Ignorant Gringos
What the french have, and a lot of american rednecks could use (this thread is just another display), is culture, education, imagination, intelligence.
I am not pro / anti / american / french - I treat people like individuals and show interest and respect to every nation as I think every one deserves it. That includes the US and the French but also Palestinians, Afghans, Cubans, Mexicans and Venezuelans, to name just a few.
Certainly my country, Germany, owes America a lot - but mostly to the liberal, positive half of it that is on the defense right now.
In 1945, America was giving us food instead of bullets, and instead of hatrid they gave us respect, which was probably the one thing germans are craving for most. That way we have become one of the most Americanized countries in the world, and one of the most peaceful.
My message to the many great Americans I know - I cannot say often enough that you must be aware of the dangerous developments in your country. Many people who used to be very pro American are slowly beginning to dislike your country - in Europe and elsewhere - US is becoming the bad boy in the world, the chauvinistic supressor of small nations, desecrating the institutions and standards it created istself, guilty and ignorant of the destruction of our planet, and becoming hollow and rotten inside, economically as well as morally.
I certainly wouldnt want to live there on this day.