Comments for The Great Britain-France Debate at http://www.rivierareporter.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.rivierareporter.com Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:28:23 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/720/132/#comment-76 I have no problem about being critical of my kids because I want them to be as good as they can so I also have no problem with being critical of France. The great thing about living in different cultures is that you get to compare them from real experience. There's no reason why we shouldn't be critical about what is wrong with this country as long as we're also willing to be complimentary about what is right about it too. - Mark Hisbern Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:32:25 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/720/132/#comment-66 I get a bit weary of all this "they're better than us", "no they're not" rubbish. We're all different, not better or worse. You want medical care, be in France. You want entrepreneurship, be in the UK. You can't have the best of everything everywhere or that's where we'd all be. - R. Wall Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:02:50 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/720/132/#comment-56 As an American I'd like to weigh in on your "them vs us" debate. After 4 years of living here I have to say that I DO find the French to be intellectually superior in many ways, at least compared to the average American. But given the hideous state of American education, that isn't hard to do. France's educational system is great in comparison. True, there are many French who don't speak with "sparkle" – but only until you make the first step. In that respect, they are very careful not to offend. I do think that the reputed "snobbish" problem comes from the fact that they are horribly insecure with who they are, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Americans in general are absolutely certain that we and our country are God's gift to the world. I prefer the French attitude by far. As for the social problems, what country doesn't have them? Anyone who thinks that Sarko's Bush-like economic plans are going to save France need only to look at what privatization and US-style "capitalism" has done to the American economy. The stumbling housing/mortgage problem is a much bigger catastrophe than we are told. France would be far better off sticking with their "evil socialist governments" than going with a French Bush by the name of Sarkozy. Family and personal time are an important part of the French lifestyle, and it would be a shame if it were to be wiped out by 80-hour work weeks with frozen salaries and outsourcing on a massive scale. Troy Madison - Troy Madison Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:27:12 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/720/132/#comment-46 Many of us agree with Paula, at least in part, for what she wrote. But I'm mystified by judgements such as yours about this magazine's treatment of France and the French. When it comes to gauging our objectivity it's as if every "negative" point (and there are some which should be said) counts ten while every positive point (we mention plenty in every issue) doesn't count at all. In fact, most issues are very "pro" French and much of our regular "Wish you were There?" column points out why many of us are better off here than in the UK. I read the French press extensively and it is just as critical of France as the British press is of Britain. Both are far more critical than this publication is of either country. What you are effectively saying is that those of us who have been contributing taxes and toil towards the wealth and welfare of this country (in my case for over 35 years), not to mention adding a few half-breeds to its population, should not exercise the same right to grumble as do the native-born locals. Try telling that to an Indian born Briton, to a Dutch born American or to a French born Canadian. M.M. - Riviera Reporter Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:55:18 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/720/132/#comment-45 At the request of my French friends I am writing to congratulate Paula West's opinion on the "Great Britain-France Debate" in your last issue. They and I were in almost complete accord with her statement. It was brought it to my attention because they thought it was the first truly positive statement about the French they could remember seeing in the Reporter, which they also read. This may or may not be quite true but there is very often an air of negativity towards the French. Can it be envy I wonder? I suppose I should have started my letter by confessing I am English and have been a Francophile since my first visit here in the 50's. I am afraid I have noticed quite a tendency in your worthy magazine towards this negativity about our hosts; that is how I think of the French people. I am a Resident who has lived here full time for more than ten years. Of course, the French are not perfect, however, I am so tired of reading in the British press and hearing on the media of just how awful they are. Dining with expats has become something to do less and less frequently. Invariably within 15 minutes one is bombarded with a barrage of complaints about the French. It's not for nothing that the Australians refer to us as, "whinging poms". Don't any of us remember that we probably came, uninvited, to enjoy the good life there is here and that it is the people of this country who have created the wonderful life-style and culture we enjoy so much? My only carp with Ms. West's piece is her statement that "We Britons have surrendered our way of life to foreigners." It may be possible that one day our hosts may feel that they have surrendered their way of life to us foreigners. Mrs. Nina Kent, Juan les Pins - Nina Kent Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:54:39 +0100