instead of *****ing about the French, thank them

[Spiffor]

How exactly are our language laws idiotic ?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor
How exactly are our language laws idiotic ?

It's a personal opinion. I could just as well have written repellent if it would make you feel better.

[Spiffor]

I wonder what you find repellent with a nation trying to defend its culture which is its unifying factor...

[Sava]

Originally posted by gunkulator
You give them far too much credit. This was a business decision, plain and simple. The French had a lot to lose if Saddam left. They were getting rich off the current regime and didn't want to stop the gravy train.

Certainly the millions that protested the war didn't care much about business interests. Leadership elements in France certainly opposed the war for different reasons, that doesn't give anti-french morons an all-purpose excuse for hating the entire French people

So that makes it OK then? "Gee we only have one nasty dictator so leave us alone." Post cold war realities policies have changed everyone's policitics. Dictators shouldn't be tolerated anymore.

I agree... but this still isn't the case. If the US is concerned about stopping brutal regimes, how come we aren't doing jacksh1t in Africa? And if this is about freedom and oppression, why is Saudi Arabia our "friend"?

Not in the past 12 years. Saddam was a lesser of two evils for the US in the 70s and 80s and acted as a buffer to Iranian Fundamentalism. Not our proudest moment surely but that's all in the past. Saddam started as a local Iraqi alternative to the mullahs. Who would have guessed he would turn into a megalomaniac bent on genocide and invading his neighbors? And before you say it was easy to guess (20-20 hindsight), I'd like to hear what YOU would have done in the early 80s with the very real threat of the Iranian Revolution spreading across the ME.

circular logic... we need to get Saddam because he supports terrorist elements, but we helped Saddam in order to fight terrorist elements

thier idiotic language laws will do for starters

What business is it of yours what language laws they have. You don't live there. And I find it ironic that you are complaining about France's local laws, considering you live in a State where racism was institutionalized and legal less than half a century ago.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I wonder what you find repellent with a nation trying to defend its culture which is its unifying factor...

If the culture is so important to the people, why do they need laws to "save" it from the horrible influence of the outside world?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Sava
What business is it of yours what language laws they have. You don't live there.

Does this mean that there can be no more threads about the US made by Europeans?

[Sava]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
If the culture is so important to the people, why do they need laws to "save" it from the horrible influence of the outside world?

They are a democracy, they can make whatever silly laws they want.

[Sava]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Does this mean that there can be no more threads about the US made by Europeans?

ahhh that's nice, you're comparing a language law to war...

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Sava
They are a democracy, they can make whatever silly laws they want.

So you agree with me that they are stupid. Excellent.

[SlowwHand]

I thought you liked personal liberties, Sava.

[Sava]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I thought you liked personal liberties, Sava.

it's their country, they can make whatever language laws they want... that goes for the US to. If the US wants to make English the official language, which it isn't, but it should be; the democratic government should be able to. I'm a social libertarian of sorts, Slowwy, not a wacko like Floyd.

DD: yes, I agree their laws on language are silly, but I am not about to attack them because of it. It's their country, they can do what they want.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
If the culture is so important to the people, why do they need laws to "save" it from the horrible influence of the outside world?

The culture is extremely important to the nation, but the nation fails to make it important to the (young) people. Henceforth it has to protect it.

Besides, these laws have been extremely efficient, as they are the direct cause of the renewed French music. French music has never been as good as today, simply because broadcasters have no other choice than to give it a go, and to notice it is quality and profitable

Indeed, until the language laws, nobody in the music industry would have thought French music would sell or would be good. Once again, the market's conservatism was badly flawed and had to be corrected

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor
The culture is extremely important to the nation, but the nation fails to make it important to the (young) people. Henceforth it has to protect it.

Why go with the ham fisted approach in an attempt to correct a situation they have created themselves when you mentioned yourself a more equitable approach that could have been taken.

[Dr Kellogg]

Who cares about the French language laws? It is such a beautiful country! And the French cuisine.. mmm delicious

[Imran Siddiqui]

yes, I agree their laws on language are silly, but I am not about to attack them because of it. It's their country, they can do what they want.

Now only if some Europeans can accept this and not try to tell us what our country should do .