posted on February 3, 2003 06:44:57 PM new
Letter to home from a marine with the multinational force in Bosnia:
Dear Dad,
A funny thing happened to me yesterday at Camp Bondsteel (Bosnia): A French army officer walked up to me in the PX, and told me he thought we
(Americans)were a bunch of cowboys and were going to provoke a war in Iraq. He said if such a thing happens, we wouldn't be able to count on the support of France.
I told him that it didn't surprise me. Since we had come to France's rescue in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War, their ingratitude and jealousy was due to surface [again] at some point in the near future anyway.
I also told him that is why France is a third-rate military power with a socialist economy and a bunch of pansies for soldiers. I additionally told him that America, being a nation of deeds and action, not words, would do whatever it had to do, and France's support, if it ever came, was only for show anyway.
Just like in ALL NATO exercises, the US would shoulder 85% of the burden, and provide 85% of the support, as evidenced by the fact that this French officer was shopping in the American PX, and not the other way around.
He began to get belligerent at that point, and I told him if he would like to, I would meet him outside in front of the Burger King and whip his ass in front of the entire Multi-National Brigade East, thus demonstrating that even the smallest American had more fight in him than the average Frenchman.
He called me a barbarian cowboy and walked away in a huff.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Dad, tell Mom I love her, . .
Your loving daughter, Mary Beth Johnson LtCol., USMC
posted on February 3, 2003 07:42:16 PM new
If it wasn't for French support at a critical time in our history, we'd be spelling with extra u's. Where's the gratitude?
I used to shop at the French PX, and it was, of course, stocked with real food.
I was treated quite well in France. I was invited to join in a memorial service at the Arc de Triomphe. The help our countries have given each other was spoken of with passion, and the American losses incurred in France were mourned with tears.
So a Lt. Col is out picking fights with a male officer of allied forces? What a charming memory to leave with those who could be our allies.
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on February 3, 2003 09:37:54 PM new
That reminds me of the mission statement of the French Foreign Legion:
The French Foreign Legion soldier will carry out his mission until death, as this will allow the French government enough time to completely surrender.
posted on February 4, 2003 01:38:38 AM newWhat a charming memory to leave with those who could be our allies.
hmmmm - Could be And here I always thought allies supported each other. Appears to me they're supporting Saddam's regime. Maybe they've decided to be allies with him?
posted on February 4, 2003 05:07:28 AM new
What profe? Did something I say upset you? Could it not be true that since France has made recent deals with Iraq they're 'acting in their best interests' by not supporting us against Iraq? Could it be that France and Germany think since they're forming a 'new partnership' that the views of the rest of Europe don't matter...that their positions aren't equally as important? Or is it only the US that acts in it's own best interest?
I don't have a problem with opposing views.
[ edited by Linda_K on Feb 4, 2003 05:08 AM ]
posted on February 4, 2003 05:45:48 AM new
Linda, if you feel that the US can and should act in its own interests, then, logically, that consideration should be extended to other countries. And the French electorate is certainly not happy with their choices, as evidenced by the wacko Le Pen getting such a percentage of the primary vote.
I still have a low opinion of this LT Col for physically threatening someone who is culturally and morally unable to retaliate.
The Lt Col and full birds I knew were a bit more mature than this example. But, they were Army....
PS Linda, Saabsister says she misses you.
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on February 4, 2003 05:56:14 AM new snowy - Yes, I do believe we should act in our own best interests. But it's also my position that we do act in the interests of others too.
..but they were Army
And please tell saabsister to get her rear back here. There are many times when I post a position I KNOW she'd disagree with and I miss her not being here to disagree. HEAR THAT SAABSISTER?
posted on February 4, 2003 07:37:46 AM new
I very much doubt that this letter is more than a fiction being passed around the Net on chatboards and in emails.
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on February 4, 2003 09:14:02 AM new
Who cares if it fact or fiction, it's good for a laugh (for those of us with a sense of humor). I still would wager that a female marine could beat the crap out of any frog, uh excuse me, French military officer.
posted on February 4, 2003 09:55:30 AM new
So, Bear, you post a story which you know may be fictional, as an excuse to start a bashfest against several million people. Charming.
posted on February 4, 2003 10:03:23 AM new
OT to Irene, KD, Snowy or any other Canadians posting here. - Are there some English Canadians who have differences with the French Canadians? I've heard, from our Canadian friends, that they did.....just wanted a different prospective if you're willing. Appeared to be there was a 'divide' there [in Canada] too. No?
posted on February 4, 2003 10:12:22 AM new
LindaK, the divide is with those French Canadians who wish to separate with the rest of Canada. There are plenty of French Canadians who do not wish to do so.
It's not hatred of the culture or the people, it's simply a desire not to see our country break up.
posted on February 4, 2003 10:21:40 AM new
When I lived in Montreal, one of my best friends was French Canadian. She was rural Quebec had just learnt English about three years ago. She married a Separtist. I remember when I invited her and her fiance to dinner one evening. The FLQ crisis had only happened a couple of years before. The fiance and I sort of politely glared at each other all evening. Poor Eliane. She was stuck in the middle trying to keep the peace.
posted on February 4, 2003 10:22:26 AM new
Bear, ethnic slurs are offensive. You merely degrade yourself, and ensure that your future postings are discounted.
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on February 4, 2003 10:28:55 AM new
I have read that some speculate the French and German Govts are against any action against Iraq becauseIraqi documents would be found that implicate France and Germany are re-arming Iraq and suppling Iraq with equipment for making WMDs.
posted on February 4, 2003 10:40:38 AM new
Thanks Irene - I could identify with your statement She was stuck in the middle trying to keep the peace.
Think that's how my DIL felt when our son and I discuss politics. She's a gentle, soft spoken woman who had never experienced what our family had always been use to....a good debate. She kept saying, "Could you two please NOT discuss politics?"
________
I've seen bears post traveling the email circuit. Always thought it was meant as a joke. Same kind of one-ups-manship that the different branches of our Armed Forces have between each other. You know...we're the best....you stink.
________
It's a tough time for all of us. Sometimes we're [me included] are taking things too seriously.
I don't find anything the least bid funny about phony anecdotes aimed at denigrating an entire nation.
Even if the anecdote were true, it's just plain dumb to assume that one person speaks for an entire nation and the entire nation and all of its people should be judged accordingly.
It's as dumb as assuming that you speak for all Americans and every American should bear the consequences of your words and actions.
posted on February 4, 2003 12:40:44 PM new
Ethnic slurs and insulting an entire nation are a joke to you? How tuberish of you. Yammmer away, tater tot, but all I see is a hash.
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on February 4, 2003 12:50:03 PM new
True - bears are a protected species.
But seriously, I'm curious as to how this kind of thing happens. Somebody had to sit down and write this, knowing it wasn't true, knowing it was unfair, and knowing that it was likely to sow discord. I understand that you're not the original author, bear1949, but somebody is, and I wonder why they did it.
And I also wonder when people are going to stop blindly forwarding this little "too good to be true (because they aren't)" anecdotes when it's so easy to check them out. Once again, I'm not singling anyone out. My own sister deluges me with these things, and every time I get one from her, I see she's forwarded it to a jillion others as well. Then I point her to snopes or the urban legends reference pages, and she says "hey, not my fault." Well, maybe not the first six or seven times .... but by now, chickie, you KNOW.
posted on February 4, 2003 12:59:49 PM new
BEAR, I ENJOYED READING IT, JUST WAS POINTING OUT THAT IT IS AN URBAN LEGEND, I FIND NOTHING OFFENSIVE ABOUT IT.
