Dear France, what the hell are you doing?

adamark · 05-06-2007, 10:33 PM

I had planned to move to France after graduation. Paris, to be exact. Culturally, I consider Paris to be the center of the universe. Arrogant? Perhaps, but that is one characteristic that France and the United States both share. We're both hard-headed and ethnocentric.

I am having serious second thoughts about my plan to move over there after today's election. The president of France for the next 5 years is Nicolas Sarkozy, a total douche. He is considered by my friends to be the French version of president Bush. Many predicted that riots would break out, nothing has happened as of yet.... Why the fuck did they elect him if they hate Bush so much? Why is history so ironic?! I have a decent grasp of why it happened, I just wrote a 20-page paper on it for pete's sake, that doesn't make me any less disturbed by it.

I've constructed this diagram to explain to non-Francophiles why I am so disappointed in today's election:

Maybe I am overreacting, but I was really hoping they would elect Segolene Royal. She would have been their first woman president. More than that, though, she is a socialist. OH WELL. I'm really disappointed. Hopefully Sarko won't change France too drastically.

Fifthfiend · 05-06-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

I have a decent grasp of why it happened, I just wrote a 20-page paper on it for pete's sake, that doesn't make me any less disturbed by it.

So for the uninformed, why did it happen?

MFD · 05-06-2007, 10:51 PM

Huh. The only respect I know Sarko is from my research into Islamic immigration issues. And I've found that if we compare him and Algerian immigration to Bush and Mexican immigration, they're totally different policies. Maybe I missed something, but Sarko is trying to integrate the Islamic communities.

Ryanderman · 05-06-2007, 11:14 PM

From the little I know of France's politics, I thought the French version of a conservative is much closer to an Amercian liberal (or moderate at the most) than an American conservative. And France's liberals are generally much more so, and more socialist, than American liberals... in general. Though that seems really simplified.

In his first speech after the election, the man urged America to lead the world in the effort to fight global warming. Which doesn't say much for his understanding of the American political situation at the present, but does tell me that whatever he is, he isn't Bush.

Professor Smarmiarty · 05-07-2007, 12:00 AM

I was pleased by this result. Sergolene Royal had no control of her party. At the start of the year she had a massive polling lead but managed to squander it by rampant infighting in her party. If she can't run a bunch of cronies how is she going to run a cronies (though socialists don't tend to work so well together). I may not agree with lots of things about Sarkozy but at least he will be run things. And he's criticised a lot of the isolationist policies of Chirac which has to be good.
And just be glad Le Pen didn't win

And Paris the culture centre of the world? Tehehe the thought amuses me.

adamark · 05-07-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrel-Hating Sycophant

And Paris the culture centre of the world? Tehehe the thought amuses me.

Pfffft, and what would you have?

Nique · 05-07-2007, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Pfffft, and what would you have?

Disney Land?

Also, could you explain how this guy is like Bush, exactly?

greed · 05-07-2007, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamark

Pfffft, and what would you have?

The thing about cultural centre of the world is it's a quantitative statment not a qualitative one. And America is a clear leader in the sheer bulk of culture it accounts for and degree to which it influences other countries culture. India by way of Bollywood is probably second. Hell these days I'd probably rate Germany and Britain as ahead of France in that respect.

Now you can always say that what France makes is better, but that's a personal preference and as an admitted Francophile well, that's roughly the same as a guy draped in the American flag or an otaku saying the same thing about America and Japan respectively.

On Sarkozy, as BHS said at least it's not Le Pen. Not up to date enough on French politics to say much else(which says something else about French cultural influence).

42PETUNIAS · 05-07-2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHS

And Paris the culture centre of the world? Tehehe the thought amuses me.

Well, over the past few centuries, that has probably been the case. Now? No.

My mom was on the Champs-Elysees (sp) when he was elected, and saw him drive by in his motorcade. Most policemen she said shes ever seen in her life.

Death by Stabbing · 05-07-2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamark

Pfffft, and what would you have?

Atlantis...we could all fight over if it's there and then some how that makes us realize how petty and stupid fighting is

05-06-2007, 10:51 PM	#3
MFD THWIP! Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,626	Huh. The only respect I know Sarko is from my research into Islamic immigration issues. And I've found that if we compare him and Algerian immigration to Bush and Mexican immigration, they're totally different policies. Maybe I missed something, but Sarko is trying to integrate the Islamic communities. __________________ And The Lord did curse Caine for his sin, for by The Lord blood may only be repaid in sparkly glitter. - DFM 11:30

05-06-2007, 11:14 PM	#4
Ryanderman Beard of Leadership Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 827	From the little I know of France's politics, I thought the French version of a conservative is much closer to an Amercian liberal (or moderate at the most) than an American conservative. And France's liberals are generally much more so, and more socialist, than American liberals... in general. Though that seems really simplified. In his first speech after the election, the man urged America to lead the world in the effort to fight global warming. Which doesn't say much for his understanding of the American political situation at the present, but does tell me that whatever he is, he isn't Bush. __________________ ~Your robot reminds me of you. You tell it to stop, it turns. You tell it to turn, it stops. You tell it to take out the trash, it watches reruns of Firefly.~

05-07-2007, 12:00 AM	#5
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	I was pleased by this result. Sergolene Royal had no control of her party. At the start of the year she had a massive polling lead but managed to squander it by rampant infighting in her party. If she can't run a bunch of cronies how is she going to run a cronies (though socialists don't tend to work so well together). I may not agree with lots of things about Sarkozy but at least he will be run things. And he's criticised a lot of the isolationist policies of Chirac which has to be good. And just be glad Le Pen didn't win And Paris the culture centre of the world? Tehehe the thought amuses me.