Posted by
Rick Amato on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 5:54:06 PM
I've just returned home after spending my Thanksgiving holiday in Paris.
There were several personal observations I made while there that I found fascinating and thought I would share. In light of world events I was curious as to how the French people viewed themselves and the world vis a vis these events. Many of the people I encountered were not only French, but Europeans who were also visiting France.
First off the French reception of me as an American visiting their country was a very positive one. I found the people to be warm, hospitable and friendly. The people I encountered appeared to have genuine respect and admiration for America. They talked romantically of places such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Miami. Not exactly “main street USA”, but positive nonetheless.
Their perception of the Muslim culture, however, differed dramatically. In America I find that we go to great lengths to make a distinction between Islam and radical-Islam. Not so of the European people I encountered in Paris. My perception was that there was an “under the surface” uneasiness when discussing the Muslim culture and that no distinction is made between extremists and moderates. There appeared to be frustration held towards Muslims in general for not assimalting in to the European (not just French) culture. I couldn’t help but feel that the relationship between the French and the Muslim community was similar to what America must have been like in the deep south with blacks and whites some 40-50-years ago.
No surprises regarding America’s war in Iraq. The Europeans I met in France were strongly against the war.
I came away with a couple conclusions: First) Despite the high brow image of the French and the common belief that they are “above it all”, they are as suspect to being prejudice against a group of people as the rest of us. Secondly) President Bush sadly missed a great opportunity to enroll the hearts and minds of the European people in the clash with extremists. The European people are in search of a solution. A better communicator, one with a consensus-building peace-through-strength message…who makes people want to believe in him, I feel, can enroll the hearts and minds of the common European person. Thirdly) American pop-culture is alive and being exported well…and finally… the common French person has goodwill towards America.
Keep in mind these were my personal observations as I walked, strolled and sipped coffee through the streets and café’s of Paris and do not represent any type of scientific polling.