Re: French Join In on Anti-France Bandwagon

"none" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schreef in bericht

> So, the following is incorrect, Pierre?
>
> ============================================================
> In the last few months, there have been a slew of books published in the
> country slamming French policy with titles that translate to: "The
Arrogant
> French," "The French in Disarray," and "France in Free-Fall."
>

Three books (and, strangely enough, I'm finding those three books quoted
once and again in...American and British media, far more than in France)
don't quite make a "slew". There are also quite a few books slamming current
American policy. Not so long ago, the American Right (which seems to be
paying an awful lot of attention to the French book market these days) was
huffing and puffing about the rather dire "L'Effroyable Imposture" (see for
instance what the National Review had to say about that anti-American
pamphlet: http://www.nationalreview.com/robbins/robbins040902.asp )

All of this only means that in France there is a vibrant publishing market
and great freedom of speech.


> "France has a great obstructive power, destructive power and this is very
> dangerous for France itself," said Andre Glucksmann, author of "West
Versus
> West."
>

And Glucksmann is the very type of the self-important French intellectual
that US conservatives love to hate...except when he agrees with them.
Anyway, substitute "America" for "France" in that sentence and you get
something no less true (rather more), and of which Michael Moore may feel
proud of.

> Readers are snapping up books that question whether or not the policies of
> French president Jacques Chirac (search) are hurting their homeland.
>

Are they? Hmm, not according to the French bestseller lists:

http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/top/index_livres.shtml

If you check the top ten non-fiction titles, you can find:

First of all, a book about de Gaulle (!), then a bunch of pop-psy self-help
books, a few biographies and a pamphlet against the Islamic headscarf
written by an Iranian refugee. No sign of those three books which Faux News
finds so important.

On the other hand, last time I checked, Michael Moore and Al Franken were
doing quite nicely in the American bestseller lists (and elsewhere...)

"We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq"

Indeed, George W. didn't charge anywhere. He stayed at home, just like
during the Vietnam War. A Thanksgiving photo-op doesn't make a great war
leader (BTW, they forgot the "Mission Accomplished" banner this time, didn't
they?)

R.