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reminds me of a similar chap by the name of 'napolean.' strikingly similar... i wonder if france remembers that...
They do remember Napolean, as a hero. The French prime minister at a dinner in his honour in London a few years back was accidently served Beef Wellington (named after the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napolean, in honour of that victory), and refused to eat it. It was a diplomatic stuff-up. Someone should have checked the menu.
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regardless, the US intervening was an IMMEDIATE (in 'war terms') rescue. their being involved made a complete and obvious impact, that, had it not occured, the russian 'winter-trap' would have had no effect.
The Russian winter stopped the forward advance of the Germans, but the vast manpower of the Soviet army (and their cheap tanks) pushed the Germans back. See Antony Beevor's book, Stalingrad, for more on this.
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i agreebut, like i said before, the US (and most of the world, actually, but specifically the US) is a society enthralled and based upon WW2 culture. its the formation of most history classes, most modern day war references, documentations, vfw's, etc, etc. its one of the major strengths in our society because its really when america, beyond a shadow of a doubt, proved itself as the world's superpower.
and because of all the good the US accomplished at that time, everything is remembered that made us look good or other places look bad, france included.
Non comprehende. So you are saying that the geopolitical systems initiated at the end of WW2 (and also at the Yalta Conference during WW2) justify kowtowing to US priorities?
Also, my history lessons were quite a bit different to yours, with little or no emphasis on WW2. Japan's history lessons have no emphasis on WW2 (I know for a fact, because a Japanese friend of mine told me she only studied WW2 hisotry in university).
I also disagree with this, if only on the timing:
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its one of the major strengths in our society because its really when america, beyond a shadow of a doubt, proved itself as the world's superpower
The Soviet Union emerged from the war in a position to rapidly confront the US, and expand without fear of reprisal (Hungary, Czechslovakia). US predominance in world affairs only came to the fore with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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no comment
It is hard to comment on this point, because I assume, like me, you are not a French speaker, and so the media there is inaccessible. France's top rating TV programme is a non-fiction book review show. Bit different in stature to Survivor.
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like any good mother would say, "but that still doesnt make it right"
Regardless of the motivation, having criticism of the policy of an ally is a healthy thing (its part of the Westminster system of democracy inherited by Western countries, after all).
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then why develop euro-disney?
Hmm. My very hazy recollection is that there were marches in the streets of France opposing Euro-Disney, and I do know that it is a financial disaster.
One of the champions of French business is the guy who runs Vivendi Entertainment. He transformed a waste disposal company into a huge entertainment conglomerate which owns Universal Studios (thereby "planting the French flag" on US soil, as he said to wild applause from the French public). He recently said that France's special cultural position in the world will soon be at an end - he was, I guess, referring to globalisation of media. Suddenly he is no longer the darling of France. They are very sensitive to this sort of thing.