Way off topic, but it has do to with the French

On Mar 5, 10:39 am, Gig 601XL Builder
wrote:

As a second generation Italian-American on my fathers side I've heard
plenty. But the reason you don't hear as many is because the Italians
don't think they are great warriors.

The best isn't really a joke though. When, during the first Persian Gulf
War, a bunch of Iraqis supposedly surrendered to an Italian news crew
the joke was that they had taken more POWs than the entire Italian Army
during WWII.

Keep in mind, Jay has a minor in History, but...

One reason the Italians had no great desire for battle wasn't a
particular lack of courage or combativeness -- Italians can be as
pusillanimous as any people.

The fact was the "Italian nation" was still in formation at the time
of WW2. The federation of City States that were united only after
Napoleon (A Frenchman, no less) completely reset the political
organization of the peninsula.

Italian nationalists pushed for unification all through the 19th
century, but what appeal this had for the common Italian is lost. All
we have are individual recollections, and those Immigrant Italians I
have known are very clear that they are from Naples or Sicily or
Calabria.

While Mussolini had grand fascist visions of restoration of the Roman
Empire, apparently -- in most cases -- his enlistees did not share his
grand vision, and fought with less than alacrity.

This does not mean Italians are "Unsuited for war." All men (in the
generic sense) are unsuited for war. What makes them suited is some
combination of impulse, desire, conviction, training, and purpose.

Provide that, and you can lead Frenchmen to Moscow.

Dan

Provide that, and you can lead Frenchmen to Moscow.

Exactly. And it is precisely because the French have fallen so far that
they are now thought of so poorly.

Combine that with their inexplicable arrogance in the face of irrelevance,
and you have comic fodder.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Mar 5, 12:13 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
Provide that, and you can lead Frenchmen to Moscow.

Exactly. And it is precisely because the French have fallen so far that
they are now thought of so poorly.

Combine that with their inexplicable arrogance in the face of irrelevance,
and you have comic fodder.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

We have comic fodder right here, and it's from Iowa, not France.

Who "thinks of them so poorly"?

Specifics really mess up broad generalizations, don't they?

Dan

On Mar 5, 11:13*am, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
Provide that, and you can lead Frenchmen to Moscow.

Exactly. *And it is precisely because the French have fallen so far that
they are now thought of so poorly.

Combine that with their inexplicable arrogance in the face of irrelevance,
and you have comic fodder.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I've also heard some pretty good Iowa jokes. Here's a sampling:

Q: What's considered a solid hour's reading in Iowa?

A: The back of a cereal box.


Did you hear that Ford is recalling all vehicles sold in Iowa? They
have to change the dimmer switch back to the floor like it used to be
due to all the Iowans losing control of their cars when their foot
gets caught in the steering wheel.


Q: Why do they bring a bag of manure to a wedding in Iowa?

A: It keeps the flies off the bride!

I'm not sure why people make fun of Iowa that way, but I am sure there
must be very good reasons Iowans deserve it. Just like with the
French!

Phil

I'm not sure why people make fun of Iowa that way, but I am sure there
must be very good reasons Iowans deserve it. Just like with the
French!

Pretty good! But you forgot this one:

What does "IOWA" stand for?

Idiots
Out
Walking
Around

You see, unlike the French (and several folks in this thread), I have
something called "a sense of humor". I suggest you guys find one -- it
makes the world much more fun!

Besides, I'm not from Iowa...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Mar 5, 4:36*pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
I'm not sure why people make fun of Iowa that way, but I am sure there
must be very good reasons Iowans deserve it. *Just like with the
French!

Pretty good! *But you forgot this one:

What does "IOWA" stand for?

Idiots
Out
Walking
Around


I didn't forget it. I just didn't think it was very funny.

You see, unlike the French (and several folks in this thread), I have
something called "a sense of humor". * I suggest you guys find one -- it
makes the world much more fun!

Besides, I'm not from Iowa...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Oh, so you are just joking when you say the French are arrogant,
irrelevant, etc. Is that the sense of humor we should adopt?

I like a good joke, and I found the original post pretty clever. But
I only take it as a joke, and I don't take the underlying stereotypes
seriously. Your posts attempt to show why the jokes and stereotypes
are actually justified. I didn't find the original joke offensive,
but your posts I definitely find offensive.

Phil

I like a good joke, and I found the original post pretty clever. But
I only take it as a joke, and I don't take the underlying stereotypes
seriously. Your posts attempt to show why the jokes and stereotypes
are actually justified. I didn't find the original joke offensive,
but your posts I definitely find offensive.

Your hypersensitivity aside, I'm trying to explain to you WHY the French are
the butt of jokes in America. Whether you choose to listen or not is
irrelevant, and we haven't even begun to discuss whether I believe the jokes
are justified.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
I like a good joke, and I found the original post pretty clever. But
I only take it as a joke, and I don't take the underlying stereotypes
seriously. Your posts attempt to show why the jokes and stereotypes
are actually justified. I didn't find the original joke offensive,
but your posts I definitely find offensive.

Your hypersensitivity aside, I'm trying to explain to you WHY the
French are the butt of jokes in America.

But they aren't the butt of jokes in America. At least not where I live.

In fact I seem to recall something about an attempt to rename "french
fries" to "freedom fries" that made the U.S. the butt of jokes around the
world. (Oh yeah - the work of Republican Walter Jones of NC. Eventually
became a critic of the Iraq war and said he wished the "fries" episode had
never happened.)

On Mar 5, 10:03*pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
I like a good joke, and I found the original post pretty clever. *But
I only take it as a joke, and I don't take the underlying stereotypes
seriously. * Your posts attempt to show why the jokes and stereotypes
are actually justified. *I didn't find the original joke offensive,
but your posts I definitely find offensive.

Your hypersensitivity aside, I'm trying to explain to you WHY the French are
the butt of jokes in America. *Whether you choose to listen or not is
irrelevant, and we haven't even begun to discuss whether I believe the jokes
are justified.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

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.

Phil

On Mar 5, 12:13 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
Provide that, and you can lead Frenchmen to Moscow.

Exactly. And it is precisely because the French have fallen so far that
they are now thought of so poorly.

Combine that with their inexplicable arrogance in the face of irrelevance,
and you have comic fodder.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

And what was France's contribution during WW1?