So, Bridget Johnson, You Think You’re Funny?
Columnists, Editorials - Twitter this! July 26th, 2009
It’s Sunday, and some news comes over the wires about Sarkozy having a dizzy spell. Whatever. But you – Bridget Johnson – think you’re the funniest thing to ever hit About.com, so out comes the references to surrender jokes. Har dee har har.
I loathe thee.
Not so much for making fun of Sarkozy, he’s a public figure so he’s fair game, but for your utter disrespect for the most traumatic event in our history. Sure the headline is from the Onion (We know it’s satire – but why mention it? That’s the issue we have), but you think it is worthy of attention when discussing France’s Foreign Policy. You see, the 1940 surrender was not about surrender monkeys nor a ten minute battle. It was about being crushed by the most advanced army the world had known and being betrayed by our leadership.
Not only is making fun of 1940 as offensive to the French as 9/11 jokes are to you, but we were not alone in being crushed. Yet I have never seen a British Surrender Joke. Luckily for the British, after 100 000 French soldiers died in 47 days (more than Vietnam, Somalia, Beirut, Iraq and Afghanistan together), the British were able to evacuate Dunkirk with most of their men, taking advantage of a natural barrier called the English Channel.
But what really grates my nerves, and the nerves of 200 000 French citizens who live in North America, is that you, and so many others, have turned this historical event into a character trait. Check out twitter. It’s two surrender jokes a day …
“Mexicans are Lazy. British have bad Teeth. Blacks like Chicken and the French Surrender”. Welcome to the world of prejudice and of cultural reductionism. But since we – the French – don’t have a strong voice nor lobby in Washington to remind you and your ilk of your offense, you think you’re still funny …
It’s been seven years of Anti-French garbage in the US media from Bill O’Reilly, Jay Leno, Howard Stern, Conan O’Brien, Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, Regis Philbin, David Spade, Craig Kilborn, SNL all edged on by the Bush Cheney administration, yet you are oblivious to the fact this was nothing more than a political kiss shot in the build up the Iraq war.
Bridget Johnson’s Blog @ About.com – Bridget Johnson is the online editor at The Hill in Washington, D.C.
Comments on this website are the responsibility of their authors and are subject to the Blog Comment Rules.
Add Miquelon.org to my del.icio.us
August 9th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I recognize attacks on comments, videos, commentary slurs,political positions etc. I do not recognize this site attacking either the United States or the United Kingdom. That’s the difference, French-bashing is directed at the entire French people, culture, Nation. Enormous difference. If you can not see the difference, then there is really nothing that I can say.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Fred, of course you don’t recongise this site attacking the Brits and Americans. I suppose snide remarks about the British running away at Dunkirk , running back to their little island is not an attack directed at the entire British people whereas pointing out well established historical facts such as the French leadership’s lack of courage during WW2 is an attack on the entire French people ? LOL
Thanks for proving my point.
I am still waiting for you to practise what you preach by taking to task those here who bashed the British with their snide remaks about Dunkirk. Oh I forgot according to you that is not bashing but heaven forbid that anyone should dare tell any unpleasant facts about the French.
Your [ Blog comment rule 3 ]. This site has plenty of attacks on America (some of the bashing is by you) which may explain why you don’t see any attacks on the USA or British in this site brimming with half truths, lies, distortions, and twisting of facts in order to demonise the Brits & USA. That is what bashing is.
Since you are one of those who indulges in bashing America, it doesn’t come as a surprise that you don’t see any attacks on the USA in this site.
On the contrary it is you who can’t see the difference between truth/facts and bashing. Those who howl and scream about French bashing in this site are the ones who are the most rabid American bashers.
Yes, I know I will now be labelled a troll, French basher, etc etc…yawn for pointing out the behaviour of some posters here . I can hardly wait for the false accusations to begin.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Sharon – Could we not confuse the site’s content with the comment sections. People are encouraged to voice their opinions and it is clearly stated that comments are the sole responsibility of their respective authors.
August 10th, 2009 at 2:56 am
I just noticed the disclaimer was no longer visible since we changed to the paged comments plugin. I added the disclaimer to another file so it is once again visible.
“Comments on this website are the responsibility of their authors and are subject to the Blog Comment Rules.”
August 10th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Can we refrain from name-calling and personal attacks in the comment section please.
As well, all participants in the comment section should ponder Nietzsche’s following aphorism : “The worst readers are those who behave like plundering troops: they take away a few things they can use, dirty and confound the remainder, and revile the whole.”
August 10th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Yes, I know I will now be labeled a troll
Wonder why… lol
oh let me see by pointing out that what goes on in this site is people counter criticism of France by bashing Americans & Brits .
So it’s criticism against France but bashing against American and Brits ? Of course, master.
well established historical facts such as the French leadership’s lack of courage during WW2
Yeah because this website is pro Vichy sure. That’s what we have a problem with of course. Not the French people being called cowards on a daily basis. Right. And of course you were not aware of that.
This is exactly what I meant.
Anyone who dares to speak the truth is immediately bashed …as trying to justify French bashing.
Don’t confuse your truth with the truth, which is more than one sided, please.
You don’t justify French-bashing ?
How are we supposed to take the following remark of yours ?
PS: So, you have to put up with bashing for 7 years?
Well., the Americans have had to put up with rabid bashing for more than 60 years ….food for thought.
And I hate to burst your bubble but I have never leveled false accusations at anyone here.
Telling our British friends, who come here to lecture us time and time again about the cowardice of French leadership (which is not what we have a problem with by the way), that faced with similar circumstances (ie the battle of France) they were defeated as well and retreated back to their island to regroup and fight back, which for obvious reasons was a luxury the French did not have, is not bashing or showing a lack of respect for the sacrifice of British troops, it’s a fact.
There’s a reason Britan was never invaded in its long history and it’s called the English Channel. Another fact
The Brits are not genetically more courageous than the French. Another fact.
And frankly if that’s all the bashing you will ever encounter, it kinda pales in comparison to the almost daily regiment of being called a coward, smelly, arrogant we have to suffer through.
And now if you wanna contend that American bashing and French-bashing are absolutely similar then you’re going to show us documented evidence (and not that Jean François Revel essay which, unlike alll the trolls who have never bothered to read it, is actually more a documented history of the competition between 2 ideologies than it is a history of american bashing by French people) or you will definitely be labeled a troll
And FYI Charles Bremner’s blog is not a nefarious little blog but one of the biggest English speaking blog about France and it has a definite anti-French slant. At least do your homework before coming here to point fingers.
ps: And sorry but of course only someone with a major axe to grind about the French is gonna take time and come here on this anti French-bashing blog of all places to basically tell us to shut [ Blog comment rule 2 ] up and take the bashing with a smile and to not under any circumstances dare fight back.
Who do you think you’re fooling ?
August 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
“or you will definitely be labeled a troll”
Ok, so are threatening to label me a troll unless I do as you say. The [ Blog comment rule 3 ] has made his ruling, unless one does as they specify they will be labeled a troll.
By the way, I am waiting for Marc to take to task Barney for name calling and other sins which he listed are not allowed in this blog. Funny somehow those who toe the party line here are never asked to follow the rules of the blog and can indulge in personal attacks, name calling with impunity.
Yes, but now I will be rebuked for exposing the owner of this blog’s double standards & [ Blog comment rule 3 ].
The fascist mentality such as threats of be labeled this or that is rampant here. After all it is not a mere coincidence that Europe gave birth to nazism, fascism & communism. The mentality that gave birth to these idelogies is alive and well among Europeans .
“How are we supposed to take the following remark of yours ?
PS: So, you have to put up with bashing for 7 years?
Well., the Americans have had to put up with rabid bashing for more than 60 years ….food for thought.”
So, you don’t know how to take the truth? Thats the problem here isn’t it?
When one is faced with the truth, they start howling and screaming ‘French bashing’ when the truth is not to their liking.
Bashing? All major countries have to face bashing. But it could be that some people think they are so important no one should bash them. That is called arrogance.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Godwin’s Law (also known as Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies) is a humorous observation coined by Mike Godwin in 1990, and which has become an Internet adage. It states: “As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.”
August 10th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Bon on va la laisser tranquille. Ca devient trop méchant sinon.
Translation > Don’t feed the troll.
Ttruth from you, Sharon ? Of course. [ Blog comment rule # 3]
ps: But it could be that some people think they are so important no one should bash them. That is called arrogance.
Yeah because obviously, you don’t mind being bashed yourself. LMAO
August 10th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Enough – Locking this thread. Any more messages about posters and what they did elsewhere and further personal attacks will be unapproved immediately. We’ve been through this already.