A touching gesture from France

[Cerek the Barbaric]

I've tried to post this several times and run into problems each time, but this was something I saw on TV and felt the need to share here.

This past Friday was the 4th of July - the day that America celebrates our independence. I was watching the evening news as they covered the various celebrations held across the country...then the national news showed a clip of another tribute being paid to America - only this one was taking place in Paris.

Several local residents were placing roses on the graves of American soldiers in a cemetary near Paris. I was deeply touched by this tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country. It was a very kind and symbolic gesture by the French citizens to honor the past history of our two nations.

Hopefully, it was also a sign of things to come.

[Chewbacca]

Thanks for sharing Cerek! [img]smile.gif[/img]

If you have read the exchange student thread, then you know certain sentiments on this side of the pond are not so touching. To be fair, there is probably some French citizens with the same near racist adtitude towards Americans.

I hope Bill O'Reilly and other popular anti-French critics over here saw that by some chance, they need their nose rubbed in their own...uh...nevermind. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

The diplomatic wounds inflicted on friends by many goverments in recent times can heal with time, if we let them.

[antryg]

If I remember correctly, this is a ceremony/tribute that has been going on for a long time. Given the present tensions between the two countries, the impact of this gesture takes on an even greater significance, I believe. Obviously many French citizens remember our efforts to help them regain their freedom. I wonder if the same sense of thanksgiving can be found in Americans concerning the help France gave us, and helped make July 4th a day for us to celebrate.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Thanks for sharing Cerek! [img]smile.gif[/img] If you have read the exchange student thread, then you know certain sentiments on this side of the pond are not so touching. To be fair, there is probably some French citizens with the same near racist adtitude towards Americans. I hope Bill O'Reilly and other popular anti-French critics over here saw that by some chance, they need their nose rubbed in their own...uh...nevermind. [img]tongue.gif[/img] The diplomatic wounds inflicted on friends by many goverments in recent times can heal with time, if we let them.

Yes, I saw that thread Chewbacca. Very embarassing. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Cerek...how many residents? Was there say more than a handful of really old people who remember? or were there students and other people marching in the street?

It is nice to know that some people remember "the days" but Im betting that celebration was rather hard to find. Especially in light of some of the recent vandalisms of those same grave sites.

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Yes, I saw that thread Chewbacca. Very embarassing. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

I don't see anything embarresing about American home owners sending the French Government a message by closing their homes to French people. It is after all one of the few ways a simple American citizen can actually make any message heard by another government. I also believe that in so doing they are NOT comitting racism..since the French do not make up a race.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by MagiK: quote: Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Yes, I saw that thread Chewbacca. Very embarassing. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

I don't see anything embarresing about American home owners sending the French Government a message by closing their homes to French people. It is after all one of the few ways a simple American citizen can actually make any message heard by another government. I also believe that in so doing they are NOT comitting racism..since the French do not make up a race.
[/QUOTE]Or they could have taken one in an opened a dialog. But it is much easier to be the tough guy then it is to actually try and resolve the issue. In 15-20 years when these kids are the ones running the government they will remember being rejected by not only the US government, but also the US people. Now how do you think that will color their views in future relations with the US?

[ 07-08-2003, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: Rokenn ]

[Melusine]

Originally posted by MagiK: Was there say more than a handful of really old people who remember? It is nice to know that some people remember "the days" but Im betting that celebration was rather hard to find.

This shows me how little you know of the matter. It has been my experience in my own country and throughout European countries where my family or friends live, that "the days" are remembered by most of us, not just "a handful of really old people". I've had discussions before about the difference in remembering the Second World War in Europe and in America, but apparently that was a bit of a sore spot.
Anyway, since you don't live here, you are a bit quick to throw doubts upon the number of people attending. Over here it's pretty normal to have yearly ceremonies to remember the war and all the allied soldiers and civilians who died in it. My own birthday falls on the same day of our annual remembrance day, and in the two minutes silence we observe, I always spare a thought for all who died or were injured in that war: the Dutch, the French, the English, the Americans, and the Germans (there were innocent deaths in Germany too, after all) - and so does anyone with me on my birthday. So you see it's much more common for people to remember than not. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 07-08-2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

[Timber Loftis]

Yeah, Melusine, it's difficult not to remember the World War when in Europe. Merely 6 decades ago, the whole continent was leveled by war. Those occurrences leave signs that are just too visible for too long.

[WillowIX]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Yeah, Melusine, it's difficult not to remember the World War when in Europe. Merely 6 decades ago, the whole continent was leveled by war. Those occurrences leave signs that are just too visible for too long.

And the subject is actually taught in their schools.

Cerek, I applaud you. [img]smile.gif[/img] I don't know where you stood in the US-France debate but if all people thought like you there wouldn't be a problem now. [img]smile.gif[/img]