How Many Frenchmen Does it Take to Defend Paris?: Article Refutes Joke

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: kevin000

Originally posted by: BigJelly

Originally posted by: kevin000
The French didn't treat Americans well even after they liberated France. Ask any WWII Veteran about the French and chances are you'll be answered with every swear in the book. My grandfather told me a story of how they were in a train passing through and when they stopped for supplies, there were these Frenchmen with a barrel full with alcohol. All the GIs were trading there rations and cigarettes. When they got on the train and went to drink, it was vinegar. They were all p*ssed off and some were ready to jump off and hunt them down.

Some even hate the Red Cross. The Red Cross would charge the soldiers whereas other would just give them away. I met one guy who told me they charged them for socks and when he went to put them on, inside was a note saying it was donated by some church in Brooklyn.

My grandfather had a dufflebag of german loot--6 lugers, 2 helmets, couple of nazi flags, a lot of hitler youth knives, a cain-gun, a russian watch he traded when he met the Russians at the Elbe, and even a walther ppk (the newest german pistol). All this was stolen in france, to this day my grandfather said he'd never go back to france unless he was there to take it over--and at his age 78 he could.

Yeah, my grandfather told me people would take guns and watches. He was a POW for some time so whatever they took or had, the Germans took back. He curses his Sergeant/Liutenant (not sure which) all the time since him and this other guy had to scout the area. They came back and told him they should fall back. He didn't listen, and they were captured that morning. The Germans didn't torture them or anything, he said they had to march like 20 miles a day with no food.

Most of my stories come from him since he's always willing to talk about it. My other grandfather hates to talk about the war. He was 1 of 3 survivors after a land mine exploded. Still has shrapnel in his back. Was awarded the Purple Heart as well. Funny story is he actually has 2 of them. He was given one while he was in the hospital in Europe. Then when he came back to the states there was a mixup, and they gave him another one...

The Russians traded watches and stuff with the US soldiers, the French sold them vinegar and robbed them. Why again did the US befriend France and start the Cold War with Russia after WW II?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

But, but... those 3,000 Americans were more important... I mean, we're Americans, we stand for truth, justice, and liberty... as opposed to those dirty Frenchmen, they're just cheese-eating surrender monkeys... it doesn't matter that the French supported us in the American Revolutionary War, helped us survive as a nation, no, that's just too far back to go... but fifty years ago? Sure! That's all the evidence we need of their inferiority.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

Yes, in truth 100k is an awful lot of people to die.

And, as that article pointed out, the US hardly lept into the war with guns blazing. Not until pearl harbor.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Yes, in truth 100k is an awful lot of people to die.


And, as that article pointed out, the US hardly lept into the war with guns blazing. Not until pearl harbor.

It's okay, Skoorbie, you're Canadian, your opinion doesn't matter to us Americans. We don't care what the rest of the world thinks.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

But, but... those 3,000 Americans were more important... I mean, we're Americans, we stand for truth, justice, and liberty... as opposed to those dirty Frenchmen, they're just cheese-eating surrender monkeys... it doesn't matter that the French supported us in the American Revolutionary War, helped us survive as a nation, no, that's just too far back to go... but fifty years ago? Sure! That's all the evidence we need of their inferiority.

you are too pro-french.

 

[drewshin]

as i said before, without the french, we'd be having fish and chips, and having tea and crumpets and all have bad teeth.

i'm not pro french, but i always like to hear both sides of an issue, and some people here can only hear out of one ear it seems.

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

Yeah, I was pissed off when he said that too. :|

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

Yes, in truth 100k is an awful lot of people to die.

And, as that article pointed out, the US hardly lept into the war with guns blazing. Not until pearl harbor.

Even if the USA started mobilizing the day Germany invaded Poland, there is absolutely no way we could have affected anything in Europe until well after Dunkirk

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

But, but... those 3,000 Americans were more important... I mean, we're Americans, we stand for truth, justice, and liberty... as opposed to those dirty Frenchmen, they're just cheese-eating surrender monkeys... it doesn't matter that the French supported us in the American Revolutionary War, helped us survive as a nation, no, that's just too far back to go... but fifty years ago? Sure! That's all the evidence we need of their inferiority.

you are too pro-french.

This is where I think the real difference is. We Americans are famously ahistorical. We can barely be bothered to remember what happened last week, or last month, much less last year.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: SSP

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

It's okay, notfred, 0roo0roo spends most of his time playing video games and talking online, he can't be bothered with actually comprehending "100,000" lives. 100,000 lives are nothing, as long as they're not Americans. After all, we're the only nation that matters, right?

That's 97,000 dead more than this current generation of Americans have lost in an attack on our country.

But, but... those 3,000 Americans were more important... I mean, we're Americans, we stand for truth, justice, and liberty... as opposed to those dirty Frenchmen, they're just cheese-eating surrender monkeys... it doesn't matter that the French supported us in the American Revolutionary War, helped us survive as a nation, no, that's just too far back to go... but fifty years ago? Sure! That's all the evidence we need of their inferiority.

you are too pro-french.

This is where I think the real difference is. We Americans are famously ahistorical. We can barely be bothered to remember what happened last week, or last month, much less last year.

that quote is too simplistic. We americans do remember our history very well. We have the oldest democracy in the world. We have the longest surviving constitution. We are damn proud of our founding fathers. we always pay homage to them. In fact, it is because of our democratic tradition that we feel it is a moral duty to promote democracy throughout the globe. Americans have long memories.

 

[Red Dawn]

I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

 

[Fencer128]

that quote is too simplistic. We americans do remember our history very well. We have the oldest democracy in the world. We have the longest surviving constitution. We are damn proud of our founding fathers. we always pay homage to them. In fact, it is because of our democratic tradition that we feel it is a moral duty to promote democracy throughout the globe. Americans have long memories.

Everytime I use the words "Democracy" and "America" together, and someone doesn't like the context - I get the reply "This is a federal republic" (which it is I guess - but I know what you mean).

Andy

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

you do realize that we have soldiers on 6 out of the 7 continents, ready to fight, right? They aren't there on vacation. All the little skirmishes that occur may not always make headline news, but these people are doing their part every day. from colombia (drug war) to Rwanda (Operation Distant Runner) to the Middle East to South Korea and beyond.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

you do realize that we have soldiers on 6 out of the 7 continents, ready to fight, right? They aren't there on vacation. All the little skirmishes that occur may not always make headline news, but these people are doing their part every day. from colombia (drug war) to Rwanda (Operation Distant Runner) to the Middle East to South Korea and beyond.

Yes I do and they should be given all the support we can give them. They are todays Hero's but they do not represent todays gnenration like the Soldiers in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam represented their generation..not even close.

 

[etech]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

That's fine with me. But then it also follows that the only people that can bring up Hiroshima or Nagasaki are the people that were injured and the immediate familes of those who died there. The only people that can bring up the genocide of Native Americans are Native Americans that were alive then.

Is that the deal?

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

you do realize that we have soldiers on 6 out of the 7 continents, ready to fight, right? They aren't there on vacation. All the little skirmishes that occur may not always make headline news, but these people are doing their part every day. from colombia (drug war) to Rwanda (Operation Distant Runner) to the Middle East to South Korea and beyond.

Yes I do and they should be given all the support we can give them. They are todays Hero's but they do not represent todays gnenration like the Soldiers in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam represented their generation..not even close.

that's exactly my point. they are there to prevent another world war, contain a situation, or preventing a minor situation from turning into a bigger one that would cost more lives than need be. no one wants another global war. their presence guarantees that it doesn't come about again. They will probably be remembered as the unsung heroes.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I think the only people that have a legitimate right to say that we sacrificed American lives to free the French from the Germans were those of that generation. That generation also fought in Korea and the Boomer Generation fought in Viet Nam. This Current Generation really hasn't had to sacrifice squat for freedom. Sure there was the GW but that was a professional Army (who did indeed make sacrifices for freedom) unlike WW2, Korea and Viet Nam were ordinary Americans were called upon to make the greatest sacrifice of all.

you do realize that we have soldiers on 6 out of the 7 continents, ready to fight, right? They aren't there on vacation. All the little skirmishes that occur may not always make headline news, but these people are doing their part every day. from colombia (drug war) to Rwanda (Operation Distant Runner) to the Middle East to South Korea and beyond.

Yes I do and they should be given all the support we can give them. They are todays Hero's but they do not represent todays gnenration like the Soldiers in WW2, Korea and Viet Nam represented their generation..not even close.

that's exactly my point. they are there to prevent another world war, contain a situation, or preventing a minor situation from turning into a bigger one that would cost more lives than need be. no one wants another global war. their presence guarantees that it doesn't come about again. They will probably be remembered as the unsung heroes.

I agree.

My point is that it is extremely hypocritical for those who discount the sacrifices of 100,000 Frenchmen in WW2 when the chances are many if not most haven't ever been called on to make the same sacrifice as those French.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

apparently no one reads a thread before replying, sinking instead to personal attacks.


its a RELATIVELY small number. i posted evidence of MILLIONS lost by others. by that standard, yes, 100,000 is nothing.

this thread was created to push the idea that the french did all they could to stop hitler, that they aren't wusses. well.. apparently 100k is the only number they bring up about ww2 because its the only one they could without destroying their point.

 

[Fencer128]

You did actually say though:

"100,000 men is nothing"

not

"100,000 men dying is a relatively small number compared to..."

I read the posts - but the way you presented that fact did appear cold and casual IMHO. Would be better just to say "Sorry - didn't mean to say 100,000 deaths is nothing"

Andy

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
100,000 men is nothing.

Yes, it's merely 35 times the amount lost on sept. 11, 2001. Apparently the loss in the United States on that day was an insignificant pittance far less than nothing.

:disgust:

apparently no one reads a thread before replying, sinking instead to personal attacks.


its a RELATIVELY small number. i posted evidence of MILLIONS lost by others. by that standard, yes, 100,000 is nothing.

this thread was created to push the idea that the french did all they could to stop hitler, that they aren't wusses. well.. apparently 100k is the only number they bring up about ww2 because its the only one they could without destroying their point.

I find it interesting that people would equate a higher number of deaths with some higher level of bravery or commitment. I would find it more interesting to see the combat effectiveness of the troops and their relative effectiveness in the defense of their country.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Fencer128
You did actually say though:

"100,000 men is nothing"

not

"100,000 men dying is a relatively small number compared to..."

I read the posts - but the way you presented that fact did appear cold and casual IMHO. Would be better just to say "Sorry - didn't mean to say 100,000 deaths is nothing"

Andy

which is why in later posts i backed it up with stats.


it was casual because it was just nulifying the initial posters attempt to paint the french in a good light. basically why we should like them. it was supposed to refute so i refuted

 

[Fencer128]

which is why in later posts i backed it up with stats.

It's not the fact that 100,000 < 1,000,000 or more that people found offensive. Its the fact that dismissed such large numbers of death as "nothing". You can post all the numbers you like - it doesn't change the fact that the deaths of so many people should maybe be referred to in a more dignified way (not nothing!).

Andy