Chirac Warns of Risk from U.S. Culture

[onedomino]

Chirac Warns of Risk from U.S. Culture
Agence France-Presse
Thursday, October 7, 2004

http://www.iht.com/articles/542447.html

HANOI - President Jacques Chirac of France warned Thursday of a catastrophe for global diversity if the United States' cultural leadership goes unchallenged.
Speaking at a French cultural center in Hanoi before the opening Friday of a summit meeting of European and Asian leaders, Chirac said France was right to stand up for cultural and linguistic diversity.
The French president warned that the world's different cultures could be "choked" by U.S. values.
This, he said, would lead to a "general world subculture" based around the English language. This, he maintained, would be "a real ecological catastrophe."
Citing Hollywood's overwhelming leadership in the movie industry as an example, Chirac asserted that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.
Vietnam is a former French colony, but only 375,000 of its 81 million people speak French. English is considered by most people a far more valuable and practical second language, particularly among those in business.

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Could it be any clearer that France is an enemy of America?

 

[dilloduck]

Chirac Warns of Risk from U.S. Culture
Agence France-Presse
Thursday, October 7, 2004

http://www.iht.com/articles/542447.html

HANOI - President Jacques Chirac of France warned Thursday of a catastrophe for global diversity if the United States' cultural leadership goes unchallenged.
Speaking at a French cultural center in Hanoi before the opening Friday of a summit meeting of European and Asian leaders, Chirac said France was right to stand up for cultural and linguistic diversity.
The French president warned that the world's different cultures could be "choked" by U.S. values.
This, he said, would lead to a "general world subculture" based around the English language. This, he maintained, would be "a real ecological catastrophe."
Citing Hollywood's overwhelming leadership in the movie industry as an example, Chirac asserted that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.
Vietnam is a former French colony, but only 375,000 of its 81 million people speak French. English is considered by most people a far more valuable and practical second language, particularly among those in business.

--------------------

Could it be any clearer that France is an enemy of America?

I guess we can assume that he is encouraging the Vietnamese to drop thier native tongue and speak French so when he needs a place to hide from oil-for-food investigations he can understand them! :rotflmao:

 

[Said1]

This, he said, would lead to a "general world subculture" based around the English language. This, he maintained, would be "a real ecological catastrophe."

Gag, spoken like a true frenchmen. -CP posted same article in the WOT section, I said as much there too.

 

[Said1]

I guess we can assume that he is encouraging the Vietnamese to drop thier native tongue and speak French so when he needs a place to hide from oil-for-food investigations he can understand them! :rotflmao:

But he's too tall, he stick out like a big nose on a small head.

 

[Zhukov]

"a real ecological catastrophe."

This from the guy with the big rusty radio antenna in the middle of town....

 

[Said1]

This from the guy with the big rusty radio antenna in the middle of town....

Oops, I thought you ment he would stick out like that. Ahhh.

 

[5stringJeff]

Citing Hollywood's overwhelming leadership in the movie industry as an example, Chirac asserted that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.

So, Chirac's true socialist colors shine through. Big government to the rescue!!! No wonder he found a friendly voice in Communist Vietnam.

 

[NATO AIR]

:alco: chirac's been hitting the bottle again. he's like the old budweiser frogs except he and his ilk are always saying something bad about america.

 

[NightTrain]

Chirac said France was right to stand up for cultural and linguistic diversity.
The French president warned that the world's different cultures could be "choked" by U.S. values.
This, he said, would lead to a "general world subculture" based around the English language. This, he maintained, would be "a real ecological catastrophe."

I don't know how 'ecological disaster' figures into this, but a thought just occurred to me as I read that bit.

If your country's prestige and reputation is in decline, and the world seems to be passing you by and assimilating you, would it not be logical to enact laws protecting your culture as a stopgap measure? Seems to me that France is desperate.

Sure, they really kick ass and take names when it comes to muslim women wearing Allah Head Gear, but anything that's important they seem reluctant to embrace on the world stage unless there's money involved or if the USA is backing something they can try to counter in order to get international attention.

Citing Hollywood's overwhelming leadership in the movie industry as an example, Chirac asserted that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.

Problem : Your country can't make a movie that people want to watch.

Solution : Increase your already crippling tax rates to subsidize companies that make movies that people don't want to watch. That'll work.

Result : Movies are produced by companies that get paid whether it's not worth a damn or if it's a blockbuster. The former is the cheaper, 'nuff said.

Vietnam is a former French colony, but only 375,000 of its 81 million people speak French. English is considered by most people a far more valuable and practical second language, particularly among those in business.

The commies know on what side of the Atlantic the money and power reside.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

Gag, spoken like a true frenchmen. -CP posted same article in the WOT section, I said as much there too.

Not sure about ecological disaster either but I certainly don't want world hegemony regarding culture.

I gotta have some place to vacation where I can get away from Wal-Mart, Target, Britney Spears and Soccer Moms.

 

[Avatar4321]

Not sure about ecological disaster either but I certainly don't want world hegemony regarding culture.

I gotta have some place to vacation where I can get away from Wal-Mart, Target, Britney Spears and Soccer Moms.

Escape Walmart? yeah right! You will be assimilated!

What exactly does Chirac say are all the horrible American values? We value faith and the freedom to choose it. I know that is a threat to cultures that promote the oppression of faith but for most civilized people is that really a problem? Americans promote freedom to speak their mind. I know Chirac doesnt like that but most Americans, indeed most people all around the world like being able to speak their mind. Some are willing to die to do it.

What values do the French find bothersome? Im seriously curious.

 

[MJDuncan1982]

Escape Walmart? yeah right! You will be assimilated!

What exactly does Chirac say are all the horrible American values? We value faith and the freedom to choose it. I know that is a threat to cultures that promote the oppression of faith but for most civilized people is that really a problem? Americans promote freedom to speak their mind. I know Chirac doesnt like that but most Americans, indeed most people all around the world like being able to speak their mind. Some are willing to die to do it.

What values do the French find bothersome? Im seriously curious.

I don't think it's values.

I personally would love to go to a little french village with narrow streets and no McDonalds. Urban sprawl is, in my opinion, damaging to human culture. I've yet to live in a town where the "downtown" was worth a damn.