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re: Can anyone explain Alabama fans’ infatuation with using French heritage as an insult?
Posted on 3/12/24 at 7:24 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
Posted on 3/12/24 at 7:24 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
When de Gaulle withdrew from NATO and demanded all US military personnel vacate France, Dean Rusk replied "does this include the 60,000+ American soldiers buried in French cemeteries?" A red-faced Chucky got up and left without comment.
Posted on 3/12/24 at 8:00 am to ibldprplgld
quote:
ldprplgld
Can anyone explain Alabama fans’ infatuation with using French heritage as an insult?
quote:
I don’t know. You tell me. I just know if it weren’t for England and the United States they would be speaking German right now.
Why have they become so prone to throwing down their weapons and surrendering? It is nature or nuture?
Well, for one, England's saving grace in WWII, as in many other conflicts, was the English Channel. Take that away and they would have fallen, too.
It's been well-documented why the French surrendered so quickly in WWII, if you really care to read up about it.
Also important to note: without the French, we would not have won our independence from England. So the gratitude between France and America should go both ways without question.
Well said....
Posted on 3/12/24 at 8:01 am to ibldprplgld
quote:
ibldprplgld
Can anyone explain Alabama fans’ infatuation with using French heritage as an insult?
quote:
During the Revolution, America begged France for help. John Adams and Benjamin Franklin sailed there and requested assistance for over a year. The French aristocracy just made fun of the American hicks. However, when it looked like America might actually defeat the British, and the British were France’s mortal enemy, France sent some of their navy to America. They told America they had three months and then they were heading home because of winter weather. The French provided a naval blockade during this time. They participated in one battle, providing naval cannon fire during one battle, an American victory.
Yes, the French waited until 1778 to jump in, but do you blame them? A rag tag group of militias rebranding as a Continental Army with not much if any naval support, going against the major world and naval powers at the time, also France’s next door neighbor with whom relations were already tenuous…
But the French provided more than what you outlined when they did get involved: immense amounts of gold and credit, top ranked generals and military advisors, munitions and personnel, supplies transport, the naval blockade, direct support to Washington. France also convinced its native American allies to join and disrupt British resupply operations, etc.
Discredit them as you may, but we don’t win without French support. And yes, the French were America’s first true ally starting in 1778. This acknowledgment by France gave America a significant amount of legitimacy on the world stage.
We did not have formal diplomatic relations with Britain until 1785.
Here here. Well said.
Posted on 3/12/24 at 9:00 am to Bodie
This is why.
German soldiers parade on the Champs Élysées in Paris, France, on June 14, 1940.
German soldiers parade on the Champs Élysées in Paris, France, on June 14, 1940.
quote:
Adolf Hitler accepted the surrender of the French government at a ceremony in Compiegne, France. On June 21, 1940, Hitler melodramatically received France’s surrender in the same railroad car in which Germany had signed the 1918 armistice that had ended the First World War, thereby adding an additional flourish to century-long rivalry between France and Germany. (In 1918, the Armistice was singed in that railcar because it had once belong to Napoleon III, who lost the Franco-Prussian War).
It was an episode full of pointless symbolism. Hitler sat in the same chair in which Marshal Foch had sat when he faced the defeated Germans in 1918. After listening to the reading of the preamble, Hitler – in a calculated gesture of disdain to the French delegates – left the carriage, leaving the negotiations to General Wilhelm Keitel (who ironically would sign a surrender of Germany five years later).
After stepping outside, while talking to his generals and aides, Hitler stepped backwards; however, this is not what audiences in the Allied countries saw. John Grierson, director of the Canadian information and propaganda departments, noticed that Hitler raised his leg rather high up while stepping backwards. He looped this moment repeatedly to create the appearance that Hitler was childishly jumping with joy.
Posted on 3/12/24 at 9:07 am to Bodie
Simple answer is usually the best explanation. Alabama doesn’t have a culture. Sour grapes.
Posted on 3/12/24 at 9:22 am to DeathByTossDive225
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Alabama doesn’t have a culture
I guess not having a "culture" like LSU and Louisiana is far superior then, if the scoreboard and series record is to be believed. Maybe your culture sucks.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 2:35 pm to captdalton
quote:
I thought we were all toothless trailer park inbred meth addicts?
Yes
That too, also
Posted on 3/13/24 at 2:38 pm to Bodie
They can’t handle food with seasoning.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 2:42 pm to Rohan Gravy
quote:
He looks like a female llama who has just been surprised in her bath. - Winston Churchill
Posted on 3/13/24 at 2:52 pm to Rohan Gravy
I am surprised this thread is still hanging tough. I guess we finally found a field of battle where a Frenchman will stand up and put up a little bit of a fight.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 11:30 pm to captdalton
Anchored. Like the French military in any engagement of the last 150 years. Anchored in their lines. Until someone looks at them mean. Then…
Bodie couldn’t tote that kids diaper.
Bodie couldn’t tote that kids diaper.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:08 am to Prof
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It's a boomer thang.
Like a Tennessee national championship in football.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:17 am to ibldprplgld
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the French provided more than what you outlined when they did get involved: immense amounts of gold and credit, top ranked generals and military advisors, munitions and personnel, supplies transport, the naval blockade, direct support to Washington
The French sold the US gunpowder, and allowed some mercenaries/adventurers to fight in a limited fashion. Basically it was a way to thumb their nose at their enemy Great Britain cheaply.
In the war of 1812? Nothing
Spanish American war? Supported Spain
The Barbary Pirate wars? Nothing
But the sold the US the Louisiana purchase deal cheaply… Napoleon’s plan was to conquer the US after he finished off Europe.
WWI we didn’t help our old faithful ally France
WWII repeat.
Korean War, France stayed out of it
Vietnam? The French had already lost indochina and were not present in force.
We can discuss the French government impact in the later part of the revolution if you want but after that they were not much of an ally. The majority of the US military leadership with experience in war had earned the experience fighting the French in the French and Indian war as part of the British military so a bit of distrust was there. And the war was already out of favor in Britain before the French sent a naval squadron for a season. The money had dried up, troops and attention was turning elsewhere with parliament looking to sue for peace in 1777/1778 through multiple venues.
My favorite part of the American revolution was how utterly avoidable it was. The idea of taxation without representation was laughable. The other British colonies absolutely had representation, as did many interests in American colonies. Hell Ben Franklin was in parliament. The colonies were just too cheap to use the rotten burrows system as designed to have that representation. The upper society in the American colonies should have bought seats to protect their interests like they did in every other colony.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:20 am to Bodie
You did a lot of research and typing just to express how triggered you are.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 12:45 am to Smokeyone
My man here, despite my crack at Tennessee, makes an incredibly important point.
The reason Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States was to fund his war. The proceeds from the Louisiana Territory funded his invasion of Russia. Napoleon’s plan was to sell Louisiana to the United States, invade and conquer Russia, then turn around and take the Louisiana Territory back from us. By force if necessary.
But they were French. And Russia and their weather drove them into the frozen ground. frick Napoleon. And frick the French.
The reason Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States was to fund his war. The proceeds from the Louisiana Territory funded his invasion of Russia. Napoleon’s plan was to sell Louisiana to the United States, invade and conquer Russia, then turn around and take the Louisiana Territory back from us. By force if necessary.
But they were French. And Russia and their weather drove them into the frozen ground. frick Napoleon. And frick the French.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 7:59 am to Bodie
Don't know if anyone brought this up but French forces fought against the British, Free French and American troops in WWII.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 8:07 am to Bodie
They’re still mad that Ffrench de committed from Bama.
Posted on 3/14/24 at 8:19 am to Bodie
Actually, it's because they were banned and excluded from French Quarter restaurants for many years because tee-shirts, spittoons and overalls weren't allowed. That is until Elwood Gumpsnotter of Skunk Scrotum Heights, alabammy somehow got a permit to open Elwood's Live Bait 'n Lingerie Emporium at the corner of Burgundy and Royal.....
Posted on 3/14/24 at 8:24 am to SidewalkTiger
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It's funny because Alabama was once a French territory.
Never let facts get in the way of the mob mentality.
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