues in NATO aside, but that's another rant all together).
It's really only been the last few years that there's been a serious rift in Franco-American relations, and it's primarily because of the differences in opinion over the current Iraqi situation.
Further exacerbating the problem were the French economic interests that were tied to the Hussein regime, an issue that made many Americans (and the US goverment) mad.
I'll never completely fault a nation for looking out for its own interests, no matter how much I may disagree with that nation's actions. In this instance, France should have bit the bullet and come in to help out once the major combat was over. They disagreed with the war, that's fine. But the war is over and we're trying to rebuild the nation of Iraq now; it makes no sense to continue to protest an action that has already been completed. Get over it and help us turn Iraq into a strong democratic republic. I'm sure if they offered to help, the US government would accept it. Until then, forgive me if I remain a little miffed at France (and Germany, and Russia).
France helped us gain our sovereignty; we've helped the French regain theirs. I'm quite confident that the US and France will get past this and be allies again (we're already mending fences as it is).
Okay, so that ended up being all over the place. My point is that while sophomoric humor will always be around, I'm willing to bet the majority of Americans, while upset about current French policy, don't hate the French (and really have never hated the French).
Oh, and PsyLiam, my response to that comeback would be, "What, unlike the useless little consonants at the end of yours?" (Meant purely in jest, of course.)
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Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Sea Tyger: Oh, and PsyLiam, my response to that comeback would be, "What, unlike the useless little consonants at the end of yours?"
That'd be the worst comeback ever, though.
Still, I'm sure that France etc are simply dying to send their troops over to the not-a-war-zone-in-anyway-no-one-is-dying-here-at-all land we call Iraq, and have them all die for a war they didn't agree with in the first place. It's just common sense.
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Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Ease up folks they're just jokes OK? Like no one has ever made fun of the French before? My dad fought in WW2 and he HATED the French more than the Germans...
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Registered: Apr 2004
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quote: it makes no sense to continue to protest an action that has already been completed. Get over it and help us turn Iraq into a strong democratic republic. I'm sure if they offered to help, the US government would accept it. Until then, forgive me if I remain a little miffed at France (and Germany, and Russia).
The United States fights and unjustified war. Why the hell should France, Germany and Russia help you clean up the mess? The United States does not have any right to demand help. The only body that can persuade those countries to help is the United Nations. But that would mean that the United States and the United Kingdom would actually have to come up with a convincing argument, and they've never really been very good at that (remember the bullshit Powell slideshow?).
posted
HH: "Ease up folks they're just jokes OK? Like no one has ever made fun of the French before? My dad fought in WW2 and he HATED the French more than the Germans..."
Well bad reason to dust off 50 year old slurs for use in a time were none of the factors that made the jokes viable even exist anymore.
And here I went and gave you the benefit of the doubt. Oh well.
Sea Tyger: "it makes no sense to continue to protest an action that has already been completed."
Great logic, remind me to remind you of that after I've walked into your house and spray-painted all the things in it because I think they were supposed to all have the color red-white-blue. After I've already done it, what's the point in complaining? Instead, you should help me spray some MORE stuff I missed! Come on, be a team player!
Registered: Aug 1999
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Member # 256
posted
Some people still think The War and The Aftermath are two unrelated episodes of two unrelated reality shows and that there's no continuity between them at all, or something.
"Like no one has ever made fun of the French before?"
Yes, but:
1) these jokes are old, and 2) they're not funny, and 3) their condescending nationalistic tone is frowned upon here, and 4) they're not funny
quote:Originally posted by Toadkiller: As for the "you'd be speaking X" debates the proper response from almost any "foreigner" to an American would be " at least I can speak more than just one language".
Speaks three languages = trilingual Speaks two languages = bilingual Speaks one language = American
Toadkiller, I realize you're also speaking about yourself with this, but I had to respond.
Most Americans don't have any use for learning a second language. I can drive 1000 miles in any direction and most people still speak English. Sure, I had to take Spanish and a little French in middle and high school (as did most Americans), but that's practially gone from memory since I don't have any opportunities to practice it. Considering that the size of US states are similar to the size of European countries, I'm sure that if every state spoke a different language we'd learn more than one language.
Personally, I'd love to learn Russian or Japanese or German. But since the only place I would have to practice it would be the classroom, there's no way I'd become fluent enough to consider myself bilingual.
B.J.
(P.S. - I thought it was funny. Some people are too PC to take a joke. If you can't poke fun at yourself, what's the point?)
Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Highway Hoss: Ease up folks they're just jokes OK? Like no one has ever made fun of the French before? My dad fought in WW2 and he HATED the French more than the Germans...
You just don't do this in a public forum where anyone (and I mean ANYONE... regardless of race, sex, age, sexual preference, and anything else) can come in here and read this.
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Registered: Feb 2000
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![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
My point is that while sophomoric humor will always be around, I'm willing to bet the majority of Americans, while upset about current French policy, don't hate the French (and really have never hated the French).![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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