Why do Yanks always bag the fighting ability of the French? (1 Viewer)

I just returned from Paris, and had a great, although expensive time. We stayed in Republique and my wife found a really neat apartment that was about half the price of a similar quality hotel. We could walk to a great many places and were in a much less touristy area. It felt a little more genuine than some of the areas that are more popular. Also, lots of subway stations around us which we used a lot to get around.

We also got the museum pass which helped with lines and such.

I found it pretty fascinating, but once we got to Scotland (Glasgow, Isle of Skye and Edinburgh) it faded pretty quickly.
 
Still, how are you going to keep them down on the farm, once they've seen Gay Paree? {eek3} -- Al
 
bradleyl30 said:
I just returned from Paris, and had a great, although expensive time. We stayed in Republique and my wife found a really neat apartment that was about half the price of a similar quality hotel. We could walk to a great many places and were in a much less touristy area. It felt a little more genuine than some of the areas that are more popular. Also, lots of subway stations around us which we used a lot to get around.

We also got the museum pass which helped with lines and such.

I found it pretty fascinating, but once we got to Scotland (Glasgow, Isle of Skye and Edinburgh) it faded pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

I lived overseas the first part of my life and, among other cities, lived in Madrid and Barcelona, and have visited Buenos Aires but when somebody asked me recently my ideal place for living, the first words that came to my lips was "Paris."
 
Jazz,

"Paris" from my lips...Wow...how romantic. Never been gents, my Europe jaunt has been a pit stop in Germany (on my way to the Gulf War) and then back from it through Sigonella, Italy and then Shannon, Ireland to CONUS. I think I told the story on another thread. Anyways, I got a friend of mine here from France and he is very nice, but God are his staff/servants kinda snobbish...whatever man. But, I don't judge the whole country on a few bad apple mon cheries. I would love to vacation in Europe and NOT do the tourist thing. More so, do what we always do on vacation and rent a house and live there and then travel Europe from Paris as the home base. What do you think?

John from Texas
 
My wife and daughter are going to Paris next week. I expect some toy soldiers.
 
Well you can count me as one of the Americans who will not and has not bagged the fighting ability of the French.

Never have, never will. Immense Napoleon fan and the First Empire French Army, not to mention the French Foreign Legion; regardless of whether it's made up of foreign volunteers, it's still French in my eyes.

A couple of years ago at the OTSN show, across the hall from me was a French dealer, his name escapes me. He came into my rooms a few times, a very nice, quiet, unassuming guy. He picked up my business card and said "You're last name is Guerriero; this explains why you sell toy soldiers, it's in your blood, Guerriero in Italian means Warrior you know." "You are correct, must be the reason I am into toy soldiers" I told him.

He then said "Toy Soldiers are in my blood too" and I said "Has it got anything to do with your last name" and he said "No, I am a former member of French Special Forces; I was in Iraq, Afghanistan, many other hot spots; wherever the @#$% was, I was."

So there will be no bagging of his or any other Frenchmans fighting ability from me; he looked like your average, everyday guy, not the type who could kill you with a popsicle stick...........................
 
I have been to Paris seven or eight times over the years and have loved my time there. I always felt that it was best appreciated during an aimless afternoon or early evening stroll. It seems more of an outdoor experience than London. I have always loved London but I always seem to spend so much time underground, emerging occasionally to enjoy a world class museum or gallery, and then returning underground. Perhaps it is different for a resident more able to move overland with confidence. I have not done much travel in England outside of London so perhaps it is different in the smaller towns and cities.
 
Mitch said:
Paris is a hole. always has been and always will be IMO. One redundant electric pylon at its centre and its somehow beautiful??? Many, many more capitals of Europe that are much, much better.
Mitch
Click to expand...



Well, till the end of the 90ies Paris had a charm, each area a different style, people. People where less than a half than today. It was a meeting city still.But also London has lost a lot. Before it was music everywhere, concerts, gigs, magic areas like Camden town, clubs. And now it s all finished over there too.The world has changed into worst.
I know Europe rather well, and sure cities like Riga,Tallinn, Bratislava, Berlin, Vienna are more pleasant than Paris or London.
 
We've been to Paris five times (including twice on business) and we've never had less than a great time. When on vacation, we stay in the 6th Arrondissement at a small hotel called the Ferrandi (between Saint Germain and Montparnasse) and it's a fantastic area, busy but not, if you get my meaning, with the Jardins Luxembourg and many great restaurants nearby, not to mention a market on Sunday in Raspail. People are very friendly. Just writing this whets my appetite for another visit.

When I was there on business, I was a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. How great was that!

Brad
 
Hello.

I am a public high school teacher in Alabama, so I have first hands experience with this question.

To be a history teacher, all that you need is a social science certification. The social sciences include sociology, anthropology, psychology and history. In short, you do not need to have a major in history to teach history. Moreover, you can get a masters-level pay increase solely with a masters in education using any graduate social science subjects. To date, I am the only teacher at my school with a masters in history, and one of the few in my country whose masters is in modern European history. By the way, my focus was the modern history of France.

The situation gets even worse when you consider that some principals want history teachers to also coach a sport. These individuals must come home after football practice ends at 6:30 and draw up lesson plans. How?

I was only hired to teach French, and when the chance to teach modern European history arose, I jumped at the chance. If I interviewed to solely be a history teacher, then I would have never been hired.

I once remarked to my AP students that after my course in Modern European History, they may know more than their teachers. They remarked that they have always known this.

Lastly, how can you disparage the fighting ability of an infantryman based on the poor tactical and strategic decisions of his commanding officers and/or country's politicians? The surrender at Dien Bu Phu was NOT the fault of the troops in the foxholes. I have repeatedly heard remarks about the French running from fights. To make such a remark reveals an instructor's poor knowledge of history, especially military history.

Thus the answer to the question is that a number of Americans are taught by individuals who do not have a good grasp of history.

Merci,
MikeNick
 
No arguments from me I think London is a big old hole also. I used to really like Camden but, they wrecked it. The only city whose transport runs through a sewer!!

I like Berlin, Vienna, saltzburg, Berne, Amsterdam and a host of other places but, some of the places that are said to be really good IMO are just dire and dreary.
Mitch

Poppo said:
Well, till the end of the 90ies Paris had a charm, each area a different style, people. People where less than a half than today. It was a meeting city still.But also London has lost a lot. Before it was music everywhere, concerts, gigs, magic areas like Camden town, clubs. And now it s all finished over there too.The world has changed into worst.
I know Europe rather well, and sure cities like Riga,Tallinn, Bratislava, Berlin, Vienna are more pleasant than Paris or London.
Click to expand...
 
jazzeum said:
We've been to Paris five times (including twice on business) and we've never had less than a great time. When on vacation, we stay in the 6th Arrondissement at a small hotel called the Ferrandi (between Saint Germain and Montparnasse) and it's a fantastic area, busy but not, if you get my meaning, with the Jardins Luxembourg and many great restaurants nearby, not to mention a market on Sunday in Raspail. People are very friendly. Just writing this whets my appetite for another visit.

When I was there on business, I was a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. How great was that!

Brad
Click to expand...

How true that is...the perception of the viewer is conditional upon the eye of the viewer. I went to Paris very young and thought it no different from Sydney, which I had not enjoyed; the second time I went with a very close friend who happened to live in Paris - and the city came to life...same place but the viewer was different. And when I look at the photos of those two trips, it looks like a different place...I did not look for the treasures on that first visit...such a waste of a trip...but as fortune would have it, the contrast provided a very useful lesson. :salute::
 
hotel3alpha said:
Jazz,

"Paris" from my lips...Wow...how romantic. Never been gents, my Europe jaunt has been a pit stop in Germany (on my way to the Gulf War) and then back from it through Sigonella, Italy and then Shannon, Ireland to CONUS. I think I told the story on another thread. Anyways, I got a friend of mine here from France and he is very nice, but God are his staff/servants kinda snobbish...whatever man. But, I don't judge the whole country on a few bad apple mon cheries. I would love to vacation in Europe and NOT do the tourist thing. More so, do what we always do on vacation and rent a house and live there and then travel Europe from Paris as the home base. What do you think?

John from Texas
Click to expand...

This I hear often from US peoples . "...I will take a central place, and from there travel arround : Berlin, Amsterdam ... " Guys ! It's europe take a spot anywhere, and in a radius on 50 miles there are 100ed of thinks to see : castles, bastions, cathedrals, churchs, museum . Europe has 6000 years of "civilised" history behind her ( I mean physical trace you can see ) .
When my brother in law came to visit me in Jette, i'ts exacly what he said :" I want to go to Berlin, Amsterdam ... I want to seel old building ..."
I told him come with me, 2 minutes walk and we where in front of an old farm build in 1455 ( 50 years before the discovery of Americza ), 2 more minutes and it was a church of the 17 cent., 2 more minutes for a Horta house , same direction 1 minute more the Delvaux museum ( 1 of the master of surealism painting ) and this is just in the suburb of Brussels .
To visit a city like Paris or Brussels or Amsterdam it take minimum 2 weeks just to have a glimpse .
To visit a region like the Perigord ( France ); 1 month to have a glimpse, they are more than 1000 castles in this region .
They are small cities in France or or ... that you visit walking slowly and stopping in front of each house that have something to tell
Visit Beaune, Avignon, Lyon, Durbuy, Brugge,
Want to visit Egypt , Not in less han 2 weeks, if you want to see the most important spots . Greece, Italy
Well ... you're welcomed
 
I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm reminded of the AWI and how the French supported the American cause & blockade. Quite frankly without the French, the end result of the AWI would have been quite different.
 
Scott said:
My wife and daughter are going to Paris next week. I expect some toy soldiers.
Click to expand...

If this can help

TOYSOLDIERS Paris :
Boutique "Cowboy Dream"
16, rue de Turbigo 75002 Paris
Tél. 01.47.00.00.20 - Fax. 01.42.21.49.44
Mardi au Vendredi 10h30/13h - 14h/19h
Samedi 11h/19h
http://www.toysoldiers.fr/index.asp?id=518

Au Plat d'Etain
16 rue Guisarde - 75006 Paris
*tel (+33) 01 43 54 32 06 - fax (+33) 01 43 26 84*92
http://www.auplatdetain.sitew.com/#Accueil.A

La Boïte de Soldats
28 rue violet 75015 paris
tel : +33 (0)1.45.78.89.44
http://www.boitedesoldats.fr/index.php

Soldat Telis
33, rue des Acacias
75017 Paris
Tél. 01 53 81 04 21
Metro : Etoile ou Argentine
http://www.soldatelis.com/

Les Drapeaux de France

Place Colette - galerie de Nemours
75001 - Paris - France
Tél : 33.(0)1 40 20 00 11 - Fax : 33.(0)1 42 97 47 52

Lulu Berlu
Jouets et figurines plastiques / Toys and plastic figures
2, rue du Grand Prieuré 75011 Paris France *
Tel/Fax: 01 43 55 12 52 - Métro Oberkampf*
http://www.lulu-berlu.com/dhtml/home.php

Tony Shop
http://www.tonyshop.fr/index.php?langue=en

Best
 
Toy Soldier Paris is about to go close their doors unfortunately.

Before I forget, Happy Bastille Day to all our French members ^&cool
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top