Did all us Americans feel pride when the three American heroes helped save hundreds of lives on the Thalys train in France? I certainly did! I think it was because the French have so often been critical of American behavior. From before the Vietnam war to their image of us as violent, primitive, egocentric and arrogant. For an interesting history and analysis of this resentment, you can read Sophie Meunier’s “Anti-Americanisms in France” in the European Studies Newsletter (2005)Jean-Hugues Anglade, a French actor who’d been on the train and required stitches, said “We were incredibly lucky to have these American soldiers…without them we’d all be dead.”Especially nice for me was a Thank You email from a French friend we’ve seen before on this blog, Michèle L. Knowing full well that I had nothing to do with the bravery on the train, she wrote me:“Il faut que j’exprime à ma principale interlocutrice nord-américaine ma gratitude, qui est celle des Français en général, à l’égard de ses compatriotes qui ont permis d’éviter un massacre dans le train Thalys! Tu n’y es pas pour grand chose, mais quand même: on a envie de dire merci à ces gens si courageux et tu es chargée de le faire pour moi (je ne sais pas où ils sont!)……..”I myself feel a similar appreciation for the soldiers who protect the ‘good guys’ around the world.
Susan Husserl-Kapit
-
Join 40 other subscribers
Blogroll
Archives
- December 2020 (1)
- November 2020 (2)
- August 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (1)
- April 2019 (1)
- December 2018 (2)
- July 2018 (1)
- May 2018 (1)
- April 2018 (1)
- March 2018 (2)
- July 2017 (3)
- June 2017 (2)
- May 2017 (3)
- April 2017 (2)
- February 2017 (2)
- December 2016 (1)
- November 2016 (1)
- October 2016 (1)
- September 2016 (1)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (1)
- February 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (4)
- November 2015 (6)
- September 2015 (3)
- August 2015 (1)
- April 2015 (1)
- January 2015 (7)
- December 2014 (1)
- November 2014 (1)
- October 2014 (3)
- September 2014 (1)
- August 2014 (2)
- July 2014 (4)
- June 2014 (1)
- May 2014 (11)
- April 2014 (6)
- March 2014 (2)
- February 2014 (1)
- January 2014 (14)
- December 2013 (1)
- November 2013 (1)
- July 2013 (1)
- June 2011 (5)
- May 2011 (18)
- December 2010 (1)
- November 2010 (1)
- June 2010 (3)
- May 2010 (2)
- January 2010 (2)
- December 2009 (4)
- November 2009 (9)
- September 2009 (2)
- August 2009 (5)
- July 2009 (5)
- May 2009 (2)
- April 2009 (4)
- March 2009 (1)
- February 2009 (2)
- September 2008 (1)
- August 2008 (6)
- July 2008 (6)
- June 2008 (1)
- April 2008 (6)
- March 2008 (8)
- February 2008 (5)
- January 2008 (11)
Categories
- Anglicisms Invade
- Boston French classes
- Chants de Noël, chansons de Noël, Fête de Noël à Boston
- Cultural Perspectives
- Films
- French culture
- French versus English
- French vocabulary help
- French-American politics
- French-American relations
- gilets jaunes, Macron
- Language Tips
- Légion d'honneur
- News from France
- Observation of the month
- Only in France !
- Paris, Nuit Européenne, free museum visits
- Reasons to learn French
- Reasons to learn French?
- Stephanie
- Tourism in France
- Uncategorized
Bonjour Susan,
As an American living in southwest France, I followed the news of the Thalys event with great interest and pride. A day or so after, at least two French friends came up to me after mass at the 12th century church across the street and expressed their thanks to me! One even greeted me, in English, with “Long live America!”. How’s that for international relations!
LikeLike
Wright Salisbury sent this comment by email:
LikeLike