13 minutes ago, Cereal said:

it's little wonder Americans think poorly of France

 

Really? Can't say I've ever heard any Americans express such an opinion. For a second language, French and Spanish were my only options.

 

13 minutes ago, Cereal said:

can count on 1 hand the number of Americans that knew The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France.

 

Hmm, calling you out on this one. Taught in school, and anyone who has visited the Statue of Liberty - I'm old enough to have made it up to the torch - knows the provenance.

 

14 minutes ago, Roadman said:

but conveniently forget if it wasn't for the French they would be speaking English...the pure British form 

 

Give it up, everyone learns about the special relationship between France and the U.S.

 

 

But this thread is more about the president, right? He may be the only American so clueless?

Reading the American various media outlets, watching the news and countless TV shows, it's little wonder Americans think poorly of France. She is constantly on the sh!tty end of the stick. Few Americans know about the French underground resistance during WW2 and how big an effort it played.
 
I've been to 39 of the states in the USA over 100's of trips there and can count on 1 hand the number of Americans that knew The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. It's astonishing how little they know about pretty much everything outside their microcosmic sphere.

Funny. The Americans I grew up with mostly knew all that. I agree many are very ignorant. Look at who Americans elected in 2016. But he only got a minority of voters to win and he was just massively repudiated recently. So don't give up hope for us just yet.

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With Macron's approval rating of 29% perhaps he should try being a Nationalist rather than a Globalist.

3 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

With Macron's approval rating of 29% perhaps he should try being a Nationalist rather than a Globalist.

That's the difference. Some people take impopular measures for the good of the country, others do things exclusively for their own benefit.

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

That's the difference. Some people take impopular measures for the good of the country, others do things exclusively for their own benefit.

You obviously have no idea about globalism. It does not benefit the country, only the super rich. 

2 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

You obviously have no idea about globalism. It does not benefit the country, only the super rich. 

Are you referring to globalism as a trading policy or as a dog whistle?

14 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

You obviously have no idea about globalism. It does not benefit the country, only the super rich. 

And you obviously have no idea - period.

1 minute ago, Becker said:

And you obviously have no idea - period.

I love you too.

5 hours ago, Credo said:

Europe is dealing with him as the narcissist he is.   They did not allow him to be the center of attention, and that is not possible for a narcissist.   The commemoration couldn't be about paying homage to those who served.   It had to be about him.   

 

Macron was as gracious as a host could be.   He was polite, he reached out to him to no avail.

 

All those around him were left to cover up the mess.   "It was the weather",  "it was the Secret Service", any excuse but  not the truth.   

 

US taxpayers paid a large amount of money for him to represent the US at the events and in return we got zilch.   He's more embarrassing than a jilted bride standing at the alter.   

 

Pathetic.   Sad.

You are correct. He was there to pay the respects of the American people to the fallen Americans in two world wars. Politics should have been left well on the sidelines. Deal with these issues on another day and at another time. 

6 hours ago, DoctorG said:

Macron should stick to French because one of the English definitions of "nationalism" is "patriotic feelings, principles, or efforts."

Sure, if you have evil intent, you can turn it into something distasteful just to malign Trump.

 

Nope.

The truth is that nationalism is a very loaded word both in Europe and the USA. 

Currently we see the rise of toxic white ethnic nationalism in both places.

If "trump" didn't want to throw big bones to those dark forces of evil, he would just use the word PATRIOTISM which has no such negative connotations.

But we all know that a big part of the divisive perverted "trump" brand is throwing around big LOADED bombs wherever he goes.

 

Quote

 

Trump refuses to acknowledge the fraught history of nationalism

President Trump took a peevish tone Tuesday as he revisited complaints about French President Emmanuel Macron, who used a weekend commemoration of the end of World War I to warn the president during his visit to Paris of the perils of the nationalist label he embraces and to suggest he has a lot to learn about history.

Macron called nationalism a dangerous trap and the opposite of patriotism while invoking the bloodiest episodes of 20th-century European history.

But Trump has shown little patience for the lesson Macron tried to impart or the two days of praise the young French leader has received since his not-so-veiled criticism of his U.S. counterpart.

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-refuses-to-acknowledge-the-fraught-history-of-nationalism/2018/11/13/35fd0694-e76a-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html

 

6 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Written by writers living in Paris, best write something the natives will like. France dislikes the USA and has at least since De Gaulle was in charge, nothing has changed with the French hatred of America. Macron wants a European Army to protect France against Russia, China, and the USA. Nothing wrong with wanting others to fight and die for you.

If you read, trump’s quote was out of context ???? we can say-get your head out of your...

He said he couldn’t go to commemorate fallen Americans and others that died in battle because his bone spurs were acting up?

8 hours ago, DoctorG said:

Macron should stick to French because one of the English definitions of "nationalism" is "patriotic feelings, principles, or efforts."

Sure, if you have evil intent, you can turn it into something distasteful just to malign Trump.

 

I don't know what you mean - should stick to French.  Macron was giving his speech IN French.  He was NOT speaking in English.

It's impossible to defend this guy without losing credibility immediately. His twitter rants yesterday were a perfect example of why he isn't fit to lead. As was his skipping of historical events and then trying to blame it on the secret service when he saw the outrage. Driving a wedge between the U.S. and its allies will make the world a more dangerous place. It's hard to deny that. 

I noticed that if it was too wet for Trump to go to the cemetery (about 60 kms I think), it was OK to send the servants.  The Army Chief etc.  and not even  with an umbrella.

1 hour ago, Gillyflower said:

I noticed that if it was too wet for Trump to go to the cemetery (about 60 kms I think), it was OK to send the servants.  The Army Chief etc.  and not even  with an umbrella.

But during WW1 it was common for allied troops to wade around up to their knees in mud and if they slipped off the duckboards they would drown.

 

In those days men were men and volunteers who fought and died for their country unlike Cadet Bone spurs head.

5 hours ago, DoctorG said:

With Macron's approval rating of 29% perhaps he should try being a Nationalist rather than a Globalist.

You think Macron is in a beauty contest? You Americans may worship cheap popularity and celebrity. I prefer statesmanship, gravitas, good governance and yes altruism. Do you know the American word for altruism? There isn't one!

5 hours ago, DoctorG said:

You obviously have no idea about globalism. It does not benefit the country, only the super rich. 

Such naïveté. Ask Chinese, ask Indians. Look at the millions who have been lifted out of poverty or even starvation! 

 

What tosh! What unthinking selfishness!

 

 

Personally, I can't stand Macron and his old biddy wife.  He typifies French arrogance and cowardice.  Sucks up to Mutti Merkel and acts like a lost little boy.  He's been putting the boot in on Brexit, too.  He won't last another term.

5 hours ago, car720 said:

Not so much America I feel but Americans.

Then again the French aren't really fond of the English either.  

Sadly my brothers frequently don't understand panache, chic, savoir faire, sangfroid or even noblesse oblige....

Personally, I can't stand Macron and his old biddy wife.  He typifies French arrogance and cowardice.  Sucks up to Mutti Merkel and acts like a lost little boy.  He's been putting the boot in on Brexit, too.  He won't last another term.

Like him personally or not he's right about nationalism and "trump" is wrong.

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17 minutes ago, fanjita said:

Personally, I can't stand Macron and his old biddy wife.  He typifies French arrogance and cowardice.  Sucks up to Mutti Merkel and acts like a lost little boy.  He's been putting the boot in on Brexit, too.  He won't last another term.

Well thanks for that! Most up lifting!

 

Kir Royale?

 

Or don't peasants drink that?

6 hours ago, DoctorG said:

With Macron's approval rating of 29% perhaps he should try being a Nationalist rather than a Globalist.

Well if you are just going to accept approval ratings at face value then Trump's 38% shows how poor he is....right ?

6 hours ago, DoctorG said:

You obviously have no idea about globalism. It does not benefit the country, only the super rich. 

If that were the case then Trump would adopt globalism tommorow.

Well if you are just going to accept approval ratings at face value then Trump's 38% shows how poor he is....right ?

Beyond that. "trump" is obviously in a deep funk now after the midterms. Looking for targets to bash even more than usual. Macron makes sense for that as he can delude himself that he has great approval ratings compared to Macron. It's similar to how moderately chubby people may enjoy being seen with the very obese.

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The Frogs always need a bit of a tune-up. They are torn between the heroics of waving a white flag and the cowardice of blowing up Greenpeace ships. The Vietnamese sorted them out and gave them the boot. Losers ever since Bonaparte left the scene.

 

1 minute ago, Cadbury said:

The Frogs always need a bit of a tune-up. They are torn between the heroics of waving a white flag and the cowardice of blowing up Greenpeace ships. The Vietnamese sorted them out and gave them the boot. 

 

Not just the French...

Macron shouldn't take it personally. Big loser "trump" is in a sour mood about everything these days. White house staffers are avoiding Agent Orange. Who can blame them?

 

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/14/trumps-post-election-rage-what-it-suggests-about-his-alternate-reality/

 

"Trump’s post-election rage, and what it suggests about his alternate reality

 

 

 President Trump is in a sour mood — and apparently has been ever since his party suffered its worst House losses since Watergate last week. It started with him repeatedly snapping at reporters and continued during a trip to Europe, as The Post’s Josh Dawsey and Philip Rucker report in their must-read new story:"

 

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3 hours ago, Grouse said:

Sadly my brothers frequently don't understand panache, chic, savoir faire, sangfroid or even noblesse oblige....

But they do understand …

 Arms of the Order of the Garter

22 minutes ago, Opl said:

But they do understand …

 Arms of the Order of the Garter

Interesting! Thanks!