Submitted by Bill (not verified) on Tue, 2006-03-28 01:13.
I’ve visited France many times. I’ve even taken several road trips around “La Belle Pays” in the company of American and French friends. The strange thing is that I’ve never encountered the famed French rudeness to Americans that so many of my compatriots, such as “Buster”, mentions. I’ve had French citizens not only give me directions, but also lead me to a location I was trying to find. In one instance, a businessman on his way to work drove miles out of his way to lead a friend (another American) and myself to the entrance to Versailles.
Shamefully, my fellow countrymen, Americans, have committed the majority of the rudeness I have seen in France. It is arrogant to think that everyone in a large city, such as Paris, who have jobs and a life to attend to will have the time to stop their lives to assist a surly American, such as Buster, speaking an intelligible version of French from a book. The maps of Paris are among the best for any city I have visited, and guess what, Buster, you can get them in your native tongue. They are very easy to use and understand if you have half a brain.
Having lived and worked in several large American cities that are often visited by folks from foreign lands, I have not always been able to expend the time and energy to assist folks when they have asked for assistance in broken English from a book. I’ve never been rude to them, but it’s possible that some might have considered me so because I have to attend to my own life. Maybe they think, like Buster does, that I denied them help, but I doubt it because it sadly seems to be Americans who are more prone to take offense when someone doesn’t speak their language or kowtow to them.
The last time I visited Paris was three months ago, and I didn’t encounter the dog feces and stench of which Buster speaks. You’d think by Buster’s comments that American cities are pristine. I haven’t found that to be true. I can’t mention how many times I have had to avoid human feces when walking around some areas in American cities. I guess Buster finds dog feces more offensive than the human feces he runs into at home.
The French don’t have to be thankful that tourists visit their nation. There is a reason that it is one of the most visited nations in the world. I have found it to be a beautiful land, with beautiful cities, warm people, a superior cuisine, a strong and fascinating culture, and the best damn wine in the world.
The bottom line is that rudeness begets rudeness. I have not encountered rudeness in many cities famed for rudeness – New York, Paris, Los Angeles, etc. What I have found is that people like Buster who constantly whine about rudeness tend to find rudeness because of their own boorish behavior. Anywhere in the world, if you treat people with respect, they will return the favor. I’ve found that to be true in all of my travels.
The mention of President Chriac is probably the most telling of Buster’s true mission. He’s upset because of political reasons. Saying “No” is not rude, Buster! I’m not especially fond of all of Chriac’s policies, but I have never found him to be rude. Actually, I’ve been impressed by his restraint and diplomacy, and maybe most of all by his being able to speak my native tongue, English, better than my own President.
I do think so, my rude compatriot!
I’ve visited France many times. I’ve even taken several road trips around “La Belle Pays” in the company of American and French friends. The strange thing is that I’ve never encountered the famed French rudeness to Americans that so many of my compatriots, such as “Buster”, mentions. I’ve had French citizens not only give me directions, but also lead me to a location I was trying to find. In one instance, a businessman on his way to work drove miles out of his way to lead a friend (another American) and myself to the entrance to Versailles.
Shamefully, my fellow countrymen, Americans, have committed the majority of the rudeness I have seen in France. It is arrogant to think that everyone in a large city, such as Paris, who have jobs and a life to attend to will have the time to stop their lives to assist a surly American, such as Buster, speaking an intelligible version of French from a book. The maps of Paris are among the best for any city I have visited, and guess what, Buster, you can get them in your native tongue. They are very easy to use and understand if you have half a brain.
Having lived and worked in several large American cities that are often visited by folks from foreign lands, I have not always been able to expend the time and energy to assist folks when they have asked for assistance in broken English from a book. I’ve never been rude to them, but it’s possible that some might have considered me so because I have to attend to my own life. Maybe they think, like Buster does, that I denied them help, but I doubt it because it sadly seems to be Americans who are more prone to take offense when someone doesn’t speak their language or kowtow to them.
The last time I visited Paris was three months ago, and I didn’t encounter the dog feces and stench of which Buster speaks. You’d think by Buster’s comments that American cities are pristine. I haven’t found that to be true. I can’t mention how many times I have had to avoid human feces when walking around some areas in American cities. I guess Buster finds dog feces more offensive than the human feces he runs into at home.
The French don’t have to be thankful that tourists visit their nation. There is a reason that it is one of the most visited nations in the world. I have found it to be a beautiful land, with beautiful cities, warm people, a superior cuisine, a strong and fascinating culture, and the best damn wine in the world.
The bottom line is that rudeness begets rudeness. I have not encountered rudeness in many cities famed for rudeness – New York, Paris, Los Angeles, etc. What I have found is that people like Buster who constantly whine about rudeness tend to find rudeness because of their own boorish behavior. Anywhere in the world, if you treat people with respect, they will return the favor. I’ve found that to be true in all of my travels.
The mention of President Chriac is probably the most telling of Buster’s true mission. He’s upset because of political reasons. Saying “No” is not rude, Buster! I’m not especially fond of all of Chriac’s policies, but I have never found him to be rude. Actually, I’ve been impressed by his restraint and diplomacy, and maybe most of all by his being able to speak my native tongue, English, better than my own President.