It doesn't require hypersensitivity when someone is so glaringly
offensive. Nearly everyone on this thread has been trying to point
out to you that the French are not really different (better or worse)
than any other nationality on this planet, but no one can get through
to you. You are the one choosing not to listen, Jay.

No, Phil -- you're just not grasping the content of the conversation, which
is a dispassionate analysis of *why* the French are the butt of so many
jokes in America. Apparently you think that to discuss this phenomenon is
to somehow agree with it -- which is silly and just plain wrong.

As an aside, it is this national inability to discuss things dispassionately
that has lead to the near-complete polarization of the American political
climate. Almost no topic can be discussed or analyzed without *someone*
making it into a personal affront -- and then dialogue just becomes noisy
shouting with no compromise.

There is an interesting analysis of this phenomenon in Newsweek this week
WRT the passing of William F. Buckley. In his hey-day, Buckley would
invite people from all ends of the social and political spectrum to his show
(and into his home) to politely and intellectually discuss all manner of
topics -- and they would actually be able to debate the issues without
descending into chaos, the way the talk shows do today. It was so
incredibly civilized, and stands in stark contrast to the way EVERYTHING is
taken personally nowadays.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"