Europeans seem to like Obama
PARIS – The more things change, as the French are fond of saying, the more they remain the same.
But things have really changed here in France, at least since the long ago days of my youth in the later 1950’s and early 1960’s, and they are no longer the same.
In those bygone days, France was still deep in shock from its disaster in World War II. The nation was closed in on itself, completely self-absorbed, racked by postwar guilt and rent by mutual recriminations.
The one fixed point for French was their national individuality and unique, sharply etched character. They found a measure of solace in being resolutely French and abjuring the outside world.
Most French refused to speak English, a process they found unworthy, undignified, and even painful. The British were hated for stabbing France in the back early in the war by pulling their troops out at Dunquerque and sinking part of the French Fleet. French deeply resented being ordered about by the United States and treated like a third rate nation.
France was glum, grumpy and depressed. On top of the malaise, the communists were threatening to take over the government. In the early 1960’s, France even began quietly refurbishing and upgunning the Maginot Line forts in fear of the mighty, 100-division Soviet Red Army.
That was yesterday. Today, the new globalized generation of young and even middle aged French enjoys speaking English and often does so at the slightest excuse. France is becoming bi-lingual. Even France’s entry into the Eurosong competition is, mon dieu!, in English. It gets increasingly hard to speak French here in Paris.
Paris’ notorious taxi drivers, who once sought to install metal plates in their rear seats to electrocute unruly or, more likely, low-tipping passengers, have become shockingly polite. Retailers and waiters actually seem pleased to see you. Americans are again welcome. A young man offered me his seat on the Metro. French seem to have discovered a new happy pill.
Wine and bread consumption, once staples of French life, are way down. Oppressed French smokers have been forced out of cafes into the cruel street. Young French seem to live on predigested junk food. The wonderful old smoky, black and white France of my youth, with her violent riots, Edith Piaf and Yves Montand, army plots, silly Left Bank intellectuals, and weird little cars like Panhard and Simca cars, has vanished.
French have been paying a lot of attention to their new president, Nicholas Sarkozy, and his smashing second wife, Carla Bruni, who is widely regarded as a huge asset for `Sarko.’ But right now, French and other Europeans are absolutely fascinated by the US presidential race. During two weeks of TV and radio broadcasting in Paris, the number one question I was asked is who will win the US primaries and November vote.
If anyone thinks that President Obama can change America's imperialistic behaviour and her support for colonialist Israel then they are in for a shock. Neither Obama nor anyone else can change America's policies, since it's policies are not made by the Presidency.
America is ruled by Zionist-Military-Industrial-Complex and if wars were to end, America will be a bankrupt nation.
America was born in conflict and wars (ask any American Indian), has been involved in over 100 conflicts and maintains 140 very highly armed military bases around the world. War is America's ideology and raison d'etre.
In fact Obama will have to go the extra mile for Israel if he wants to stay in power once he is elected.
ViPer?
Are you going to lead the revolution then? I am not sticking my neck out for Jewmericans, sorry to say. The scumtrash isn't worth it.