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Originally Posted by Ydiss
I must say that by discounting the fact that the Americans owe the french for favours past (due to favours repaid) that the original statement "The French owe us for World War II" is an irrelavent one.
As I said, it's a silly argument.
You can go on for hours and hours arguing that the French owe this and the Americans owe this.
Bottom line is the French are perfectly within their rights to have their opinion of America since these new turn of events.
As do all the other countries that do not support the war or Bush's actions.
Just because a person helps a child defend himself from a bully it does not mean that child is then obligated to agree with and support that person if they then go and do something later on that they do not believe in.
That's a loose analogy but it is still true, depending on the situation and context of course. I'm sure said child would be sure to help the person who helped them if they were attacked at a later time, if they could, however.
9/11/01 America was attacked and the French supported you then (through charity funds at the very least). They aren't monsters. You didn't see the French veto the retaliatory strikes on Afghanistan, did you?
I'm sure that opinion of my country is lower now, as well, as we have stood by Bush's ideals all the way.
I don't mind that, I generally am happier having America as an ally than any other nation, but at the same time I understand why this alienation is taking place.
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I agree. The French are perfectly within their rights as a sovereign state and as indivuduals to have their opinions. I'm saying no debts are owed on either side.