What's YOUR favorite French thing?

It's totally amazing how much the right-wing rips on France. In perhaps the most childish display of anti-French-ness, Republican congress people re-named a horn, toast and fries, because they could not bear to be subjected to all that is French. The freepers called Kerry, John "French" Kerry any chance they got, and they constantly scapegoat France for everything wrong with the world.

I discovered, the other day, unfortunately for me -- I guess this makes me a bad American -- my life, quite unconsciously, revolves around France. I eat Brie and drink French wine and champagne, often. I am a (sort-of)poet, influenced by the French avant-garde and the writings of Deleuze, Derrida and Foucault. Thomas Jefferson, who was more loyal to France, than John Kerry could even imagine being, is my favorite founder. My son is named "Cor," which is the French word for "horn," and my boyfriend is a Freedom Horn player. I am a devotee of the Enlightenment and Democracy, and, I love French literature and poetry. "Dangerous Liaisons" is one of my favorite narrative movies and I studied five years of French between high school and college. Someone gave me the "Larousse Gastronomique" for Christmas.

What should I do???? Where can I report to de-french-ifying camp? Most importantly, what is this phenomenon? Not only did France not "support our efforts" in Iraq, it seems that everything French runs counter to "core 'murican values." Except for maybe gravy. And what is it that makes RICH Republicans OK with France? Hypocrisy?

Does anyone else suffer from this terrible affliction?

mmm

my very favorite little companion is a very spoiled, chubby little Toy Poodle, named Babette.

I also wanted to choose cheese, art and literature, the Napoleonic era, and the bookd Desiree, whose author I cannot remember, but whose story remains one of my favorites over the years.

I have no problem with the French and in fact, I like anything French even more now that the idiot dittohead RW is against them.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

or the horns?
or the vanilla?
or the defense? (gotta be a chess player to get this one)
or the braids?

definitely LOVE the French fries. And Paris, and the language (I don´t speak one single word of French.. o wait.. I can say: Je ne parler pas de Francais) but the sound of the language is so beautiful! And I can´t deny I don´t like the fact that they piss of Republicans

Ce n'est pas francais, mais le gens qui mange poutine parler francais et on fait le poutine avec les "french fries".

:hi:

Its exact origins are unknown (I tend to believe it was invented by Joseph French in 1724), but it is certainly not of French invention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_toast

Another hilarious display of unmitigated right-wing stupidity. French toast, as you indicate, was invented by an American innkeeper in the 1700s, and French fries come from Belgium, not France.

:)

:beer:

le Tour de France, le midi Libre, Paris-Tours, etc....

the beautiful countryside and the friendly drivers who patiently "share the road" with cyclists!

in 2003, when the GOP in congress were busy re-naming food such as fried sweet bread and fried strips of potatoes i delighted in spending thousands of dollars traveling around France on my bike watching one of the greatest bike races in the world - le Tour de France!

to get in the mood for the trip i bought good French wine, & excellent French cheeses! and the French were delightful hosts, even though i am clearly (sad to say) american.

Other than to say it made me laugh to see "You selected: THE WINE ... click here to confirm your vote" on my screen.

Incidentally, why call "anti-French-ness"? Call it racism. You wouldn't say anti-semitism was "Anti-Jew-ness".

But then I'm British with a hint of German, so I'm a Sauerkraut-eating politeness-monkey with bad teeth, or a tea-drinking ruthless efficiency-monkey in lederhosen ... whatever today's anti-European stereotype is you bunch of fat warmongers, you.

PS happy new year.

because the French aren't a race, they are a people, a nation.

But that statue they gave us is pretty damn nice.

*crickets chirp*

(No, I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, don't mind me.)

Drug interactions. Hopefully, off the drug in a couple weeks.

But don't neglect cheese. Bleu d'Auverne.

And I didn't see sausage on your list but, (apologies to Italy) saussicon sec is the best salami there is.

Ah, sitting in a little outdoor dining spot in Arles, overlooking the town garden, with a saussicon sec sandwich and a spot of red plonc, a lunch not to be forgotten. (But if only the French were to learn that mustard, of which they also make some of the best, and not butter belongs on a sandwich.)

in my life ~ were wonderful lovers :loveya:

:party: :loveya:

edit: to add drunk with love.

She was INCREDIBLE. Just amazing.

Three words: Red. Leather. Underwear. On a daily basis, she just liked it.

Words cannot begin to describe.

...is how, on a most basic level, they simply out-class "'murican's" on every level.

Everything above you speak of, THEY COULD CARE FUCKING LESS - but they'd still probably welcome you with open arms regardless if you chose to engage them in this conversation.

They view Americans the same way Canadians do: with a certain amount of pity and trepidation. AND THEY REALLY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME TO ATTEND TO THIS ARGUMENT, BECAUSE THERE ARE - QUITE SIMPLY - MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

discuss things (race cars, boats, mercedes) exceptional minds discuss ideas (democracy, human rights, racism)

thanks.

but they do piss off the Repugs. :)

n/t

n/t

Since we don't have much enlightenment, democracy and civil rights anymore....

I'd probably dehydrate without it.

no offense by that...

The Germans - I'm German - and the Americans for sure! Of course the French are much too polite to ever let us know; so it takes some self-criticism to understand this :)

Before I continue I want to state that I love France; I'm there at least once a year and I have French friends.

And now: I cannot for the life of me understand why a DEMOCRAT would say "I hate the fucking French". I know why the REPUBLICANS hate them: Because unlike Great Britain and Germany they are a truly SOVEREIGN nation and are determined to stay sovereign under all circumstances. Already forgotten? The Republicans have stated in PNAC loud and clear that they want to rule the world. France doesn't intend to be ruled by you. And France is clever: has suggested "Galileo", is seeking strong ties to Germany, won't set foot in Iraq, is trying to build up an alliance against the US etc. etc. - and FRANCE HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

And THIS is something your government does not like at all. And THIS is why they are makig propaganda all over the place. And some of you, instead of hoping that France, beacon of culture and light and freedom, might be able to cross some of the sinister plans of your government and might give shelter to you in times to come, state "I hate the fucking French". I really can't understand.

and the French are certainly not too polite to tell us they think we are barbarians.

Don't let Blair fool you.

Why else does the US RW say "Hooray for TB", not "Hooray for GB"? Because they see the hostile parliament, the protests teeming in the streets and so on.

PS love your username. We are working to make Britain approve the constitution and the Euro. It might not happen, but we're trying.

I can't either. :shrug:

The French people I have met have been warm and fun-loving people.

I also love many things French, but on balance, I think their influence on food and cooking tops my list. BTW, as a Black American who loves southern cooking, I have to say the similarities between southern and French bistro/home style cooking makes me very biased.

As a bi-racial southerner, I'm trying to think of similarities between southern cooking and French cuisine de terroir. Can you give examples? They don't even know what biscuits or cornbread is in France.

New Orleans is probably the quintessential example of the French influence on southern US cuisine.

If you haven't eaten there, high-tail it down there soon. You will never forget it!

The main similarity between French and southern I think is the importance of rues and sauces, which southerners just call gravy. The French deglaze (sp) browned meat, and southerners put water or stock in what is left after frying chicken -- it's very similar. Have you ever read Edna Lewis's cook books?

As a Black Frenchwoman, I agree with you!

My favorite French things are Moi, ma maman, et mes enfants!

I've occasionally disagreed with some of their policies in the past, but I equitably criticize all nations, most of all my own. I have also cracked a few silly jokes about the Maginot line and French strategy in WWII, but it's entirely good-natured, and no worse than any other historical/political humor that is dished out. I like a lot of French things and I've never had a problem with any French people.

Incidentally, this includes Americans as well. I will never accept rudeness or bigotry due to the fact that I am from America, nor will I tolerate sweeping attacks against everybody who happens to be from this country.

And Hiroyuki Sakai.

many products made in France or owned by French Co's are the best you can buy, makeup, cloths, some cook wear, the squeegees used in our printing factory, on and on.

I am sure France makes some crap stuff too, but the things my wife and I buy & use from there were bought because they are the best made.


David

Bite me shrub im a pretzel.And for Voltaire and S.V.E.C

That is HILARIOUS! :D :D :D

Jules Verne. The fables of LaFontaine. Rodin. La Musee de Rodin. Another vote for the Lady in the Harbor (the greatest gift ever bestowed upon one nation from another). The Louisiana Purchase (not a gift, but a hell of a great deal). Cyrano de Bergerac.

I was in Paris when I was seventeen. A friend and I went to a small parfumerie to buy a present for his mother. We didn't buy anything, but the old gentleman running the place was so pleased to see us, he called his wife from the back room. "Come out and see the Americans!" They beamed at us and showed a lot of sincere interest in two kids who would probably been thrown out of a 7-11 in the states for hanging around and reading the magazines.
In Paris, I was treated rudely by some Frenchmen and treated in an aloof and businesslike manner by others. But I can never forget the two who gave me the warmest greeting of any Europeans I encountered.

France had THE best countdown and fireworks display, bar none. It was breathtaking.

Gotcha!

:silly:

No Daniel Auteuil or Juliette Binoche or Dominique Pinon or Audrey Tatou? No Eric Rohmer movies? :cry:

Bring on the impressionists, the French Christmas carols, the touring productions of Les Miserables! Everybody, go out and see A Very Long Engagement! Republicans can't even be trusted to get a decent haircut or learn English. Are you going to listen to what they have to say about the French?

Gruyere cheese, and what I had for breakfast this morning - lavender honey from Provence on a croissant.

Over 30 years ago, my sister who had gone to Aix-en-Provence to study, fell in love with a wonderful Frenchman.

I've been blessed with a fabulous brother-in-law and his wonderful family, my 2 beautiful multi-lingual French/American citizen nieces, another charming French nephew-in-law and most recently, my very first grand nephew. Wow, I am one lucky lady.

And to begin this year with a bang, I'm soon off to Marseilles to meet the newest soul in our family, a French, Algerian, American, Catholic, Muslim baby boy.

Quell fantastic ! Oh, and I love how some Republicans go crazy when they hear that most beautiful French language, or even the word: France. Vive France !

Best,
Marie

is because I am the daughter of a full French woman and English father. Doesn't that mean I'm one-half French? Also, I live in South Louisiana where we love all things French. Even our streets in downtown Lafayette have French names. I love that part of this culture. Couple of hours away from New Orleans doesn't hurt, either. The food is marvelous, darlin'. Ya'll come on down!

probably because I'm ignorant to their culture.

and the Statue of Liberty. The American colonial soldiers fought impressively, but there's no way we could've beaten the mighty British army and navy without the help of France. Yes, they were partly in the Revolutionary War for their own selfish reasons, and they (along with the Spanish) made territorial gains at Britain's expense following the war, but that doesn't change the fact that the French fought with valor and discipline, and served alongside George Washington's soldiers with reliable vigor and competence. They didn't turn tail and run when the Brits launched an artillery barrage-- they were categorically not cowards, despite what the Repuglican idiots like to claim about their fighting prowess.

FWIW, in response to GOP stupidity, I've become an avid financial supporter of all things France and Germany since the start of the Iraq War. Whenever I see a nice French wine or furniture, or a German car or restaurant (all of which, frankly, are of high quality anyhow), I go and fork over some cash. Just a way to show support to them for talking some sense into the morons who happen to be in charge of our government.

never studied its history or art, don't speak the language, and are generally ignorant. I know lots of Americans who love French culture, and guess what- they're all intelligent and well read.

The people who hate the French aren't even worth considering.

Ever since my wife & I saw "Amelie", we've made an effort to see all of her movies.

the very reasons the masses were directed to hate the French. It still scares me to see the docility.

those luxury automobiles that most of them love to drive come from France and Germany (Bmw, Mercedes....), they like their perfume (French undoubtably) and lest they forget our Statue of Liberty was given to us by who else, a Frenchman! :) Remind your freeper family and friends if they give you hell about the French, think of something they own that was made by the French or Germans (who also opposed Bush's occupation) that they love/like alot.

Was created by a Frenchman and given to us by a Frenchman :) Let's see their faces then. And if they ask for you to back it up, tell them to read the history books. Example:

Statue of Liberty


Ever since the Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France it has been a symbol of freedom and the American Dream. View a timeline of the history of the Statue of Liberty.


1865 After the Civil War ended Edouard Laboulaye, a French politician suggested the construction of a joint French and American monument which would celebrate the idea of liberty.


1871 Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculpture and friend of Laboulaye, went to the United States to seek support for the project. During the trip he selected Bedloe's Island as a site for the monument.


1875 The French-American Union was organized to raise the money to build the monument. The French people donated $400,000 for the construction of the statue.


1875 Bartholdi began construction of the statue. He patterned the face after his mother.


4 July 1876 Bartholdi hoped to be finished with the project so it could be displayed for the United States centennial celebration. But due to delays and a late start he was not finished. He did have the right hand and torch done, however, so he sent it to be displayed in Philadelphia for the celebration.


1877 An American Committee was organized to raise funds to build the pedestal.


1878 An international exposition in Paris displayed the head of the Statue of Liberty.


1881 Richard Morris Hunt was chosen to make the design for the pedestal.


4 July 1884 France gave the statue to the United States.


1884 Construction of the pedestal began but soon came to a halt because of lack of funds.


March 1885 Joseph Pulitzer launched a front-page campaign for funds to complete the pedestal in his New York Newspaper, The World.


17 June 1885 The statue arrived in the United States. It had been disassembled and packed in 214 wooden crates for the journey.


April 1886 The pedestal for the statue was completed. Richard Morris Hunt made the design. It is 89 feet tall. When it was completed it was the largest single concrete structure in the world.


28 October 1886 Liberty Enlightening the World, the official name of the statue, was dedicated.


1886 Bartholdi had the commercial potential of the statue copyrighted in both France and the United States, but he found himself powerless to enforce the rights.


1886-1902 The federal lighthouse board administered the Statue of Liberty.


1902 The U.S. war department took over control of the statue.


1903 The poem by Emma Lazarus entitled "The New Colossus" was inscribed on the interior wall of the pedestal of the monument.


1914-1918 The Statue of Liberty became a powerful symbol of the United States during World War I. Its image was used on posters to sell bonds by the U.S. treasury, called Liberty Bonds. They helped to pay the cost of the war.


1916 The war department installed flood lights at the base of the statue and changed the torch lighting system.


1924 The Statue of Liberty became a national monument.


1933 The National Park Service took responsibility for maintaining the statue.


1956 The island where the statue stands was renamed Liberty Island by Congress.


1980s The National Park Service completed major repairs on the statue.


1986 The restoration project was completed.

Welcome to DU, nightwish_chick.

I voted for cheese as it wasn't doing well, but I go for all three.

I have spent the entirety of Christmas irritating my family with 'La Nativite du Seigneur' by Olivier Messiaen (the greatest 20th century composer).

That said, we English are pretty much required to adopt a love-hate thing. We slag them off constantly, and then buy thousands of houses over there, adopt their wine and food, and all talk about how we'd like to move there when we retire. Bizarre.

I have to say it otherwise my Standard Poodles are going to haunt me from the great beyond.

Jean Forbes Kerrie

Also cool that France is 100% on Nuclear power. Im very liberal but pro-nuclear power - sue me ;)

French accents.


Did i mention the men?

they sure know how to wear clothes.

Oh hell yeah.

Kidding. About the Speedos.

and the Statue Of Liberty

But then, I've always had a thing for French Women

and crepes. When I was in Paris I ate my meals by going from one pastry shop to the next ...

Gotta be the pomme frites man.

Allez les bleus!!!

The Enlightenment, Democracy and the Bill of Rights - but the refreshments aren't bad, either!

Besides, if the Republicans hate them, they can't be that bad!

democratic by going with what the vast majority of their people want, the rightwingnuts scream their shrill little faces off.

Rightwingnuts constantly demonstrate to the whole wide world what a total SHAM American "democracy" really is.

It just isn't being practiced by the Republicans.

elvis but had no idea what he was singing, ever.
He did the best live version of Auspicious Minds i ve ever heard.

the culture. the people...and just to be "in your face" about it, chimp, the FACT THAT THEY WOULDN'T SUPPORT YOUR WAR!!!! Long live all things French!

Catherine Deneuve - especially in The Hunger.

the trip I hope, someday, perhaps to take en bateau through the Loire valley - all those chateaux (if I'm lucky and can try to save a WHOLE LOTTA pennies)! YUM! I love the idea that a Frenchman was the second captain of the Enterprise in "Star Trek" (Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," even though he was played by - and SURE sounded like - an Englishman), I love French pastry and French chocolate, I love the lilting music of the French language (the only language that sounds - to me - like you're having sex, just by speaking), I love the wild ideas of the French designers, I love Claude Monet and other French impressionists, the poster art of Toulouse-Lautrec, the Louvre and all its treasures, I love the singing of Maurice Chevalier, French champagne (Mum Cordon Rouge - not that I indulge that often, however), I love the children's book "Eloise in Paris," I love the Eiffel Tower and the courage of the French Underground. I love that they gave us the Statue of Liberty, I love the heroism of the Storming of the Bastille, and I love that the president of FRANCE was the FIRST world leader to make a bee-line here to offer support and sympathy after 9/11. The knuckledraggers conveniently forget all of that.

... there's nothing quite like it.

... also, French films (!); Joan of Arc; a nighttime boat ride along the Seine in Paris; the city of Nice; the Auguste Rodin Museum in Paris; the Musee D'Orsay; Provence (especially the town of St. Paul de Vence); the sight of Mont St. Michel from a distance; Shakespeare & Co. bookstore; sidewalk cafes; CHAMPAGNE; Kir Royale; the town of St. Malo; salad nicoise; the Impressionists; crepes; Daniel Auteil, Vincent Perez (born in Switzerland, but makes French films), Isabelle Huppert, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Adjani;

Henri Matisse



Paul Cezanne



... oh, so much.

Yeah, some people can be kind of snotty in Paris ... like in any big city. But go out into the smaller towns/cities in France, and you'll meet some very nice people.

Je m'appelle ******* ***.

Cool, eh? :)

Proust, Moliere, Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Giraudoux, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh (not really French, but lived there -- cheating a bit), Faure, Maupassant, Balzac, Flaubert, Rabelais, Diderot, Montesquieu, La Rochefoucauld, La Fontaine, Sartre, Camus, Gide, the Louvre, Fontainebleau, the Champs Elysee, the Bois de Boulogne, Sacre Coeur, la Cite, l'Opera, les Boulevards, les baguettes, le fromage, du vin blanc, Champagne, tout Paris -- the France of my youth

it comes in a box with four little half coconut shells and the ice cream is inside a little coconut shell. got some at trader joes yesterday to help with my election depression

"Freedom Horn"????

Are you fucking kidding me? I will call it teh french horn forever, same with FRENCH fries and FRENCH toast.

Republicans are a bunch of fucking sissies. (MOSTLY)

But I still love the fact that the mere mention of anything French sends Repukes into apoplectic fits! :D

69, dude!