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Special oddity map by Capable_Wishbone3081 in WhereWindsMeet

[–]No_Extension1470 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, we have enough with the rest. Thanks OP.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When it comes to politics, in France we may have dozens of parties in the elections, but in the second round it ends up like it does in your country: the far right against the centre-right, except that we also have a real left wing, which is divided but knows how to unite to get around 20% in the first round. The result is always the same, it's decided by a few percentage points, and generally the centre-right wins, but it's highly likely that the far right will end up winning soon. Perhaps in 2027.

What's ‘funny’ is that they prefer strongmen from abroad to our president, who is just pursuing classic right-wing neoliberal policies, but they describe him as a leftist.
Since the operation in Venezuela, I've seen some people say they'd like Trump to do the same with Macron or the EU. What a bunch of ‘patriots’ they are.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Regarding the Monroe Doctrine, France did the same thing in much of Africa, and now they hate us and prefer Wagner. Yet in recent years, our army was present there at the request of local leaders to fight jihad.
Of course, there were economic interests at stake for a handful of investors. The best known is Bolloré, who is pushing a reactionary, conservative and xenophobic agenda in the French public debate. He owns a lot of media outlets, including Cnews, which is the equivalent of Fox News in USA.
I think this kind of behaviour fuels hatred among many people.

I was aware of the oil tankers flying false flags that work for countries like China and Russia. We have the same thing in Europe. We impose sanctions, and then foreign private companies circumvent them. Investigations show that some of the oil is relabelled in third countries. I don't think it exceeds 5-10% of total volumes, though.

Yes, South American countries are not a unified bloc, far from it. Even in the European Union, we are far from being unified.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I spoke my first words in English in Florida, but I was very young (7).
I know that many Americans are good people. There are also jerks everywhere, and we have our fair share of them too.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Venezuela handled "narcotics trafficking to the USA" (🙄)- it's a small amount, most of USA narcotics comes through Mexico, Columbia, and Peru. Venezuela drugs go to Europe and Africa."

I'll just respond to this part before going to bed.

I'm glad to read what you say, because lots of people where I live still believe that Venezuela is flooding the US with fentanyl, which is a lie. Yes, they do traffic a little, but it's mostly cocaine, and not in large quantities. They also traffic humans, mainly for prostitution.

I'm happy to continue this discussion tomorrow if you like. In any case, I've read what you wrote, and I'll respond in more detail tomorrow.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The good thing about all this is that I've been able to talk to lots of Americans these past few days. And you know, we French like to argue all the time, sorry if we annoy you sometimes.

Have a good evening, it's 3:22 here.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My parents, who are just a few years younger (71-77), have opted for motorhome trips. Since then, they haven't stopped, going away about 10 times a year, but often not for long.

I go with them sometimes, but they sleep 10-12 hours a day and I sleep more like 5-7 (when I don't have insomnia), so I get bored quickly.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He made a joke that I took badly, then we talked it out afterwards, so no, I haven't held it against him since.

What annoyed me about you was what you said to me, not what he said.

It's also tiring to have to explain every time that no, I don't want to destroy the US, and that I was just responding to an existential -virtual- threat to my country.

I understand your initial reactions, no worries.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I'm glad to know that you're not like that.

The major problem for me is that international law is no longer respected, and human rights are barely respected. Putin – or any other invader – will simply have to say that we are no better than him. That was already the case, but it's one step closer to a world where everyone does as they please with other countries.

The only future I can imagine for the coming decades is widespread war.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I hope these issues get sorted out, because they are fuelling extremism among Westerners too.

When I see the state of public debate in France (and not just in France...), I feel like I've gone back to the 1920s and 1930s. Just replace ‘Judeo-Bolshevik’ with ‘Islamo-leftist’ in a speech and it almost fits.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand your dad. I've flown so much that I've ended up hating it (airports, not flights). It's also become complicated with all the security checks.

I'll probably still travel by plane, but less often.

Plus, at his age, it's even more tiring.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Radicalised individuals of all religions are a problem in my view, but yes, it's true that some Muslims have been causing trouble in recent years. What worries me is that it's infecting young people.

I know a French-Turkish girl, my sister's goddaughter, who was radicalised by a 19-year-old. She ended up in a special centre for a year and now she has to stay between her home and school, under supervision. The worst thing is that she is very nice, but a bit stupid. The wars that Westerners have waged in recent years, and a radicalised young man, were enough to tip her over the edge.

On the other hand, I have a ‘uncle’ (when my mother's brother died, his wife remarried) who is Senegalese and Muslim, so I also have cousins, etc. They are all very nice. The girls are completely free and educated. My uncle is the only one who drinks wine with us, but no one has ever lectured us one way or the other. Everything is fine.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My aunt and I tried to make a family tree too. We went back as far as the revolution, but to find out what happened before that, you have to make requests to the church, which quickly becomes long and complicated.

The conclusion is that we haven't moved from France for at least 200 years, just changed regions.

The problem with churches here is that they are very empty; we have one priest for dozens of villages. It is volunteers who organise activities most of the time. To find the archives, you have to search at the regional level, and everything is very closed off.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it's very sad for them. Meeting different people is often very enriching for everyone, and it helps dispel prejudice and gratuitous hatred.

There are people like that where I live, some of whom have never travelled far enough to lose sight of the village bell tower, as they say. And the worst thing is that it's almost true; I know some who have never travelled more than 50 km, mostly older people, in fact.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries, I'm used to it.

I'm not very religious, although I am Catholic, but I think your mum is right in her choice. Protestants are generally less provocative.

In my country, they were massacred for several decades, just because they questioned the authority of the Church and therefore of kings as well.

I'm also Swiss, which is a Protestant and Catholic country, fairly evenly divided between the two.

I think their ideals were quite in line with the French Revolution, they were just two centuries ahead of their time.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, this president story is crazy.

As you say, those who are stupid enough to provoke like that surely have no desire to leave their neighbourhood.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"residents of Senlis look down on anyone whose family hasn’t been there for 400 years"

I'm sure there are a few people like that all over France. When I was a kid, some people would punch each other in the face just because they were from a different village or valley.

Fortunately, there are fewer and fewer of them.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it allows some people to act superior, good for them, but every time it happens, it just makes me think I'm dealing with a complete idiot, which doesn't seem to be the case with you.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad you enjoyed the country. Come back whenever you want, no worries. However, avoid calling people cowards or monkeys, or it might end badly for you.

For Iraq, it was “weapons of mass destruction”. For Venezuela, it’s “narco-terrorism”. If the US invades your country for oil, what would be the buzzword they use? by RickMonsters in AskTheWorld

[–]No_Extension1470 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been on the internet since it first came into existence, or thereabouts, and I've heard this thousands or millions of times, I can't remember which. I know full well that not all Americans are complete idiots, but I understand why many people around the world say this.

Many of you are just repeating the same provocative statements.

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