Every so often I look at another blog, one that always takes me away, albeit briefly, from the stygian depths of my frustrations. That blog is chezlouloufrance, a delightful place to visit and catch up with all that is right in France. It is maintained by Jennifer Greco, a charming American lady who with her husband and dog and cat moved to France several years ago. She has documented life in the south, in the northwest, and very recently she finally moved to Paris, where she always really wanted to be. She is also now a French citizen. And she celebrates the good things she finds in France, now mostly in Paris where there are so many good things to find. Congratulations Jennifer! http://chezlouloufrance.blogspot.com/
Some Americans don't like France. Absurdly provincial and narrow minded, extraordinarily puerile, over the top right wing extremists tend to fall into this class of France haters. Because France did not want to join one of the American bombing parties, let's show those French, we will change the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries! Yeah, freedom fries. What little brains they have must be fried. Spare me from pompous imbeciles please!
Yes, I know such people live in France too. The USA does not have a monopoly on idiots in government. They are everywhere. Money and power corrupt. It is a universal problem. And certainly France has political problems. The Front National is such an example. A reactionary response to the perceived pollution of French society with dark skinned foreigners. And sadly this perception is gleefully reinforced by some psychopathic idiots with guns who think they can silence the free speech of France by shooting a few people. Yes, psychopaths, you got the attention of France. Can you count on the nation now remaining silent? Of course not. You simply murdered people who represent what you don't understand. Look to your own house before you even think of going anywhere else.
Meanwhile the French show an inclination to throw the bums out, those bums in government. They look at where they were, where they are now, and say "Mon Dieu! Impôts sont trop élevés! Mes retraite / salaires sont trop bas! Les services sont moche! Les étrangers sont partout! Notre président est un imbécile malhonnête! Temps de croire les promesses du challenger!" So Sarkozy was elected. Then they did not like him. So Hollande was elected. Now they do not like him. Next they should elect Segolene Royal. Soon enough they won't like her either. But hey, Italy kept electing Berlusconi, a lecherous crook. Hollande's libidinous tendencies on the other hand did not play so well in France. But what happened in the USA? Impeach! Impeach! Impeach! Europeans are not so sanctimonious about sex. The USA is still haunted by the puritanical ghosts who burned witches.
I called this "Thoughts on France" but I keep going off topic. I think my problem with talking about France is I have never been there. I have been to England, Scotland, Austria and Italy. But so far never to France. I've been to Montreal and Quebec City several times, but in spite of being French places, they are not France. I must get there. I have cousins there! Family name is Drancourt, one if the many Huguenot families. One of my French ancestors was a candle maker. I think he may have been from the Lorriaux side of the family. My French great grandmother came to the USA as a young girl and later married an American Civil War veteran, who later became my mother's grandparents. My French connection.
