In defense of the French (english OK?)

forgive my american nose in YOUR forum! i am looking for a place to share my pro-France essay about the GREAT gifts that France gave to my nation!

HERE in USA i deal with ugly, hard, narrow bush Americans who say "FRANCE attacked USA and bush"

nonsense! These people i write against are Cowboys!

Repsondent,,any respondent... please translate these few words into francaise, merci .


And tell me ,,, please,,,, may i install my "in defense of defrench" essay?

Perhaps some one of you would be so kind as to translate the story? It is about 600 words long.

Thank you,

Reid Welch
miami, florida usa
reidwelch@peoplepc.com

 

Hi Netsky,

feel free to write your essay on the forum. As far as this brings us some fair and interesting discussion, we will welcome your story. And if you're lucky enough, the translation will come quickly to let our 'french only' members take part in the discussion.

Daniel

 

thank you, Daniel

Merci, Daniel.

That is the only word of French net-the-sky knows. It is the most important word of any language, yes?

This poor communicator has been banned from the "speakeasy" forum of c/net discussion forums, banned since he penned this essay about one week ago.

Like many Americans, I see my Country regressing away from its founding principles that were so carefully planned. Our liberties, civil and moral, are daily assaulted by extremists of the Christian Right.

The speakeasy forum, where I am today a dead man, a corpse not even given the dignity of a goodbye, is a typical Internet haven for narrow-thinking people of reactionary thought and extremely callous projections. It is pejorative place run by fascist-styled “moderators”

I lasted there only one month because I fight for decency in communications and I use -reason- to make my Liberal points. I don't stand for mere -assertions-. I make the opposition sustain their baseless arguments and ad-hominum attacks. “Kerry is an asshole!” That being a mild example. IF I were to reply “BUSH is a jerk” my posting is removed. But not the other fellow’s!

The War in IRAQ... the majority of Ugly Americans at speakeasy support the war. I do not. I call it OurWreck. But I am banned from there now. I am dead and my only language, the language of Reason, is dying in America.

And so I thought... where could I show this essay to a new audience, and be critiqued fairly? Where else but in France!

The essay is not entirely palatable in its every stance, to all French eyes; I know this- about the two world wars, for instance, I make offensive over-simplification in order to throw a crunchy bone to my Francophobic readers, so that they may SEE that netsky balances out differing viewpoints, and find that small sins to not warrant divorcing a spouse.

I shall post the essay, below this preface, but immediately below is the most telling response to that essay, from “kiddpeat” , an evangelical-type of reactionary Christian who has no Reason in his heart. Only… well, you read him next, and thank no one but Bush for making this kind of idiot brave enough to stupidly dismiss History and our Fraternity. Since BUSH seized power the new Nazis are terribly emboldened to walk over every person and place in the world. Idiots. I wish they were only that…..

I thank you all more than you can perhaps know. Or....perhaps you will know exactly how I feel after all. Read on.... and thank you Daniel, most of all for giving this very small man the heart to inject his own Self into this place, where I would otherwise be a most surely unwelcome stranger.

netsky/reidwelch@peoplepc.com

 

c'est un nouveau message au lieu de vieux message. il est indépendant du premier message ci-dessus. le babelfish, le traducteur stupide me sert BIEN !

-----
a cut from my first poem, one month ago:

my eyes age dim
yet i see more
whenever i fall
through hole in floor


second netsky poem, in the style of Benjamin Franklin. It is about "ego", which i prefer to call "self". This does not translate very well....for the rhythym and meter are very English. I happen to be athiest, but i live by God's laws: the law of the Golden Rule, and its basis, reason. I have no pride, and no dignity, not any more....

------

-My Self-
Wears breeches of antique persuasion
Holes worn in by public abrasion.

The holes lend humility
For the Publick; amusement!

But the holes too, are holy
More Christly: containment.

A mole on my nose? Also Reminder!
That imperfection preceeds always
Christ's gift: Pride re-winder.

The shedding of Dignity
The shedding of Pride
Leaves humble-breeched me
The Richer inside.

------


c'est assez ! de netsky pendant un après-midi

 

Original version of essay and all responses are found at

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6130-0.html?forumID=50&threadID=45679&messageID=540236



---In defense of the French---

The nation of France grieveously wounded the ego pride of much of conservative America by their stubborn and hypocritical (?) refusal to support Bush's cowboy diversionary war to mine, or plant by force alone, democracy into Iraq. We know that the genuine reasons for the war in Iraq go much deeper into the ground than alleged good-will towards men, or ferreting out the Saudi Terrorists who toppled the twin towers.

A reminder now of the French role in American history past, and present and tomorrow.

The French Monarchy enabled us to defeat our British cousins in our fight for independence.

A Frenchman planned the layout of the world's most beautifully planned seat of government: the original form of Washington, District of Columbia.

Our victory over the British in part spurred the French to overthrow their dissolute system of monarchy and rule by autocracy to create the first democracy or Republic in Western Europe


The French rescued us again= when the British attempted to subjugate us in 1812 in direct result to our first and most incorrect war of -agression-.

Fifty years later America was mature, stable, safe, and an icon to the world.

More particularly, America was an icon to the French people. The great inventor who later designed the Eiffel tower, worked in conjuntion with the great French sculptor Bartoldi to envision and make possible the largest, most interesting statue in the world.

About fifty years after the War of 1812 a giant gift arrived temporarily on our shores. It was to be taken back presently. But not because the French people were 'indian givers'.

No, not that at all! They wished to show us the early fruits of the collective spirit of generosity and love and admiration of even the most plebian Frenchman, towards Iconic America.

Mr. Bartoldi had completed the arm bearing a torch of his "Liberty Enlightening the World". Paid for entirely by copper and silver from all the French citizens as the greatest symbolic gift ever given from one nation to another.

Citizens of New York were the first to climb up the internal stairs to that torch. At that time only some few feet above ground!

A PEDESTAL IS NEEDED cried this Nation's Press. By similar public subscription funds were raised, inspired by the PROMISE of that arm's female beauty of truth and light and love and equality for all.

The funds from the French Side built our most famous Icon. The funds from the American Side built the fitting pedestal.

The rest of the story you all know... even this early history you must know... but do all Americans CONNECT the dots?

That's why i write now. I don't defend French mendaciousness. We have our own variety, is my reply.

I don't condone French rolling over and supplicating as so many view that nation's response in two successive world wars. But they did falter, and yet, they survived.

We saved them twice.
They save US twice.

They gave us the world's most beautiful statue. The world's most famous statue. The world's most symbolic statue.

All we did was make up a pedestal for its display, and properly thank the French people in the next two wars.

Come now to the Iraq question: Never mind that the French had financial entanglements with snaggly old Saddam.

SO did we, a few years earlier!

The French did not buy into the COWBOY act of our President. Why? For the same reason that they gave us so much reason of art, literature and aid in earlier wars when they were strong and we were relatively weak: The French did this beccause they love fairness and fair fighting for liberty, equality and brotherhood.

Their very LIBERAL nature towards life has given the French that old and deserved open-minded attitude about earthy natural things like alll forms of human sex.

The same LIBERAL nature has also ensnared the French in an impossible trap to escape: decades of open doors bringing in throngs of Muslims who may now radicalize and even, by prolific birth rate, take over and cuckold the French from their traditional an Liberal ways.

Liberty Enlightening the World for longer than a century.

We conflicted recently over French refusal to join our simplisticated cowboy war against terroism---in IRAQ?

The shallow but loudest speakers all called the French perfidious. Damnable hypocrites! ANTI AMERICAN. Freedom Fries! Buy NO French made wine nor give -any- support to that blasted nation of cheesers!

American the Beautiful? Yes. Also America the Proudly Short-sighted selfish pigs in crusted black pots calling the pot that served us best and first a CROCK of bastards.

WHO is and who is not a "bastard" country, here?

What is in a nation and what is in the heart?

What greater symbol is there, of the best France to the best of America, other than the Statue of Liberty?

How can any decent person slander any such race of remarkable people, who are so KEY to our very existance as a nation of freedoms?

Emma Lazarus. American "jewess". Last name connotes the name of the only mortal ever to rise from the dead. She wrote of Liberty Enlightening the World: ' Give me your tired and your poor, your humble masses yearning to breath free...."


No more! Such noble sentiment is dead today in American Life, as is also dead the old-fashioned tolerance and fraternal love we all enjoyed more of before xenophobia poisoned Reason. It is all dead or dying here now, in the those small minded men who hold the reigns of power, and the big demagogues such as Rush Limbauh, O'Reilly, Hannity and other Uglies who "simplisticate" and preach and embolden the formerly cowardly, hateful Americans that this is now the safe time to bully their brothers at home and abroad.
_________________
netsky

Last edited by netsky on Fri Nov 21, 2004 6:02 pm; edited 3 times in total

 

coupe ! unnecesary ! traduction par le bablefish, le traducteur maladroit d'ordinateur

merci, mes amis

oui!! :lol:

 

Hi Netsky,

When it comes about 'love', there's nothing that cannot be undone ! Even if it seems that the relationships between our two countries (and I'm not only speking of the political aspect) are seriously damaged, there's no reason why we should fall in definitive hate of each others. As a not so relevant but funny example I will only remind of Liz Taylor : How much time did she marry then divorce from the same guy ? (I warned you )

France (Europe) and USA share 200 / 300 years of common history in which we can all see good and bad times between our countries. It's been a time when we used your country to fight against some of our longest ennemies (which have since become some other good friends - except when it comes to playing Rugby ) It's also been a time when our respective people would admire each others. Now this is all finished. Using all this history as so called arguments to define wether France is to be considered a friend of USA or not : This is a nonsense, nothing but "couple's argument" (sorry but sometimes my english is failing me ! I guess you take the point).

The question is not to know if this country or this other one is to be considered a 'good country' or a friend. The question is to know when american people (I should say if american leaders) will change their self contained atitude. Thinking the world in terms of 'Us & Them' is over simplified and leads to these problems. When american leaders will think / speak the world in terms of shade of grey (and colors !!!) and act accordingly we will discover that our countries are once again the best friends they've always been.

Don't think I'm rough against american people. We, french people, often like to behave like 'sand in the bearing wheels' (I hope you do understand this one ) this is our very nature !

One thing, I would like to correct about immigration and muslim people. During the 70's, France did encourage immigration from the north african people. It was not only an open door behaviour, but a strong need for workers to come in France. These people happen to be muslims. So be it. This is their choice. The fact that we have not make sure to control the fundings for their 'religious needs' (building their 'temple', training their 'priests'...) is a big error from our polical leaders and it's being adressed by know. Fundings coming from other countries has helped radical ideas to travel to France. This doesn't mean that these ideas are shared by the majority of muslim people. This is far from being true. And whatever their number, muslims do not have more political power than christians or jewish people. Our consitution and laws are writen well enough to split political concerns and religion ! So, no trap in having more christians or more muslims or more 'whatever'

Daniel

 

Merci, Daniel

We are of a similar mind, and i very much apprecitate the correction about the Muslim segment in your scope of democracy. Also thank you for expressing for me what i knew in my heart: that colors and grayscale (photograhy buff, here) are tantamount to tolerance and to real diplomacy and harmony with men in the world.

Here, am i: sand in the wheel bearings of my -own- countrymen, more than half of Americans. These who simply and do not put the outside-USA world into any focus. These who chose a leader of very SLOW DIN rating. This leader and his cohorts hold the power for another four-year term dn and are clearly, clearly! perverting the very foundations of my nation, away from the ideals so well -founded and still protected- in your own constitution.

They wish to bring an end to immgration, practically. They wish to put God back into the classrooms of public education. They plan to restrict further our American freedoms by "Patriot Act" expediencies.

FOUR MORE YEARS! the Bush supporter shout in glee. Will freedom survive here? Nominally, yes.

But in many ways, the US is reducing, receeding into old time Imperialism and Gunboat Diplomacy, and today as never before was so true as this: the general poplulation is ill-equipped to think of complex things as world politics. The majority of Americans are more insular and un-sophisticated than ever, in matters basic, like freedom of speech and separation of Church from State. France cannot guide us now. Our mass media is no longer entirely dispassionate. The majority seems to gather around demogougic hate-mongers on daytime radio and nighttime television. The traditional media are under attack constantly, and strive to maintain traditional integrity not always so convincingly; the Public wants sensation, simple results from a"simple" war. The cowboy says "mission accomplished" proudly on deck of an aircraft carrier. Yet we are sinking in this Warship of Iraq.


Now, i have only been an internet writer for three months or four months, only. I am no writer at all, actually. I am just a tradesman. I have nothing to sustain me in writing, not from education... but i have a drive and this strange, sick feeling that God will soon be running every facet of the USA federal govenment.

Surely I exagerate. But no, the Evangelicals now hold most of the power. They might as well be Islamic fundamentalist Muslims, for in extreme opposites is found the same thing.

I have no gifts of wisdom, nor the higher education, nor the dispassionate maturity of an elder. Nor do i carry any real pride except for what America -used to be-. I scrape by, and sustain my large ego, by wearing my self thin on people. This is more a sin than any supposed good!

I have s small poem to share; perhaps tomorrow. It is probably translateable, but i don't ask Francisco to translate this yet, because i do not know if he is up to handle my many words- and i am not that valuable that all should read these foolish words.

I am long in small thoughts and mis-spelled words, but at least my Franklin-esque poem is short.

I write this now for you, Daniel, not to make translation work for you, or any of your fellows.

Poems make the weak man -feel- stronger... but i know, i know that poems do not a strength -make-. To those who -control- men, poetry IS a weakness.

So i think. .. And you think deeply, too, in typical French warmth and reality. So, for now i write to you, this me, this speck of a sand galling a Gallic man of fine bearings. That is a complex English pun-allusion, but i know you can sort me out at a glance. I am not complicated at all. I am only distressed and i do like all peoples, even our "enemies" and even my personal enemies. They make me feel alive. merci again,, and au revoir for a short while. You need not reply to any of my rambles... but i like that you read me and invited me on board. PHOTOGRAPHY---my first love. Perhaps some day we can speak about Nadar.. i had a book of his work....

good day for now, i understand your English perfectly well. It is well done and palatable and not any grit in it at all.