Not bashing, just blogging

After two months of blogging, it is time to draw some conclusions. First, It is refreshing -- and salutary -- to receive the feedback. A foreign press correspondent usually works at a distance from readers. You are in the dark about how people respond to articles unless you blunder or cause offence. With the blog, the comment is direct and often immediate. Even more, it is extremely useful to see the themes that raise debate. Thank you, to Robert Marchenoir, Sarah Hague, P.A. and the other regulars.

I'll reply to a couple of critical points. It's worth noting how, when dealing with France, the discussion settles on the features that distinguish the Gallic from the Anglo-Saxon approach to the world. Very roughly, this is France's attachment to a protective state, high ideas and the quality of life compared with the stress that the Anglo-Saxons and other protestant cultures put on the individual and getting things done, at the price of compromise. For centuries, each has envied and been irritated by these qualities in the other. Laurence Sterne made the typical English admiration the opening sentence in his Sentimental Journey of 1768:  "They order this matter better in France." Or to quote P.A.'s remark on a posting here the other day: "France is a glorious place to live (if not to work)". 

Reporting to Britain from France is a little like covering America. Readers are fairly familiar with the place so you focus on the quirks and differences, the sides that impress and exasperate. In France's case this includes such things as President Chirac's self-promotion as monarch of Europe and his country's serious devotion to leisure and social welfare at the expense of material prosperity. The film industry is always a good example of the different Gallic approach. Bialo takes me to task for using the expression "lavishly subsidised" and for failing to "consider the idea that cinema may be a tool of cultural domination". In my defence, the shorthand tag "lavishly subsidised" may be a cliché, but it is nonetheless accurate. And the idea that Hollywood is a tool for dominating other cultures is French conspiracy theory. The US industry is surely out to make money rather than implementing some agenda for conquest. The French policy of funnelling money to film-makers to beat off the Americans is perfectly justifiable, but it does not make the product immune from criticism.

John Gregory Flinn and François Bird reproach me for focusing on the negative and using a superior British tone. I would reply with the words from Beaumarchais, the 18th century writer and action-man, that appear daily on the masthead of le Figaro: Sans la liberté de blâmer, il n'est point d'éloge flatteur (Without the freedom to censure, there is no flattering praise). All reporting, observation or commentary starts with a perspective, or to put it the modern way, you are always coming from somewhere. Journalism focuses on problems rather than "trains that run on time" as the French say. On the political and social front, France is going through a rough patch. As a foreigner who has lived a French life for quite a few years, I try to do my best to try to given an informed and sympathetic account. Mr Flinn admires "the refreshing pride and self-confidence they have about themselves". So do I, except that France, at the moment, has lost its self-confidence and a paid observer would not be earning his keep by ignoring this.

On a personal note, living as a foreigner "embedded" in France is of course a delight. You have the best of two worlds and languages, albeit closely related ones. Yes, aspects of life can drive you nuts -- the clichés about bureaucracy, taxes, bad driving and poor service are true. But the flaws come with big compensations. Apart from its general aesthetic and culinary superiority, France offers a more old-world sensibility and a gentler pace. And I still get a kick out of hearing my children using French  -- their first language -- for arguing and expressing views and then switching into franglais for practical stuff such as doing le homework, le dog-walk and saying "C'est pas mon tour de set the table for lunch. Je l'ai déjà fait at breakfast" .         

Comments

[Rémy]

I certainly praise the "liberté de blâmer" of the english press, which, in my opinion, distinguishes it as one of the best, if not the best press of the world.
However, as a usual reader of english newspapers, it appears to me that, when it comes to France, the freedom of blaming you refer to may be closer to prejudice. From The Daily Telegraph to The Guardian, the tone is at best sarcastic, at worst insulting. Being French, I often notice that english criticisms of France are fully justified. But the lack of "éloge" make those criticisms inefficient, because most French see them as an expression of the usual english francophobia. They might not be fully wrong.

[Alan Morgan]

I live in a remote part of Herault, in the valley of Salagou.

Your comments are a regular feature of my reading and I enjoy them very much.

Sometimes they are a little too Parisian for Languadoc. Remember we are another country down here!

Please continue with your blog. I think its great.

With much thanks
Alan Morgan

[Sarah Hague]

"Thank you, to Robert Marchenoir, Sarah Hague, P.A. and the other regulars."

You're very welcome, and your blog is a pleasure to read.

One thing I admire about the French is their attitude towards the importance of children. Childcare is great, taxes are lower for large families and there are many other benefits too.

It's not surprising that the French non-immigrant birthrate is one of the highest in Europe. Other governments might do well to consider similar measures.

[John Gregory Flinn]

That your weblog is able to include contrarian views such as from myself is 'grand eloge' for it.
I find that much of the thinking in France is contrarian to the English viewpoint, which perhaps helps to explain Remy's point about the prejudiced tone of the English Press towards France.
I also find that living here is a delight - pretty much as you describe; and such an opportunity for my children.
yours sincerely,Gregg Flinn.

[Alex Spataru]

Much of what you say is true, so are most of the comments made by your bloggers. The ultimate opinion, the one that really counts, is done with the feet. We're dayly witnessing a dynamic situation where flow is rarely only one way. But it's usully fairly easy to determine in which direction the people flow is greatest. How many people pick up and move to another country (legally or illegally)to make a living is the ultimate test of which country is more people-friendly. And much of the decision-making process comes from information widely available in the media. France, through its subsidized cinema, is simply insuring that more of its citizens will stay put. And it's true that the British and the American press rarely miss an opportunity to poke fun at the French, but they fall short when compared to the elegant art of the ridicule that the French press has mastered vis a vis the oddities of anglo and yankee governance and/or life style. I say: let them play on. It's fun to watch.

[Victor Tan]

I am curious to read Remy's (sorry for the missing accent aigu) piece on the english press. He writes English well. Is it his way of having a dig at the english?

Victor Tan

p/s my keyboard does not have an 'e' with an accent aigu.

[Victor Tan]

Readers sending letters to the Editor of the printed version of The Times have their full postal addresses published. Is there a reason for not publishing the email addresses of the bloggers?

Victor Tan

[Victor Tan]

I share your delight in your children arguing and expressing themselves in French and franglais. My wife is French, and we have two girls, 11 and 9 who have always been educated in French schools in London.

I am a Malaysian who is product of the English educational system where the teaching of foreign languages in schools has never been a priority. Having lived in England for decades, I am ashamed to admit that I cannot speak a European language, except poor French, although I speak Chinese and Malay fluently.

Whenever my girls argue in French, they speak too quickly for me to understand. Frequently, I have to interject to ask them to explain their disputes in English. This invariably takes the heat out of their arguments, and I end up being the culprit, accused of spoiling their arguments. It is on such occasions that I feel totally inadequate. I know the answer, learn proper French.

[leonard aitken]

Volumes have been written on the difference(s) between the English & the French. The French government position since the departure of de Gaulle has been to uphold the ideals of 'liberté égalité fraternité' as long as this means that 90%+ of the French population sink into mediocrity and a 'mentalité provinciale'(in food,wine & culture particularly). Britain's French de Gaulle,Mrs Thatcher, began an English revolution, that is trying to face up to the harsh reality of living in the 21st century (with all the inherent policy imperfections railway,health etc).
One of the visible "successes" of Chirac's cherished 'French model' is the near total exclusion of ethnic minorities (6 million?) in French national life. French policy has created deep rooted poverty and hatred among this 6m+ minority population towards France & the state.
While the French population have been encouraged to work the shortest hours with the longest holidays in Europe, the other France stands by the street corner wondering if they're part of France itself.
Apparenty 500,000 Britons have a home in France (retired or holiday use principally) whereas 300,000 French people live & world in the UK.