Originally posted by StratComm
Especially since "hate the french" is something that England had a monopoly on for a very, very long time. I think that statement is intended as a cultural reference in that light, not some half-assed attempt to stand by the "Freedom Fries" incident. Especially how this "evil" (using household pets as bait) is being compared to "evil" as in cartoon-bad-guy evil. Aside from one comment, which could really have been interpreted in any number of ways, there's nothing even relating to the French people in general or their government specifically.
And while I never thought I'd have to use RTFA on an admin here, really. The whole story is about someone IN FRANCE campaigning IN FRANCE about an animal rights cause ON A FRENCH ISLAND IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. What in god's name does this have to do with US politics?
[q]
And if you're not mumbling "Jesus I hate the French" under your breath right now, go read that last sentence again
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There's a billion reasons to hate the French, and I'll let you decide on your favorite. [/q]
It's just racism, really, not a cultural reason. AFAIK it's never been culturally acceptable to hate a race of people. Presumably 'there's billions of reasons to hate blacks' would also be a 'cultural reference' as well?
And people are pissed off - I am - that it's
become cultural, that it's considered 'ok' to hate the French. Like in that article; nevermind that Reunion is actually hundreds of miles from France (North East coast of Africa) and has a heavy ethnic diversity.
Plus it's kind of hypocritical - it would seem ok hate the French (or rather, people living in a French island which has a mixed French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani and Indian population) for using puppies as bait, but what of (say) the people who hunt deer (Bambi!)?