My daughter, the jet-setter, just called from the south of France. She said that the French people she has met so far have been very nice. I thought this was worth reporting. :thumb:
Lets see... young woman...... traveling in south France..... the men are nice to her..... Hmmmmm. Is that unusual?
True quote from French President Jacques Chirac: "As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." Obviously he was speaking for the French! I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." --- General George S. Patton "Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." --Norman Schwartzkopf
Now, now, gentlemen. I have not been what one would call a "Francophile". However, I felt that in the interest of fairness that I report this truly amazing turn of events. She is still skeptical. I report, you decide.
Now how do you think they would behave towards her if they knew of the anti French attitude that most of you have?? I have constantly told you that the French folks are ok it's the Goverment Why dont you check out the pic's of Armistice day in France or how well tended the war graves are? the French people have not forgoten what they owe to those who liberated them. I hope that she has a realy great time there De Orc Ps I discount Paris everyone hates them
Hmm, same thing with the Americans. Most folks are OK (except for those maybe who take their pride from badmouthing others). It's the government ... Christian
Not really. But it's good to hear that she enjoys her stay! How long will she be in France? Christian
She will be gone 10 days counting travel-time. She works for a Swiss company and is being trained on some fancy software. I think she is planning to spend a couple of days in Paris on her own time. She is also doing a bit of genealogy research and sending me little reports on the French wine industry.
Whats this then Geniology!! Are you keeping a secret from us some French blood in there perhaps LOL De Orc :secret:
This is what I meant by Nice http://www.nicetourism.com/GB/html/voir/webcam/webcam.html http://www.nicetourism.com/GB/frameset/voir/frameset_video.html
That is where she may into some not-so-nice people. Not necessarily, of course - usually people are friendly if you're friendly to them - but Paris seems to be a tad different. They are not really particularly rude towards Americans, I think, but it's that "big city attitude" that you find in some other places too. Christian
General Jean Rapp (1772-1821). Don't believe what you read. This guy was a Protestant Alsace German who commanded German troops for Napoleon and acted as an intermediary with German, Prussian, and Austrian dignitaries. I assume that it was expedient to "become" French in 1793. Napoleon didn't like or respect Germans. He respected General Rapp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Rapp Count Jean Rapp (April 27, 1771, Colmar - November 8, 1821, Rheinweiler) was a French general lieutenant. Rapp was born son of the janitor of the town-hall of Colame (Colmar). He began studies of theology to became a clegy man. But his built and heated character, he was predestined for the military. From the rank of a regular at the chasseurs de Cévennes, he worked his way up the hierarchy through his courage and character to the rank of a division general and adjutant of Napoleon Bonaparte. As a lieutnant, his aura grew through his impetousness as well as the blessures he reveived in battle. He was made aide de camp of Desaix, who named him captain and took him to Egypt, where Rapp distinguished himself at Sediman, capturing an enemy battery. For that he was given a squadron and later a brigade by Napoleon. After the Egyptian campaign, Rapp remained under the command of Desaix until his death at Marengo on June 14, 1800. He then became aide de camp of the Premier Consul, a post he held until 1814. Under this title, he was charged with many confidential missions by Napoleon in the Vendée, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1803 he became brigadier general and in December of 1805, he led a memorable attack at Austerlitz, taking the head of the Mameluks, decimating the cavalery of the Russian imperial guard. Promoted division general, he later fought at Jena on October 14, 1806 and was wounded at Golomyn. Rapp stayed in the line of fire: in Essling, he charged in front of his fuseliers of the Garde impériale and saved the day; in Schönbrunn, he deterred the young Frédéric Stapps from assassinating Napoleon; in Russia, he was wounded by four bullets at the battle of Moscow on September 5 - 7, 1812. He saved Napoleon's life a second time by repelling an attack of Cossacks at the Gorodnia and was again wounded at the passage over the Berezina, fighting along Ney as rear guard. As governor of Danzig, Rapp held the town for a year after the Grand Armée left Russia. After the unsuccessful return of Napoleon from his exile in Elba, Rapp became deputy of the department of Haut-Rhin. After Waterloo, he offered his resignation several times, but was reinstated in grace. He offered the royal house his services and became treasurer of Louis XVIII in 1819. He died in Rheinweiler in Baden. His hometown Colmar built a statue in his honor on the Champ de Mars with the inscription Ma parole est sacrée (my word of honour is sacred). Rapps heart is kept in a shrine in the church Saint-Matthieu. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Rapp"
Hmm, when he was born, Colmar had already been part of France for 100 years. So why should he not serve in the French forces ... But Alsace has never been a "purely French" or "purely German" region anyway. Interesting, by the way, that Auguste Bartholdi, born in Colmar as well, was the sculptor of the big Rapp statue in the city. Bartholdi later created something called Statue of Liberty ... Christian
