While pursuing my favorite hobby (looking online at Paris hotels), this pop-up popped up when I clicked on a link for Hotel Edouard VI: (thought the board would enjoy based on all the commentary about French opinions of Americans, etc)... (it's too long for one post, keep reading)<BR><BR>An Open Letter to Our American Friends<BR><BR>Dear American Friends,<BR><BR>These last few months, politicians and the mass media on both sides of the Atlantic have been bashing us with two versions of the same story: Frenchies are arrogant traitors poking America in the eye! Americans are a bunch of war-happy loonies looking for world domination! <BR><BR>Baloney.<BR><BR>Folks, let's put the show on hold, and think together for a minute: who is holding the microphone for dear life, and pounding the message with a tremendous whack?<BR><BR>Not you, not us. Not the little people. But journalists and politicians.<BR><BR>

Politicians will always put their own interests before yours - remember 'Follow the money trail' - and journalists love the sound of their own voices, and a good controversy - whether rooted in fact, or totally fabricated.<BR><BR>The truth is we, French people, like American folks. Beyond our pride of being French, we greatly admire the American people. We always have.<BR><BR>We know that we owe your parents and grandparents a great deal of gratitude. They paid the price of war with their lives on our beaches, and on our land. We are deep in their debt, and our streets will long carry the names of American generals.<BR><BR>But our admiration goes way beyond, extending to your entire culture.<BR>

We love your music - blues, jazz, musicals, rock, hip-hop, what-have-you. New Orleans' legend Sidney Bechet was our hero when he was still little known in America. Louis Armstrong is arguably the best-known black musician in France. Jessye Norman, one of your greatest opera singers, sells out concert halls when she graces us with her presence. And Elvis still reigns as king in the heart of all those who listened to him in the fifties and sixties.<BR><BR>We love your cars and motorcycles. Ask about Cadillac and Harley-Davidson around here, and you will get an instant smile.<BR><BR>We admire your movies, as witness box office successes such as Saving Private Ryan, Back to The Future, Casablanca, and Unforgiven in France. And in our minds, John Wayne and Gary Cooper are still true heroes.<BR><BR>Our teenagers adopt your casual wear, just as their parents fell for Levi's jeans.<BR><BR>We also smoke more Marlboro, Philip Morris, and Camel cigarettes than you do, guys!<BR><BR>

Cheeseburgers and Coke did not originate in France. Yet, judging by sales of sodas and fast food here, we are addicted to them. So much for the journalistic myth of snooty Frenchies only eating French cuisine.<BR><BR>And English is still the first of our second languages.<BR><BR>The truth of the matter is, we simply adopt a lot of America's goods and customs.<BR><BR>And another truth is we like to receive you folks amongst us. <BR><BR>Over the years, we took notice of your commendable efforts to speak French. Yes, some of us won't tell you, but we generally appreciate your efforts to address us in our language. We also try to better our English skills (please don't laugh at our accent).<BR><BR>We appreciate your polite, non-intrusive behavior when you come to visit. We cannot say that all of us Frenchies behave as well when we visit you. We gotta try harder.<BR><BR>All of us who have travelled abroad know that the cultural differences which exist between Americans and Frenchies can be resolved with a smile and a good word. There cannot be any lasting misunderstanding between two peoples of goodwill.<BR><BR>You are very welcome in our country. We have many good things to offer, we hope some of them appeal to your hearts and interests.<BR><BR>You are welcome in France. Don't listen to tall tales to the contrary. We the people are not our 'governing elites'. You folks are not your government or the press.<BR><BR>Let's remain friends.<BR><BR>

The link is:<BR>http://www.hotels-paris-reservation.com/.<BR>then click on the image for Hotel Edouard VI.

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this (and including the link so that people can see for themselves.)<BR><BR>It would be nice if the flag-waving black/white &quot;patriots&quot; in the US could grasp the following (which I believe to be applies to France, the US, AND Iraq):<BR><BR>&quot;We the people are not our 'governing elites'. You folks are not your government or the press.&quot;

Unfortunately, while some French people feel that way, this past week there have been several reports of travelers to Paris and other cities in France being verbally and physically abused by French people. Not arab types but straight French.One couple needed medical care.

OK, Coulain, I gave a link to my 'article' to substantiate it... Can you provide something to substantiate these reports you know of? Were they articles in a newspaper? Interviews with the victim on television? or stories someone passed on to you? How 'bout some facts? Thanks!

They were part of various peoples' trip reports posted on the AOL Travel boards for France.

Travelnut<BR>The one thing I have never understood about French people. Why do they like Jerry Lewis so much?

Thank You Travelnut for sharing that great pop-up. I was just in Paris the day of the anti-war protests around the world. Not once in my time there did anyone say a word to me about our government, our country or our policies. Nor was I ever treated less than graciously by anyone, and believe me they knew I was American. Truthfully I don't know how I feel about Iraq, regardless, to start spreading unfounded stories that the French are openly verbally and physically attacking Americans is not only erroneous and but downright libelous. (or slanderous? I can never remember). Anyway continuing to feed the portrait of the French as vengeful, rude and nasty, Coulain perpetuates growing xenophobia towards anyone who disagrees with our government's policies. It seems it us, the Americans, who need to learn tolerance,not the French.

They don't like Jerry Lewis that much. He was given an award years ago by the presedent and the press blew it up as did his press agents.

travelnut, it did not show that, only the hotel's layout????

&quot;It seems it us, the Americans, who need to learn tolerance,not the French.&quot;<BR><BR>Oh man, here we go again...its realy our fault!<BR><BR>US

Travelnut, my hobby is the same as yours. I can't recall the name of the hotel now but I'm sure I came across the same &quot;letter&quot; on another hotel's website.

And the postings on AOL have largely been dismissed as troll postings.

Cigalechanta, not sure why you couldn't see it.. bring up the hotel reservation link (which is really for Hotel Crystal). On that page, at the bottom/middle, is a gold box with the Hotel Edouard VI link. When you click that, it should open a new window for Hotel Edouard, and then another pop-up with the letter overlays it. That's all I know.<BR>I think Jerry Lewis was popular there (and here!) many years ago, and now it's just one of those cultural stereotype-things that hangs on...

Travelnut, thanks it was my pop-up stopper that prevented me from reading it. I reread the posts and noticed McBetty mentioning it was a pop-up.<BR>I emailed the hotel to thank them for the message and that it was posted here.

Thanks, Travelnut! I was ever so slightly apprehensive last week about my upcoming trip in April.<BR><BR>I also posted another letter that I received from the France Government Tourist Office on the &quot;April 2003.....Who's going&quot; thread and also the &quot;Cancel trip to France&quot; thread.<BR><BR>Perhaps both are just marketing tools but I still appreciated the (French) sentiment nonetheless. ; )