Kev,

I think it’s an unspeakable outrage. I can’t find the words to express the anger this piece of news has caused me. Whatever the motives were for the idiots who perpetrated such an act (and I have doubts that they actually followed motives to speak of, as it seems to me they are clearly devoid of any decency, respect and sense of right or wrong) they are low-lives who deserve harsh punishment for descarating the memory of the men who died to liberate France and they are a disgrace to France.

It sounds like this new outrage has also shocked the highest echelon. French Yahoo had the following statement:

“France condemns in the strongest possible terms the desacration which took place yesterday in the Saint Aubert graveyard. This act is utterly unacceptable” a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Office said. “This desacration is an affront to the memory of all the Commonwealth soldiers who died to liberate our country. We want the culprits to be swiftly caught.”

And on English Yahoo:
War veterans minister Hamlaoui Mekachera condemned what he described as “an inadmissible offence to the memory of British, Canadian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in France in World War One and should be let rest in peace on our soil”.

Sadly idiots, bigots and low-lives can always be relied upon to act in such a mindless manner. Some of the fires currently devastating the South of France may have been caused by arsonists. The news is littered with depressing examples of such types of behaviour…

Amongst my friends, family and acquaintances I do not know one French person who would condone the graveyard incident, even those who have not particular fondness for their neighbours from across the Channel. I am sure that in France all but a handful of idiots would agree and unreservedly condemn what has occured. It does not in any way represent France or 99% of its citizens.

I am utterly aghast that some people would stoop to that level and perform such revolting acts. For what it’s worth, I’d like to offer my most sympathetic thoughts.

US A
I personnally do not think that the topic of young girls being abducted/eloping with older men is a laughing matter, especially for their friends and families.

And Arthur… Ouch… I know some people have a bone to pick with our transatlantic cousins, but that sounded a tad gratuitous. Not sure it’s the best way to go to start mending fences… We can’t tar an entire country with the same brush because of a few disagreements with a handful of its citizens, can we?

And all this between people from countries which are supposed to be allies (in spite of the childish name-calling, and I don’t just mean between governments)… Bodes very well.
Good job some of the posters here aren’t in the Diplomatic service….

One of the things one would do well to ponder is how the world went from a state of huge and genuine sympathy after 9/11 to the current state of tension, and resentment on all sides bewteen the US, its allies and the rest of the world.

And one last thing: the UK Govt might support GWB, but very large sections of the UK public were opposed to the war in Iraq.

I think Becks’s fame goes beyond his abilities as a footballer. He’s a decent player, but I don’t think his qualities warrant such an amount of media scrutiny, or rather obsession.
It seems to me that his relationship with Victoria is the stuff of all dreams for tabloids and celebrities mags. And though they are often pilloried in the press, many papers know how valuable they are to paper circulation. (more than a hint of hypocrisiy on the part of hacks, but then again, what’s new).

He’s a good looking bloke, his wife’s not ugly either, they are young, put themeslves in the public eye, the camera loves them, people are interested in them, and they’re not exactly media-shy. I think it suits both parties for them to be in the public eye.

As Kev pointed out, in spite of all the jibes, I’m not sure the joke’s entirely on them; in fact they must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Becks comes across as a decent bloke, who abuses neither his body, nor his wife, and indeed most of the time gives his all on the pitch. If he wants to court media attention, nobody’s forced to listen or read about him.

I don’t think the interest will abate with his move to Real. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the papers sent a special Beckhams watcher to Madrid to satisfy the British public’s hunger for news about the new royal couple (well they seem like a new sort of Royalty, only this one is chosen some section of the people).

Good luck to them. I think there are many causes more worthy of our anger in the world at the moment to be honest…

Moggy

May I just say, thank God that the gentlemanly English ways are not a thing of the past.

🙂

TTP,

How mature and constructive… And witty too.

Don’t know where you gleaned your grasp of international sociology and politics, but it doesn’t sound as though it was through an in-depth course.

I could try and post an answer addressing your diatribe, but somehow I suspect it would be entirely wasted. Shame because some of the points raised did deserve a closer look.

Originally posted by TTP
Hand 87-5 and Sparky,

I only wish we had a leader like Jaques Chirac, Americans are all jealous of you French!! Whats Unemployment up to now 15% and your tax rates 70% and don’t forget all the respect France has throughout the world!!NOT!!!!!!!
Have a nice day, If your not on strike or anything!

Originally posted by Hand87_5

TTP , I don’t know where you got / invented? those figures .
Unemployement in France is 9.3% now.

Tax rate of 70% DOESn’T exist , since the max is 46 %.

Just to let you know that my wife who is doing the same job that me , in the same company but she’s always on the US pay role.

Guess what ? Federal taxes + California taxes are HIGHER than the french ones !!! Amazing ?

Before writing anything on the web , check your informations mate or shut up!

Not sure if this type of continuing argument is going to help much… I thought the leaders of France and the USA had at leats started to try and build bridges.

:confused:

TTP, you did touch on a very important issue though. I’m not sure that the USA’s stock in certain parts of the world is all that high either. But that is at the heart of the matter. Isn’t it important to start asking ourselves why countries like ours generate such resentment, and not only among people who appear to place themselves beyond the realm of debate, analysis and dialogue(and who, incidentally, are not the preserve of any geographical , political or ideological group; seems like verybody’s got some these days)?

Originally posted by Arthur
Of course it’s a joke. I thought is was quite funny really – the M16 having quite a poor reputation and such. I’m sorry the joke was lost on you, and you can be sure that the disrespect i have for the French military isn’t any worse than the disrespect i have for other armed forces 😉 .

I suspect my own sarcasm was lost on you as well… Must be something to do with the idiosyncrasies of our respective nationalities; or the distance…

I shall however sleep more soundly tonight knowing that you despise forces of other countries as much as you despite France’s!

🙂

Have a good one!