Those Silly Frenchies

Well, the French are at it again. They've voted down the proposed EU Constitution. And Chirac may soon resign.

I haven't paid attention to the details. The main sticking point I've heard is that the Constitution was too capitalist for the somewhat socialist leanings of the nation.

Well, I'm not surprised. Before I begin my fun, let me say that I give any individual of any stripe the chance to be themselves no matter the groups to which they belong. Let me also say that I still eat French Fries and wish I could speak the language fluently. There's a part of me that just has to love the French, despite their suicidal and perverse ways.

Here's another example. The French are some of those self-destructive people who just can't help but shoot themselves in the foot and any one else they can pull down with them. Here is a moment of progress for Europe, an opportunity for the EU to move further toward being more of a world power and eventually a counterbalance to the United States. But the French will have none of it.

Now mind you, I am not a mega-capitalist. I would style myself an Adam Smith capitalist--someone who sees capitalism as a way to improve the lives of the little people. Today that means a good deal of regulation and control of the capitalistic monster. Smith did not foresee the Microsofts and Wal-marts that actually run over the little guys. I suspect Smith would be appalled with his economic worshippers and say, "I have ought against thee because you have left your first love."

But the Frenchies are a completely different story. They weren't stung enough by communism to get the depravity to which it led in Eastern Europe and Russia. They enjoy protesting and guillotining people too much in the name of freedom and individual rights to set up a more prosperous society. They want to be able to strike every other day in the name of la boheme.

I have mixed feelings about France. I have been to Paris a half a dozen times and spent a week in Mougins last year while we were in Europe.

But I also have memories of leaving hastily for Germany because the whole city of Paris was going on strike (again). I have visions of ticket checkers just waiting at my train door in hope that I hadn't filled out the date on my Europass before the train started moving (I hadn't gotten it out yet because I was in a sweaty luggage fest. He fined me twenty Euros). I remember filthy dirty streets in Paris and Parisian hotel managers lying about not taking American Express when the sign on the door said they did (which threw my budget off). I remember being cheated on change in Strassbourg and nearly being pick-pocketed at McDonalds. Hmm, I don't have those memories of England or Germany.

Would I go back? You bet. Are they nice people--not generally, but it's nothing personal. It's just their way. Most of them would still give your child their seat, even if they did it with a scowl on their face muttering something under their breath.

They're just a funny people that sometimes, of course, aren't so funny. Eventually, after they've bickered and complained for as long as possible, they get around to doing what they need to.