Politics for all you Francophiles
Yes, all three of us.
On National Review Online today I found an interesting update by Denis Boyles on French presidential politics. At the moment I care about this race a great deal more than our own, on the basis of a portion of none is none, and I find French politics, at least as presented by Boyles, much more entertaining.
I personally would love to be able to vote for a politico nicknamed "Sarko."
Labels: France, politics, presidential campaign
posted by Clemens @ 1:28 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I have a love/hate relationship with Boyles. He is at times uproariously funny, at his best pointing out the hypocrisies in many European criticisms of the US. On the other hand, he seems to relish his role a bit too much. It's unseemly at times. I can't think of an example offhand, other than the title of his book: "Vile France". Honestly, some of the nicest Europeans I've ever met were French, even if none of them spoke a lick of English or Italian. (Who are these people that visit Europe and find English-speakers everywhere? I was in Lourdes, for God's sake, and the only people who spoke English were the rental car agent and the hotel manager!)
On the other hand, at least it isn't LePen upstaging the Socialists this time. That gives cause for hope.
Thanks for the insight. I am not familiar with Boyles other writings but do remember the "Vile France" book being advertised. This morning I was reading the portion of Tony Judt's 'Postwar' that explains why France, and esp De Gaulle, were so frustrated with the 'Anglo-Saxons' at the end of WWII. You could almost see their point. Like you, I always found the French very hospitable, even in Paris. Our reader, Joey Sobrino, had the opposite reaction. Not that he is ever wrong about anything. 8^)
When I went in 83 few French admitted they spoke English. When we went back in 96 the French had decided that English was no longer an Anglo-Saxon language and everyone seemed to at least understand it. I think it was so they could deal with the hordes of Asian tourists, most of whom could speak a bit of English but no French.
I just realized: me, Carmen, and Jack. That's it - the three Francophiles who read this blog!
"Who are these people that visit Europe and find English-speakers everywhere? "
They are people that visit countries other than France. I mean wouldn't you think at the L'ourve ticket counter everyone would speak English?
During my last trek through Europe, I met more French that spoke English (young people) that were friendly than I did in the past which helped to offset my previous disgust with the frogs.
That is a good point about the Asian tourists. Most places I went to, there was never even attempt made by the person on the other side of the desk to try the native language.
--Joey
They are people that visit countries other than France.
I've visited Italy, Austria, Russia, and Germany. The only genuine English-speakers I've found were academics. Hotel staff are usually serviceable, and a woman at an information booth in the Linz train station (although she gave me the wrong directions, and insisted they were right when I came back).
Restaurants, though? I have yet to find a European restaurant where the staff speak English.
I haven't been to the UK yet. I hear that they speak a language that vaguely resembles English.
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