Why are we flying the French flag?

"JRapp: now as good as new again" (jrapp) 08/11/2016 at 19:24 • Filed to: None

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Are we giving up?

Edit: I would like to respectfully withdraw my bad joke in the interest of preserving our (quazi-)civil community. My bad. I’m sorry.

Though I’d still like to know why the colors?

Steve in Manhattan > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:28

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Well, they did save our asses during the Revolutionary War ....

TheHondaBro > Steve in Manhattan 08/11/2016 at 19:31

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We saved their asses during WWII.

Urambo Tauro > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:32

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French flag?

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Steve in Manhattan > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 19:37

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True, but we could save their asses because they we were still here - we kinda owed them.

jimz > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:40

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the “surrender monkeys” meme really needs to die. People have forgotten there were essentially “two Frances” in the early stage of WWII. the Vichy government (headed by Petain) saw him essentially become a dictator and unilaterally ordered an armistice with Nazi Germany. With Allied support, Charles de Gaulle’s “Free France” gradually re-took the country back from the Vichy government.

France didn’t really “surrender” to anyone. it was too fractured to be able to fight effectively, especially after the unelected despot in charge sold the country down the river. it was as if they were having an internal civil war in the middle of WWII.

the whole “France=surrender” nonsense got new life after 9/11, when they (properly) refused to support our invasion of Iraq, and some (R)s in Congress got all butt-hurt (“Freedom Fries.”)

jimz > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 19:43

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if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s over-stating our role in the outcome of WWII. People (especially people my parents’ age) don’t want to admit that the Soviet Union had as much if not more influence in the defeat of the Axis than we did.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Urambo Tauro 08/11/2016 at 19:44

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I mean it could be the Netherlands, hoisted upside down as a sign of protest, I just see no reason to protest the Dutch.

I kind of thought we were giving up and accepting whatever fate comes to us.

samssun > jimz 08/11/2016 at 19:47

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France’s reputation for losing military conflicts (not just surrendering) long predates 9/11, just like Polish jokes go back much further than WWII.

I remember a version of the cynical “French military history” summary back in the late 90s. Has some pretty funny/true stuff: “Pretending the Germans would enter through the Maginot line would break with their traditional route of invading France through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World War I, etc.)”

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.ht…

JRapp: now as good as new again > jimz 08/11/2016 at 19:48

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I wanna see you explain the French flag we’re flying on the logo then..

(Not that I have anything against the French mind you. For one, their cuisine and restaurant culture is still the golden standard to live up to in my mind.)

Flavien Vidal > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:48

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You go lose 27% of your 18-27 year old population during a war (1.4 million young french people killed during World War 1), then you get to deal with another war (WW2) just as bad 20 years later, we’ll see how it goes and if you can fight...

Leadbull > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:49

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duurtlang > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:50

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I saw these all the time when I was in the US last month. As a Dutchman I did feel welcome, with the Americans using my flag everywhere.

Flavien Vidal > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 19:51

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Nope, you didn’t do anything. Your ancesters surely did and THEY are not cocky about it. Neither are Russian btw, who lost roughly 20 to 30 times more soldiers fighting the Axis than americans.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 19:53

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Hey, I get it. Bad joke. I’m Estonian, and we effectively surrendered to the Soviets at the end of WWII as well.. Both wars combined, Estonia lost 17.5% of its entire population of ~1 mil. to Soviet deportations and another few tens of thousands to was casualties.

Flavien Vidal > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 19:56

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You do realize that it’s not the french flag right??

JRapp: now as good as new again > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 19:58

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Yes, but if you tilt your head..

RallyWrench > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:00

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Oh, there’s a good reason to protest the Dutch. The Dutch are pushers of scale model cars, always baiting unwitting Americans into their debt for rare or hard to find pieces. Holland’s government is funded almost entirely by American PayPal transfers for 1/43 model cars. They’re vicious diecast predators, calmly reading our minds among their tulips and windmills, waiting for the right moment to strike with a car they know we can’t get here, or several. Sure, the cars seem cheap at 10-15 Euro apiece, but that’s their hook. Pretty soon you’re into a shady Dutchman known only as “Jobjoris” for 10 cars and counting. Not to be trusted, those Dutch.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:01

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Ford GT colors

Flavien Vidal > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:03

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Tilt it more then I don’t know?

Or don’t tilt it at all??

Or take mushrooms and fly for the UK?

TheHondaBro > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:03

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Actually my ancestors didn’t do anything either, considering they were in Iran at the time.

jimz > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:04

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I wanna see you explain the French flag we’re flying on the logo then..

whoever put it up there doesn’t understand what I said.

TheHondaBro > jimz 08/11/2016 at 20:04

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I’m always admitting that the Soviet Union was a major player, but that’s not to say the US didn’t play a significant role, considering they helped push Germany out of France and then turned around and made Japan surrender.

jimz > samssun 08/11/2016 at 20:05

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wow, who knew all of those history courses I’ve taken were worthless, when I could have just found everything I need to know from albinoblacksheep.com.

you apparently don’t realize that our own “war record” isn’t so hot. The War of 1812 was at best a draw. The Civil War is something that we should be ashamed of for as long as this country exists. We were on the right side of WWI and WWII, but those were a team effort. Immediately after WWII we jumped into the Korean War, which again was at best a draw, and is the sole reason North Korea exists. The Vietnam War saw us throwing kids just barely out of high school into hell, and losing. Arming Afghanistan in the ‘70s to fight the Soviets created Al Qaeda. Deposing Saddam Hussein helped lead to the rise of ISIS.

Sometimes, like with WWII, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is the way to go. But most other times, all it does is create the enemy you will have to fight later on.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:11

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Scoob made it after the Ford GT won Le Mans. The mods finally caved and changed to banner to one of his many suggestions

samssun > jimz 08/11/2016 at 20:16

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I didn’t write it, and it’s not an American view. It’s a “meme” that’s been around since before memes existed.

Flavien Vidal > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 20:16

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Then why use “we”? Any person who gets cocky and appropriate the sacrifice of others to himself for the sole and only reason that he is somewhat living around the same place as those who died, is, to me, acting like a bit of an ass...

So THEY saved France’s ass. You, I’m afraid, have no done anything.

It’s funny how you never hear older people who actually fought during WW2 get all cocky about it... Yet, those who never fought for anything in their lives......

JRapp: now as good as new again > jvirgs drives a Subaru 08/11/2016 at 20:17

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Thank you! Finally!

jvirgs drives a Subaru > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:19

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And don’t worry I found the humor in your joke even if it’s not completely accurate

jimz > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 20:20

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I’m not saying we didn’t play a big part, but some people act like we single-handedly won the war.

and don’t get me started on Japan. They were ready and willing to surrender. Hell, even their top military people advised against engaging us in the first place. The thing is, even though we were allied, nobody trusted Stalin, and for good reason. The whole “we must have unconditional surrender by Japan” was BS, so Truman could show Stalin how big our dick was with the bombs we had.

Which, of course, led to an arms race where the Soviet Union detonated the largest nuclear weapon in history (google “Tsar Bomba”.)

TheHondaBro > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:21

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You’re the only person I’ve seen be so pedantic about such little things. Calm down, please. France isn’t being attacked by innocent jokes.

And before you say “France lost 27% of its young population in WWI,” need I remind you that the great Persian empire was decimated after invasions from the Mongolians and the Arabs, but you don’t see me bitching about that. The Mongolians left mountains of Persian skulls in their wake.

duurtlang > duurtlang 08/11/2016 at 20:26

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Using a stock photo when you’ve got one you shot yourself with your own phone. Rookie mistake...

(Cape Elizabeth)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:28

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I’m just here to tell you how offended I am or something, being 1/8 French I think.

Flavien Vidal > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 20:32

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It’s the same thing over and over and over again. It’s tiring. It’s the go-to answer for the person who has nothing to say: “We saved your ass during WW2.”. So once again, no, they did. Not you, not me.

And the main difference between the great persian empire and this, is that I still have family members who lived through WW2, fighting to survive and still managing to fight against the invader for 5 years in a row, eventhough they knew it was a lost cause without any outside help. I don’t think you call your Persian warriors ancesters on a first name basis.

duurtlang > RallyWrench 08/11/2016 at 20:36

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I once got a scale model car from this shady “Jobjoris” character for free! Here it is, the red one in the background. There’s some nazi vehicle in front, but I had to promise I’d smuggle that out of the country. So I did.

TheHondaBro > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:37

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Calm. The fuck. Down. I don’t give a shit anymore, and I’m not going to respond anymore.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:39

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Christ you must be fun at parties

iaintafraidofnoghost > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:41

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I don’t know about you, but I read my posts upside down.

Flavien Vidal > TheHondaBro 08/11/2016 at 20:41

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Do you see me getting mad and not answering you calmly?? I’m only pointing out how ridiculous what you wrote was. I’m not mad or anything.

So yes, being french, it’s tiring having to deal regularly with 20 to 30 years old americans who have never fought for anything in their life, telling me how they saved my surrendering ass.

Now you know.

duurtlang > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:45

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You’re fighting an uphill battle here. You’re right, but from the point of view of a teenager, especially one from a far away continent, it’s trivial and funny or boring. I’m not even French, but this whole surrendermonkey/white flag/give up/WE saved YOU bull is just so painfully unoriginal and tiring. Yet, I don’t think it’s a discussion you can ever win. Educate one and ten more pop up the next time.

JRapp: now as good as new again > iaintafraidofnoghost 08/11/2016 at 20:45

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Funny side note: I used to work as one of 3 IT support people for a small company of ~100 people, and we’d mess with people who left their computers unlocked by rotating their screens - Ctrl-Alt-Right Arrow. When they’d call us to complain, we could tell them not to leave their computers unlocked.

RallyWrench > duurtlang 08/11/2016 at 20:46

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205! You’re much closer though, it’s a simple smuggling operation. It’s an international conspiracy in my case!

Flavien Vidal > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 08/11/2016 at 20:48

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If your parties consist of 20 to 30 yo people repeating the same joke over and over again for years and years, all that at the expense of where you come from, then, nope, I’m not going to be much fun at your parties.

duurtlang > RallyWrench 08/11/2016 at 20:49

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You misunderstand. He gave me these in person . I then put the beetle in my suitcase, boarded a plane, flew to Boston, drove the first 1500 of the 1600 miles I did with the bug in my suitcase, then dropped the bug off on Martha’s Vineyard. I’d call that smuggling.

(Yes, I needed 1500 miles to go from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard. Let’s say I tried to avoid the police by taking an unexpected route)

iaintafraidofnoghost > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/11/2016 at 20:50

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I was going to post that, but I didn’t think it’d be as good. I liked putting tape over the diode and let them think the mouse was broken.

Sure it was more work, but totally worth it for the laughs.

RallyWrench > duurtlang 08/11/2016 at 20:53

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That’s right, I forgot you were recently here! So you were his mule for figuring out international transport of his contraband, and I was targeted shortly thereafter... It’s all coming together now.

Flavien Vidal > duurtlang 08/11/2016 at 20:55

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I know, but, hopefully, since we’re on Oppo, once I’ve explained my point to a few of the people who are like this, dozens won’t suddenly get authorship to keep on spouting this kind of stuff over and over :)

fintail > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:57

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Hey, at least you guys got to design those tanks with 7 speeds in reverse ;)

fintail > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 20:59

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The Russians aren’t cocky about WW2? Go there sometime. Their Victory Day parades say otherwise. They surely sacrificed more than anyone via the cannon fodder strategy, but maybe were no less of an evil than the one that was defeated.

Flavien Vidal > fintail 08/11/2016 at 21:06

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It’s not their go-to answer to any criticism made toward their country. That’s a pretty big difference. Most countries have parades commemorating the end of WW2 all over Europe.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 21:11

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and americans are constantly hearing fat/lazy/uneducated/etc. its a joke get over it. grab some coffee or a snickers jesus.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > iaintafraidofnoghost 08/11/2016 at 21:16

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I used to swap the ps2 ports between the keyboard and mouse if locked or change then to a dvorak profile if unlocked. Both were hilarious for me. Not so much for them.

Flavien Vidal > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 08/11/2016 at 21:43

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True, Americans are known for taking these kind of “jokes” and any sort of criticism toward themselves or their countries extremely well... I’m sure a thread about Americans being lazy fat idiots would go much better than a thread about French being coward surrendering monkeys.

Double standards much?

fintail > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 21:50

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And the joke here wasn’t in defense about criticism, but another here is definitely being defensive.

It’s not a parade about the end of the war, it’s a “Victory” parade, and it is exponentially a larger event than a parade in Paris. They also occur in major Russian city. They are definitely cocky about it (as they are virtually everything else), as they should be, as they won, and in some ways won the cold war, too.

Why are those roads lined with trees? :)

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 21:55

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dude you could say whatever about Murrica i literally give no shits. does thin skin come standard issue with your white flags?

Flavien Vidal > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 08/11/2016 at 21:59

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Great for you! Now, it might be time for you to understand that certain events are not perceived the same way by everyone else?? Pretty certain a couple jokes about 9-11 would not go that well around here either... Not sure telling the offended parties to get a snickers and get a thick skin would fly well either to solve the confrontation.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 22:04

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psst WWII was 71 years ago neither of us was around then. however chances are everyone here was alive and watched 9/11. and even then its hit the point of almost being an acceptable joke in the states. almost. still rooting for the snickers.

Flavien Vidal > fintail 08/11/2016 at 22:07

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14th of July parades are everywhere in France too... It’s a commemoration for all the dead soldiers, true and not a “victory lap”, but with 10 millions soldiers killed, I’ll give Russia a free pass for doing something like this once a year if they want to :)

The Champs Elysées have always been with trees around it. We like trees on the side of roads in France. It prevents cars from crashing into fields. Very efficient.

We have so many that we even have a TV show called after the tree in question...

Flavien Vidal > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 08/11/2016 at 22:14

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Pssst, my grand parents fought during WW2 and one even still burst into tears uncontrollably pretty much on a weekly basis due to the troma he still has all those years after it. That’s how I’ve known him my entire life. But yeah, having random 20 something americans who have never experienced war call him a surrendering monkey is so damn funny. Hahaha.

Wanna go on an make jokes about Vietnam soldiers, how some had to surrender and how they deal with it today maybe?? Sure they must be cowards right?

fintail > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 22:33

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But nothing along the lines of what happens in Russia. They never really got over WW2, for some valid reasons, and for propaganda/distraction reasons, too.

I thought those trees were so certain people could march in the shade :)

Trying to ID that car, kind of gruesome lol.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 22:34

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Well with that I’m off to bed I’ve had enough oppo for this evening. clearly what started as a joke got seriously out of hand. hope your’s gets better.

Flavien Vidal > fintail 08/11/2016 at 22:44

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Haaa, had almost forgotten about that one lol

As for the car, I would like to say it’s a Lada Niva but the front turning signals are not visible so... I don’t really know

But we do love trees by the side of the road... No car can crash in vineyards thanks to them lol

fintail > Flavien Vidal 08/11/2016 at 23:14

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One of my more fond memories of France. Of dubious practicality, but it can’t be beat for aesthetics. France has good qualities too :)

Flavien Vidal > fintail 08/11/2016 at 23:21

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This is why we have all the alcohol... Everything french becomes awesome and beautiful after a few glasses :)

jimz > duurtlang 08/12/2016 at 11:02

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everyone thinks a joke is funny the first time they hear it.

it’s no longer funny after hearing it for the eleventy billionth time.

duurtlang > jimz 08/12/2016 at 11:18

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Exactly. It started to annoy me every time an article on the front page named/pictured a French car and the same unfunny jokes kept coming back. Every. Time. Year in, year out.

It’s like joking about obesity, Vietnam and slavery as a knee jerk reaction every time someone even mildly refers to the United States. Besides unfunny it’s just sad.