Moraine, please be nice...
Boo are you from Algeria? What's the backdrop to this? What brought this on?
There have been plenty of races throughout history that have visited much death on another. South America lost 23 million people to reduce the native population to 2 million during the time of the Spanish conquest. The English wrought much destruction upon natives of North America, Australia and Ireland etc, the Arabs themselves upon the Coptics of Egypt, Assyrians and North Africans for example.
Dwelling on the sins of the past is a sure way to create resentment and hostility, even though a recognition needs to exist to prevent reccurence.
If the French did indeed kill 1.5 million Algerians it is certainly a tragedy, but that shouldn't prevent the leaders from pointing out the mistakes in others like the Turks either.
I hope this thread doesn't damage our cross cultural friendship or drive some of us away. Needless to say that the leaders of a nation don't represent all inhabitants. Moiraine has already expressed misgivings about Jacques Chirac for example, and you have acknowledged this with your statement "(no) problem with the French people"
I'm talking from ignorance of the situation you are referring to, but also out of concern for the international flavour that exists on the board and a fear of what would happen if we start having a go at each others countries.
I have problems with the policies of other nations too but in the context of the friendly conversation here would be VERY hesitant to raise them. Perhaps I am wrong though.
Please advise
Yorick
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