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| Europe |
| Boycott grinds on against French food, wine, travel |
| 2003-05-01 |
| France continues to take it on the chin — and in the gut. Nearly one in five Americans who regularly buy French products say they have stopped because of France's outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup survey. The French Government Tourist Office — which figures France will lose about $500 million in American tourist business this year for a variety of reasons — is taking the situation so seriously that it is about to begin a multicity campaign promoting travel bargains to France. ''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman. Bad move, better to give the American people 6 more months to forget instead of reminding them that you still exist. Their research shows they need to. More than 41% of Americans with French travel plans have modified them in some way, according to a consumer survey on the tourist office's Web site. Requests for French travel information were down 34% in March, Massee says. I'm disappointed it's only 34% ''There's still a lot of anger out there,'' says Roger Simmermaker, whose Web site (www.howtobuyamerican.com) touts the ''biggest French Boycott List anywhere'' of French companies. ''This isn't going to go away anytime soon.'' Signs of damage:
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| Posted by:Domingo |
| #19 In my case, it's not just a visceral dislike of a preening whore who stabs us in the back at any opportunity, supports dictatorships, sabotages security arrangements for temporary advantage...they also feel the need to talk to down to "their lessers" and insist we let this third rate welfare state that can't get a carrier out of the freaking Med without breaking a screw tell us how to operate as a global power. I get a sense of satisfaction when I deliberately do not patronize French products - it's not just the Chirac and De villepin arrogant assholes, it's every french waiter and Theresa Heinz Kerry that've tried to imply that to be other than French is to be less....;-) For now, let me ask each and every one of you rantburgers to take monday afternoon off, purchase a fine Mexican mescal or tequila, some limes and salt, and toast repeatedly Cinco De Mayo, when the Mexican army of 4000 smashed a French (and traitorous mexican combatants - seeing a pattern here?) Army twice its size at the battle of Puebla. Arriba! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-05-01 20:51:08 |
| #18 I agree Anonymous. Americans have a heightened sensitivity of who their friends are (and an even more heightened sense of who their enemies are). The French have deliberately placed themselves in category two. No amount of short term marketing is going to change that. What I am seeing is pretty visceral and widespread. |
| Posted by: Jonesy 2003-05-01 17:46:13 |
| #17 $500m JUST in tourist biz. How much in exports? Robert Parker didn't go to the big wine show this year, cited terrorism. It's going to cost them at least $1 billion. And their campaign will go about as well as the Saudi friend campaign. If they stop eating MD, also hurts them harder than US. They'll just throw their own people out of work. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-05-01 17:25:57 |
| #16 I stopped buying french (small f) products. I was going to take my wife to Paris this summer, but now we will go to Spain or Milan. I know sooo many Americans that are outraged at the Frogs, it is really amazing. They have succeeded at hitting a nerve with alot of people. It's not that the French had a different opinion on Iraq, it's that they are complete double dealing pimps that sought to hinder and undermine us and sell us out at every turn (other than that, they were extremely helpful). In truth, it exposed the fact that we really have very few shared values with them. So... people have quit pretending. The gloves are off and I'll place my bet on our 300 million consumer against the French economy anyday. |
| Posted by: Jonesy 2003-05-01 17:12:53 |
| #15 Whenever the third world cesspool du jour has a problem with our Executive branch, they blow up a McDonald's or KFC, non? It's the new multi-lateral thing to do. Drink Scotch... enjoy painless boycotting! |
| Posted by: Mark IV 2003-05-01 17:08:53 |
| #14 LH. I'm not saying that you shouldn't eat French food because it's French. I'm just saying that many people have had a severe case of sensory-crossover. What has happened, is that they've had their sense of decency offended by the French, and now it offends their sense of taste. That explanation is idiotic. But you get my drift. I'm not trying to justify it. I'm just trying to understand it. Nevermind, I understand it completely. In fact it's so right that it need no justification. It's French. What more reason do you need? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-05-01 16:58:54 |
| #13 Liberalhawk, I understand your attitude, but I live in Paris. France is much closer to a communist country than it ever was to a democratic country. 50% of the people live in public housing and the major political powers are communist and a watered-down communist (socialist). The right which is 20% of voters is Nazi FN. What's left is a miricle 20% middle i.e. Chirac. This country from early in the morning till late at night plays anti-american propaganda; non stop! Why,I don't know? They say they are our allies, then in the next breath, they hate our guts. I say who gives a shit what they say or do until they wise up. The USA and allies need to take care of business. USA, Britian and the Aussies all the way! I say we need a three way alliance! The "Axis of Loyalty"! |
| Posted by: George 2003-05-01 16:40:40 |
| #12 liberalhawk, France is NOT the home of principles of liberty. While the Americans were busy implementing the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights -- the French gave the world the Terror (i.e. terrorism) and Napoleon. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2003-05-01 16:30:37 |
| #11 liberalhawk: said it here before and I'll say it again. Drink Australian and California wines. Cheaper (right now there's too much wine being made in Cali.) and better. |
| Posted by: growler 2003-05-01 16:07:21 |
| #10 they ate it for the aura - now which had more aura, traditional French cuisine, or nouvelle couisine?? Doesnt Pacific Rim cuisine have more aura these days? Or New American cuisine? I havent eaten French much lately - between my tastes, my family's and $$ theres not much reason to. But a nice French Onion Soup is still very good, among many other things they do VERY well. And as long as the onion is american, why shouldnt I enjoy it? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-05-01 15:50:00 |
| #9 Liberalhawk, They don't eat the food because it's good, they eat it because it's French. The aura (sp?) that goes along with it is why they ate it. Now that the French mystique is mud, so is the aura (sp?, again) While before it was somehow refined, and delicate, it's now backstabbing, and assinine. The French reputation (and any countries reputation)attaches to all things French. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-05-01 15:27:24 |
| #8 Liberalhawk: Zinfandel - now yer talkin'! One of the main reasons for me not packin' up and movin out of the People's Republic of Kalifornia is that I'm in the heart of Zin country, and there's no way I'm abandoning all that good grape to a bunch of undeserving and unappreciative moonbats. As for boycotting a domestic French restaurant, the food still represents a cultural import so I can't blame someone for passin' it up. It is sad for Mr. Rochat...but he should have diversified, and he's always free to change the menu. Gimme a cowboy cut ribeye (with a zin) anytime. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-05-01 15:25:49 |
| #7 not that i can afford a decent French Bordeaux - (much less a decent red Burgundy) if i had that much money, id have to consider becoming a Republican ;) as ever, a Zinfandel liberal |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-05-01 14:56:56 |
| #6 Mike- I dont see why - France is still the home of great principles of liberty, whether the current French govt or even French people live up to them now. I'll drink a domestic Cabernet over a French Bordeaux, but I wont stop drinking Cabernet because it somehow reminds me of Chirac. Just as I eat felafel without it reminding me of Yasser Arafat, or whatever. KF- I tend to prefer Asian cuisine myself (wasabi not wahabi is my motto) but i still dont see why if you like french cuisine you should stop liking it. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-05-01 14:53:56 |
| #5 liberalhawk, maybe the point is that one should stop using France as an emblem of quality food... I've had truly delicious meals in Spanish and Italian restaurants -- and the service is usually a million times friendlier and better. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2003-05-01 14:48:59 |
| #4 The 34% drop may have come at a time of year when they usually see a 100% increase... |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2003-05-01 14:44:42 |
| #3 I really don't understand the logic in boycotting French restaurants in the US, which are unconnected to the French economy. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-05-01 14:40:47 |
| #2 A "frog" is an ugly, slimy, isolationistic, repulsive and carbuncular denizen who resides in the deep dark recesses of the oozing swamp. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-01 14:33:55 |
| #1 In my case, it's not just a visceral dislike of a preening whore who stabs us in the back at any opportunity, supports dictatorships, sabotages security arrangements for temporary advantage...they also feel the need to talk to down to "their lessers" and insist we let this third rate welfare state that can't get a carrier out of the freaking Med without breaking a screw tell us how to operate as a global power. I get a sense of satisfaction when I deliberately do not patronize French products - it's not just the Chirac and De villepin arrogant assholes, it's every french waiter and Theresa Heinz Kerry that've tried to imply that to be other than French is to be less....;-) For now, let me ask each and every one of you rantburgers to take monday afternoon off, purchase a fine Mexican mescal or tequila, some limes and salt, and toast repeatedly Cinco De Mayo, when the Mexican army of 4000 smashed a French (and traitorous mexican combatants - seeing a pattern here?) Army twice its size at the battle of Puebla. Arriba! |
| Posted by: Frank G 5/1/2003 8:51:08 PM |