Boycott France Campaign?

[Blackdimonds]

Wayne,

Sitting here tonight with my wife, watching the news, I see that German companies and individuals are boycotting American goods. So, I ask myself, do I buy anything German or French for the duration of the war? Maybe I sell my German cars in favor of some good old American iron? I could start buying only from coalition counties (there goes most of the worlds goods and services).

Or maybe I will just live my life, and feel thankful that I live in the greatest country on earth. I will think about the brave men and women that defend us everyday, and know that I would be honored if I were called to help someday!

P.S. It didn't suprise me that the French didn't stand up, but when did Germany ever back down from a fight (I guess that in the new capitolist Germany, the illegal money is more important).

[Victor]

Buy a heap of Australian stuff. No, not Austria, AUSTRALIA. Oh yeah...just remembered, we don't make anything. Oh well.

[island911]

Geez, how are we supposed to survive without Jerry Springer, Wild Turkey bourbon & Woman's Day Magazine?

(doesn't that paint a nice picture )

Seriously though, If the french had something worthwhile, maybe it would be conflicting. The Germans however, haven't been quite so undermining, and they have some decent products.

FWIW, our local news did a segment on the french stuff -- 'while some are boycotting french products, others (anti-war) have been making an extra effort to buy french products. . . it all seems to balance out.'
So there you go Wayne -- no worries you've just got to scream about the injustice, and the anti-war folks will buy all the German parts you have. . . ..maybe a few Canadian parts too. (Just don't tell them that the Canadians are a big help in Afganistan)

For some great French squirming & backpedalling check out this link.
Seems the french are rethinking things.

You've got it Victor! Though you guys do make something. You Australian always seem to make for a good time. I've never met an Assie I didn't like. It must be that we're all the euro rejects . ..

[Adam]

Island911, "Euro rejects"

Jeez, Wayne.. they want me to give up Jameson's Whiskey, Car & Driver, Wild Turkey, Woman's Day and Road & Track all at once??

What the hell am I supposed to do in the bathroom??

Seriously, I've tried to avoid French goods (if you can call them "goods") ever since the whole Rainbow Warrior spectacle and renewed my fervour in light of their recent Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific. I'm glad it's a sentiment shared in the USA.

[Victor]

You mean I have to forfeit my snail breakfast baguette routine?

[Aurel]

Wayne, I just ordered for $200 in parts on your website. Should I cancel my order ?

One of your french customers.

Aurel

[Planter91C2]

and for everyone preparing for opening day of trout.

don't buy any "mepps" lures


F the French

[Planter91C2]

Originally posted by Aurel
Wayne, I just ordered for $200 in parts on your website. Should I cancel my order ?

One of your french customers.

Aurel

That's right frenchy, hit the road...

[RallyJon]

The issue isn't that the French don't like us--so what else is new?! The issue is that they have a strange and unwarrented power to affect us. Boycott the UN that gives a slightly bizzarre but basically insignificant country a veto over everything we do.

I love many French products. If those products are made by socialist, effete, cheese eating, coffee sipping, wine sniffing weenies whom I probably wouldn't have over for dinner, so be it. French wine and cheese = yes! French dictating global politics = no!

[Targa Dude]

Hey I just did a Search on Frances military..this is what came up.



Jorge (Targa Dude)

[island911]

Originally posted by RallyJon
. . . Boycott the UN that gives a slightly bizzarre but basically insignificant country a veto over everything we do. . .

The funny thing is, the UN was put together after the British and American forces kick the germans out of france. Feeling sorry for the decimated french, we gave them "victorious nation" status as sort of a pity-prize. Along with the pity-prize came the veto power. . . . We won't make that mistake again any time soon!

[Aurel]

Wayne,

I think you should also give a good lesson to those annoying Germans. Why don`t you boycott all german parts in your warehouse ?
And while you`re there, you should also throw your 911`s in a river, to really make a statement. . Remember: France did not do it alone.
This whole boycott thing is just ridiculous. When I see people throwing the content of a Dom Perignon bottle in a river, I just feel sorry for them. The one that got me really rolling over the floor was that senator who suggested to open all the graves in Normandy and bring all the soldiers back home. Cost: $0.5Bn. When the americans start being ridiculous, they don`t do things half way...

Aurel

[island911]

Originally posted by Aurel
. . . Remember: France did not do it alone.
This whole boycott thing is just ridiculous.. . . . .

Actually France did do it alone. They were actively lobbying other countries to stick-it to US.

That whole French VETO/stick-it to the US, thing was just ridiculous.

and about "throw your 911`s in a river" . . .germans u-boats have been banned, don't ya know.

[Aurel]

The goal was not to stick it to the US. The goal was to disarm Saddam by peacefull means, and the French position was that the inspections were working. I guess at this point, the US got trapped in its own game, because its true goal was regime change, not only disarming Saddam. The problem is where are those WMDs ? It seems to me that if Saddam had them, he would already have used them, given the dirty war he already does. I would really feel better not being in a country at war right now. Trying to avoid the loss of human life is not ridiculous, but now it is too late, and I wish Saddam will fall soon, and all this madness will stop.

Aurel

[island911]

It has to be asked; just why were the inspections "working?"

Was it that Saddam had a decade to insure inspectors wouldn't find anything? . . .was it the threat of force? . . a combination of those?
400,000 Iraqi children died in 5years due to malnutrition. Saddam let this happen so he could try to leverage away the sactions. So, yeah, it is time to stop all this madness.

[Aurel]

Was there anything at all ? THAT is the question stil unanswered , although 250 000 inspectors are currently at work.

Aurel

[WOODPIE]

Boycott whoever whatever totally ridiculous. With the way this "global economy" runs, I would be as likely to cause an American to lose his job as a workman in France or Germany if I were to join a boycott.

It is also misguided to think that today's France should still be beholden to America for liberating them during WW2. Should France, or any nation, eternally have to kowtow to American whims and whines? If so, then the reverse sentiment should be equally legitimate. Native American Indians should have every right to resent the Eminent Domain policy that almost, but not quite, wiped them from the face of the earth. And American Blacks, decendants of American slavery, America owes reparations, I guess, even though there is not one original slave owner left alive.

Guilt and gratitude. One can be neatly forgotten, the other held over the heads of others forever, is that it?

Some of the French probably were very grateful that the Allied forces chose Normandy as the assault point, back then in 1945. The collaborators were less than thrilled, I suspect, but even if you were in bed with the Germans before June 6, some French women found themselves in bed with the American GI after, expressing their deepest and most heartfelt gratitude for being liberated. Other not-quite-so fortunate GI's got at least a good meal and a buzz on from what there was left to drink.

The French folks there and then were grateful, I believe is my point. The French today, here and now, personally owe me nothing for what the previous generation of Americans did. To assume that gratitude and accolades are to be passed on from one generation to the next would make me an Ugly American indeed, and I should expect to get thrown out of restuarants.

The people who will suffer from any effects of a boycott are the same as you and me. If a French workman looses his job because I don't buy those Michelins, he's not going to vote against his government. He's going to try to find another job to feed his family and pay the rent. ***** runs downhill, always has, always will.

Ed

[Aurel]

Ed, this was brilliant. Maybe I have found my King too...

Aurel de buffon

[Targa Dude]

Aurel, Saddam is no fool.. He's already stated that he want's this war to drag on..why do you think that is.. well there is a few reasons. But I'll only tell you the one that applies to WOMD and why he hasn't used them.
If they were to use them at this time..1. what would that show the world?
his hopes are to Delay the inevitable in order to gain more sympathy.
2. If he was to use them Prematurly. it's Over the war will end in one final blow. This PC war would end and the real war would start. and that would only mean the absolute end of Saddam.
He will use WOMD their is no doubt about it..This guy is such a coward that he has given his top Republican gaurds standing orders to shoot him and not to let him be captured or killed by US forces.
Wake up Dude!! Wake up!!

Jorge (Targa Dude)

[Aurel]

Dude,

1. I don`t think Saddam is gaining any sympathy anywhere right now by executing POWs and shooting his own people. Using WMD`s won`t make any difference. Those who love him will love even more, those who hate him (aka most of the world, including the french) will hate him just more.

2. I don`t see how, if he uses them, the war would end faster, except of course if the US also uses some. But you guys would not do that, would you ? He will lose the war, we all know it.
It is a matter of when.

Aurel