Lullaby of Birdland-In English

[karl]

The French do cause much irritation with myself, then of all things, admiration. This French song is one I have admired this many years for the long past memories that are mine alone of which is kept hidden in the attic of the mind.

For the enjoyment of English speaker and those that understand both English and French is the following:






Presenter

Karl

[pieter]

Karl,

My question is; “Why, how, what and when and how do The French irritate you?”

Is it the difference in mentality and way of living and doing things between Germans and the French, because they are certainly different. Is it more your Frisian Danish down-to-earth, pragmatic and austere and realistic side that has difficulty with the flamboyant, theatrical and Latin (Romanesque) French or is it the age-old rivalry between Germans and French.

As 'West Germans', some Dutch people find the Latin French vain, arrogant and annoying. Glade boys and chatterboxes. The 'Southern Belgians' find the Northern Dutch arrogant as well.

Before I put words into your mouth, I was and am curious what irritates you about French people. We all have our prejudices, stereotypes and experiences with people with different nationalities. I was just curious.

Pieter

[karl]

Pieter

I was laughing with you with your very good question: {My question is; “Why, how, what and when and how do The French irritate you?”}

My answer goes back to the post war days when the allies split up Germany between themselves, and with France. The French very quickly raided out Grandfathers Marine machine works and helped themselves to the precision manufacturing machines, with this, the business papers including any patent documents that were at hand at that time. What they also wanted very badly, was the business war time assigned numbers of the business. These assigned numbers that all German national businesses had, were suppliers to the German military during the war. For all items and equipment of the German military were lettered or numbered and those letter/numbers were assigned to all German suppliers to identify for purposes of replacement as supplies were depleted through use or battle destroyed. These identifying numbers were absolutely kept secret and all known books were destroyed as the events detected.

The above was war time events that are now just history, but some things the French conducted was beyond war time excuse. For one. I do not wish to expand too much on this, but just this one time. Two French investigators tried questioning me as a child about those Identification numbers and letters, I had no idea what they were speaking about at that time. If not for a British attending officer, those French fellows were getting loud and threatening, the British officer at that time interfered and lead me out of the room, after that, the French officers then left with mean red faces. I never seen them after that.

The above has always stuck in my mind as not hate, but with out trust that I still to this day remember always.

Even of the above, I do not hold anything of the French people, but still do not trust the French Government.

Karl

[pieter]

Thank you for your answer Karl. It explains a lot and makes clear why you distrust French authorities.