| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Bonjour’ Américain |
| 2003-06-17 |
| EFL It is a simple request: smile more. But it is at the heart of a wide-ranging campaign by French officials to win back American tourists and their dollars so important to France's economy. Recent posters on display in Paris depict Mona Lisa, one of the Louvre's most famous possessions, with a small alteration: her mysterious smile is underlined by another, much like the "smiley face" ubiquitous in America. Tourism officials in Paris are hopeful that 6,000 such renderings promoting the "Bonjour Campaign" will encourage hotel clerks, waiters, bus drivers and metro employees to be nicer and more helpful to tourists. Its key missive: to smile more. Oh yeah, that'll work The French are convinced that the U.S. perception that they — particularly Parisians — are unfriendly to Americans has added to the tourism decline caused by France's position on the war with Iraq. On a beautiful June day in Paris, as a cloudless blue sky looks down on familiar tourist attractions, it is clear something is different. At the Eiffel Tower, along the Champs Elysees and at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, there are Japanese, German and British tourists — but few Americans. "I think they're staying at home," a young Frenchman, Rene Eskengren, said. "Don't you think so?" We just decided to visit our friends. It would appear so: so far this year there are 25 percent fewer Americans visiting France than a year ago. And a recent study for a large travel agency found that France had slipped from the No. 2 destination for American travelers to No. 17. The reason cited is mainly France's position on Iraq. Bwahahahaha!! It has been a rude awakening for French officials. "I think they're shocked," said Adam Gopnik, who reported for six years from Paris for The New Yorker magazine. Gopnik said the French believe their position on Iraq was one of principle, and was not driven by anti-Americanism or resentment of the United States. The French are not only shocked, but hurt, he told ABCNEWS. "There's also this feeling of rejection, of being misunderstood and being maligned unfairly. Oh, we understand all right. "If you're gonna hate France, hate Canada because Canada and France shared exactly the same policy on this particular issue." Umm,, OK. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #27 RW,and Canada's anti-gun laws really make your citezens safer(not,look at home invasion stats)if you are joking about the guns comment then a apoligise. The"Silicon Valley of Canada"would be a minor inconvienuance at best.90% of the natural resources in Canada are in places other the Quebec.But are controlled by the Quebecios government,something that really piss'off the rest of Canada(from what I have heard). Think I've got that right but I maybe wrong. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-06-18 08:23:05 |
| #26 For the curious, it would be "Va te faire voir chez les Grecs". Literally translated, it means "Go make yourself seen at the Greeks' house". |
| Posted by: Kevin 2003-06-17 20:26:16 |
| #25 No friggin' way! You guys have G-U-N-S over there. It's even worse than SARS. Everybody's carrying. The problem with Quebec leaving is, that's where Canada's high-tech companies are. Sort of like if Silicon Valley wanted to separate (bad example?). Should Quebec separate, the rest of Canada would disintegrate soon. If in a Quebec-less Canada, Ontario kept forming the federal government, the western provinces would be quick to consider leaving as well. On the other coast, the Maritimes would be cut off, and the way they're pissed at Ottawa over the fishing industry, they would leave quicker than the west. New Brunswick is half French anyway. Interestingly, during the last referendum on separation in Quebec, the Natives were getting restless too! They said if Quebec had a right to separate, so did they, and the Native territories within Quebec would separate from Quebec (which would leave Quebec about the size of New Jersey). This leaves Ontario. And if the rest of Canada disintegrated the way I described, I don't see a problem with Ontario becoming a territory of the US. Unless someone has the bright idea and changes the name to Upper Canada with the Queen of England as head of state. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-06-17 19:55:40 |
| #24 Mojo - Texas didn't wait for 20 to 30 years as a territory of the United States. It was independent and then worked for union. If the western portion of Canada went first independent and maneuvered their laws, money, and trade to mesh with those of the US, they wouldn't have to wait long either. |
| Posted by: Don 2003-06-17 19:51:32 |
| #23 Mjh, The Euro is strong against the yen, but trade hasn't suffered to the same degree with Japan. The French have been projectile-vomiting into American faces for years. The ingrates can dish it out, but not take it. |
| Posted by: Ernest Brown 2003-06-17 14:42:00 |
| #22 So that liquid on our shoes is the result of a gentle Parisian shower? |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-06-17 14:23:08 |
| #21 I guess the easiest way to tell if this drop is a result of a decline in the dollar would be to see what the other destinations on that list is. I wouldn't be surprised if Spain and Australia had a similar change, but in the opposite direction. |
| Posted by: mjh 2003-06-17 14:10:22 |
| #20 Somehow I think the decline of the Dollar and the tanking of the American economy have a bit more to do with this. On the other hand, that the French don't get this just indicates the way they're in denial over economic realities. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-06-17 14:00:34 |
| #19 They're not unfriendly to americans, they're unfriendly to everybody. Even the other frogs can't stand Parisians. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-06-17 13:53:52 |
| #18 This is great. Put on some bullshit act of how they like us, they REALLY, REALLY like us! That'll get the stupide Americains back here to be gouged! They'll buy that! As a compromise maybe they should just ask us to send our money over. That's the only thing they want from us anyways. Unless the Germans are in town again. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-06-17 13:45:24 |
| #17 Re: Mike's How do you say "Why don't you go play hide-and-go-fuck-yourself" in French? I believe it is "Marshall Petain", loosely translated. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-06-17 13:42:50 |
| #16 Mike N - 2 girlfriends? How do you have time to read/comment on blogsites? |
| Posted by: Anonymus 2003-06-17 13:42:44 |
| #15 And a recent study for a large travel agency found that France had slipped from the No. 2 destination for American travelers to No. 17. Behind Ciudad Juarez, but ahead of Burundi. "If you're gonna hate France, hate Canada because Canada and France shared exactly the same policy on this particular issue." AND " ... the French believe their position on Iraq was one of principle, and was not driven by anti-Americanism or resentment of the United States. O.k., then in that same line of rationale, our hate is based on principle and not on anti-French feelings or resentment. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-06-17 13:41:00 |
| #14 How do you say "Why don't you go play hide-and-go-fuck-yourself" in French? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-06-17 13:38:00 |
| #13 I don't need any convincing to hate Canada. In fact, While I still like my Britsh girfriend, I'm going to start hating to my French-Canadian girlfriend twice as much as before. I don't remember the Cans going around to Security Council nations and pushing them to vote against us. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-06-17 13:36:12 |
| #12 I nominate the Yukon Territory to become Alaska-Yukon State. It would round out the shape of Alaska better. They are great, industrious people there. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-06-17 18:01:49 |
| #11 "Wouldn't such a move shift American politics leftward." Yeah, that'd be the *good* thing in such a move. :-D |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-06-17 17:52:00 |
| #10 Yank & OP - The provinces would never go for it. We'd insist that they be territories for at least 20-30 years before granting statehood, just like all the others. That'd mean 20-30 years of being ruled by Washington, an appointed governor, and US troops. Joining the Union is not like opening a credit card account - it is irrevocable, a point we had a nasty little civil war over. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-06-17 17:50:56 |
| #9 Old Patriot, I would love to have Canadian provinces join the union (if they really wanted to) but Isn't the right in Canada to the left of the Democrats? Wouldn't such a move shift American politics leftward. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-06-17 16:50:21 |
| #8 So like the French! They put an ITALIAN painting on display to show the French like Americans. Don't tell - let's just all show up in Florence, where the artist who painted the Mona Lisa spent much of his life. The French, primarily the Parisians and other big-city arrogant slobs, have no idea how much we loathe and despise them for their duplicity, outright lies, and total self-centered arrogance. There are people in Brittany, Normandy, Alsace, and a few other parts of France that are probably wishing they could all join Italy or Great Britain, and leave France on the dungheap of history, where it belongs. As for the Canadians, everyone I know, from Ontario west and in the Maritime Provinces, are seriously considering ousting Quebec and its French-Canadian misplaced feeling of superiority. If what's-his-face, the French-Canadian Prime Minister, doesn't watch his step, Quebeck will be all that's left of Canada, as the other provinces decide to unite with the US. We will welcome them gladly, and with the dignity they deserve. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-06-17 16:40:43 |
| #7 I think a few more smiles from some smelly frogs, combined with words of kindness from Woody Allen( whos face looks more and more like a rhinos vulva) is all it will take to get me to spend my hard earned dough in France, right after I decide to vote for Gray Davis for president! |
| Posted by: wills 2003-06-17 16:30:33 |
| #6 Mike N, I got the translation from http://translation2.paralink.com/: Pourquoi vous n'allez pas le jeu (la pièce) "se cache et va vous baisent" ? I don't speak French but the Spanish translations have been right on. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC California Chapter) 2003-06-17 15:59:05 |
| #5 Old Patriot, I would love to have Canadian provinces join the union (if they really wanted to) but Isn't the right in Canada to the left of the Democrats? Wouldn't such a move shift American politics leftward. |
| Posted by: Yank 6/17/2003 4:50:21 PM |
| #4 This is great. Put on some bullshit act of how they like us, they REALLY, REALLY like us! That'll get the stupide Americains back here to be gouged! They'll buy that! As a compromise maybe they should just ask us to send our money over. That's the only thing they want from us anyways. Unless the Germans are in town again. |
| Posted by: tu3031 6/17/2003 1:45:24 PM |
| #3 Re: Mike's How do you say "Why don't you go play hide-and-go-fuck-yourself" in French? I believe it is "Marshall Petain", loosely translated. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 6/17/2003 1:42:50 PM |
| #2 And a recent study for a large travel agency found that France had slipped from the No. 2 destination for American travelers to No. 17. Behind Ciudad Juarez, but ahead of Burundi. "If you're gonna hate France, hate Canada because Canada and France shared exactly the same policy on this particular issue." AND " ... the French believe their position on Iraq was one of principle, and was not driven by anti-Americanism or resentment of the United States. O.k., then in that same line of rationale, our hate is based on principle and not on anti-French feelings or resentment. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 6/17/2003 1:41:00 PM |
| #1 I don't need any convincing to hate Canada. In fact, While I still like my Britsh girfriend, I'm going to start hating to my French-Canadian girlfriend twice as much as before. I don't remember the Cans going around to Security Council nations and pushing them to vote against us. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 6/17/2003 1:36:12 PM |