Johnny Depp is a moron (if you didn't already know that)

[RussSchultz]

Bush dropped his dog (or the dog decided to jump) when he was greeting some people when he got off the Airforce 1.

That somebody's harping on this is a clear sign there's a "Bush-hater" in the house.

 

[Dr. Ffreeze]

RussSchultz,

I knew Bush dropped his dog (or it jumped), but I really didn't think that was what zidane1strife was talking about. It was in public, but, I just couldn't believe that zidane1strife's comment was about that. Surely we missed something, or it was said in jest, or sumthing....

/shrug
Dr. Ffreeze

 

[Fred]

Having lived in both countries for prolonged periods of time, I can say that both have strong points and weak points.

Americas strong points are the general niceness of the people, the universities, the stronger economy and technological prowess, the work ethic and the general cost of living is lower.

The downside is that Americans by and large dont seem to care about intellectual things so much (politics, art, science). Not that they don't know about it, but they seem to prefer talking about say football. The other downside, particularily in the south, is the puritanism and radical christian nuts.

France otoh, has amazing food, better spent leisure time, and people who (even with the same education) are apt to be interested in more things. They are also far more open about sexuality, and IMO that leads to better relations and romance over there.

The downside is the cost of living is excessive, a strange preference for obscure handwaving theories, radical environmentalists and extreme leftists and a sort of general arrogance about everything.

 

[Sariden]

Have to say I agree with this part.

Depp slammed George W. Bush's administration for its criticism of French opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).

"I was ecstatic they re-named 'French Fries' as 'Freedom Fries'. Grown men and women in positions of power in the U.S. government showing themselves as idiots," he told Stern.

While I agree that its an extremely childish thing to do.. Its really not much different than the french banning the term "E-mail" from being used in government institutions. When it comes to stupid behavior, no one is exempt.

 

[zurich]

While I agree that its an extremely childish thing to do.. Its really not much different than the french banning the term "E-mail" from being used in government institutions. When it comes to stupid behavior, no one is exempt.

Why does everyone seem to think the 'E-mail' fiasco is in anyway a response to the US? The French Language Ministry has been creating french words to replace english ones for a very long time. It's not a snub at the US or anything like that, but a way to protect their language from an increasingly global lexicon. Arrogant, perhaps, but it's still nothing new. Oh, and Quebec has been doing this for ages too.

 

[Dr. Ffreeze]

Zurich,

Why does everyone seem to think the 'E-mail' fiasco is in anyway a response to the US?

I did not know that people thought that 'E-mail' was a response to the US. I don't see that Sariden said it was a response to the US. I thought people just thought it was rediculess.

/shrug
Dr. Ffreeze

 

[Dr. Ffreeze]

All,

"I was ecstatic they re-named 'French Fries' as 'Freedom Fries'. Grown men and women in positions of power in the U.S. government showing themselves as idiots," he told Stern.

I was thinking about the above quote a bit. Trying to look at it from all sides. At first I thought it was quite stupid and childish, but then I got thinking. What if they just did it as a lark. I mean, still as a jab, but more of a lark than something serious. I could see my workplace do something like that on a lark, much easier than I could see them do it in all seriousness. I just think think it is very easy to blow things out of proportion. I was not there, so how can I really judge their motives?

Just a thought,
Dr. Ffreeze

 

[zurich]

Zurich,

Why does everyone seem to think the 'E-mail' fiasco is in anyway a response to the US?

I did not know that people thought that 'E-mail' was a response to the US. I don't see that Sariden said it was a response to the US. I thought people just thought it was rediculess.

/shrug
Dr. Ffreeze

Everytime 'freedom fries' is brought up, people counter it with banning 'email'. Oh well, can't change someone's opinion on the internet (even if it is via facts!)

 

[Dr. Ffreeze]

Zurich,

Ok, I saw Sariden as just saying that there are American Idiots and French Idiots. I see Sariden as also saying that every country has Idiots. I see Sariden saying that you can't get away from Idiots, as all nations have them. I don't see Sariden saying that 'E-mail' was a response to freedom fries.

/shrug =)
Dr. Ffreeze

 

[zidane1strife]

I knew Bush dropped his dog (or it jumped), but I really didn't think that was what zidane1strife was talking about. It was in public, but, I just couldn't believe that zidane1strife's comment was about that. Surely we missed something, or it was said in jest, or sumthing....

yup, it was a joke

But, destroying natural reserves will indeed result in the destruction of many organisms... but that's another case.

That somebody's harping on this is a clear sign there's a "Bush-hater" in the house.

apparently some took my comments too seriously

PS I'm getting into the field of medicine, and from what I've heard some of Bush's policies... they're quite beneficial for me...

 

[zurich]

Zurich,

Ok, I saw Sariden as just saying that there are American Idiots and French Idiots. I see Sariden as also saying that every country has Idiots. I see Sariden saying that you can't get away from Idiots, as all nations have them. I don't see Sariden saying that 'E-mail' was a response to freedom fries.

/shrug =)
Dr. Ffreeze

Well, 'freedom fries' was a retaliation against the French political stance on Iraq. 'Email' is just the way France/Quebec has always conducted its language affairs.

That said, 'freedom fries' is stupid, 'email' is the nature of their language.

 

[Sariden]

Zurich,

Ok, I saw Sariden as just saying that there are American Idiots and French Idiots. I see Sariden as also saying that every country has Idiots. I see Sariden saying that you can't get away from Idiots, as all nations have them. I don't see Sariden saying that 'E-mail' was a response to freedom fries.

/shrug =)
Dr. Ffreeze

Thats the way I saw it too . I don't care what we call french fries.. I don't see how it should require any type of government involvement to begin with..

I also find it funny that email was banned to combat the "proliferation of english words within the scientific community." .. Its a direct jab at America in my view and just as silly as renaming a snack..

The point is that everyone does stupid stuff. Its easy to jab at america, but we really don't do anything worse or more rediculous than anyone else.. Its just that our actions are scrutinized more closely.

That said, 'freedom fries' is stupid, 'email' is the nature of their language.

I see it more as a double standard along with a desire to bash America.. You can create any reasoning to justify "why" people do something.. it doesn't change that its fairly silly. To me it signifies that you have a problem with your government, when it mandates what words can be used by its workers. Of course thats just an oppinion. But so is "'freedom fires' is stupid."

Why start with email and not "bits" "bytes" etc..

 

[Chris123234]

I knew Bush dropped his dog (or it jumped), but I really didn't think that was what zidane1strife was talking about. It was in public, but, I just couldn't believe that zidane1strife's comment was about that. Surely we missed something, or it was said in jest, or sumthing....

yup, it was a joke

But, destroying natural reserves will indeed result in the destruction of many organisms... but that's another case.

That somebody's harping on this is a clear sign there's a "Bush-hater" in the house.

apparently some took my comments too seriously

PS I'm getting into the field of medicine, and from what I've heard some of Bush's policies... they're quite beneficial for me...

You should learn to use smileys then because it looked like you were just that, a "bush-hater". And now it looks like your just trying to act like you were kidding (not saying you are it just looks that way to me).

 

[Chris123234]

Yea, everyone thinks bush shouldnt have gone into Iraq. But why? Even if there now WMD's found, people will still have been freed from a sadistic rulers and his sadistic sons. What's the downside? Other than the casualties suffered?

 

[Natoma]

Yea, everyone thinks bush shouldnt have gone into Iraq. But why? Even if there now WMD's found, people will still have been freed from a sadistic rulers and his sadistic sons. What's the downside? Other than the casualties suffered?

Our credibility the next time we say there are WMD in a nation that we need to get rid of? The fact that in the time we spent on Iraq, North Korea completed their attempt to build nuclear bombs?

If the war was started as a war of liberation, then that's a slippery slope that many countries around the world can use to say "Hey! Over here! Liberate us!"

No, the war was started and sold as a war to root out terrorism (no links found) and WMD (none found). The by-product is Iraqi liberation, but that was not the casus belli pushing us over the cliff into the current quagmire. It's selfish, but americans generally don't give a damn about other countries suffering unless it directly affects us. The administration knew this, and sold it to americans on the premise that there would be mushroom clouds in every city.

That was certainly misleading at best and and outright lie at worst.

 

[Sariden]

Yea, everyone thinks bush shouldnt have gone into Iraq. But why? Even if there now WMD's found, people will still have been freed from a sadistic rulers and his sadistic sons. What's the downside? Other than the casualties suffered?

Its a waste of money and good soldiers. Also as Natoma mentioned, it hurts our credibility if we have more concrete issues in the future.

It's selfish, but americans generally don't give a damn about other countries suffering unless it directly affects us.

I'd say you could substitute any other country's population for Americans and be just as accurate.

 

[zidane1strife]

And now it looks like your just trying to act like you were kidding(not saying you are it just looks that way to me).

Well, it was the most trivial of my claims(come on, we kill animals in horrible ways and then eat their FLESH... and yeah... the thought of those juicy mouth-watering pieces of meats... drives many crazy...)... and I gave it unusual emphasis, also it's a funny accident and all.

e

 

[Clashman]

Except under the UN multilateral force, it will be defined as what share of the oil contracts French and German companies get.

Don't you worry, I'm sure Bush will never let that happen.

 

[zurich]

What's the downside? Other than the casualties suffered?

Pretty much destroying the country? As long as the Americans are there, militia groups will sabotage rebuilding efforts, thus keeping the nation down in the dumps.

And as for being 'free' and 'liberated'.. well, see the thread about the rise of fundamentalism in Iraq

 

[DemoCoder]

Wasn't the nation already destroyed by Saddam via his secret police, and purges, not to mention mass graves, then in the 80s with the Iran/Iraq war, then by the 1991 Gulf War, then under UN Sanctions for 10 years.

Seems like Iraqi's had the choice between another generation of oppression from Saddam, imprisonment, torture, rape, fear, plus poverty from sanctions and anarchy of today.

Do you think Afghanistan would have been better off if it had not been invaded?