France and the US: Best frenemies?

France and the United States have been allies for centuries. Despite the mutual affection and fascination, they can also rub each other up the wrong way. How much of this is due to subtleties getting lost in translation and how much of it is because of fundamental cultural differences? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula delve into the love-hate relationship between France and America.
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[@retropaganda8442]

Being able to openly disagree without the relations blowing up is the sign of a strong bond.

[@jtnelson4579]

QA m.

[@balak1]

As an Eastern European, I admire this

[@RHTeebs]

Although not always perfect, the relationship with the US and France is a strong one. They truly have given a lot to us: the Louisiana Purchase, the Statue of Liberty, etc. We return the favor whenever we can. Like when we forgave their debts after WWII, and helped liberate France from the Nazis in 1944. In the beginning, France had our back when no one else would. They helped us out, gave us states, and a statue that serves as a beacon to a new beginning in a different country. We can thank France for helping the US get up off the ground, and become one of the strongest countries on the planet. Merci. Nous t'aimons. Vive la France.

[@lirishaysmaiie9529]

"forgave their debts" by imposing american movies in french cinema ...

[@tomsmith3015]

A large majority of Americans love France and the French people. A visit to France is on the bucket list of many of us. I’ve been there twice and had great experiences both times. It was poor reporting by France24 to make no mention of how our two countries are currently working together to face common threats. For example, the US has been supporting French operations in the Sahel for the last several years.

[@TheLegendxComet]

Paris is not what you think, i live there and in some places are sooo dirty 😭 Sometimes it’s like LA (in the 2nd neighbour it’s the worst) but Paris is also very dangerous (especially in the 16th neighbour)

[@michaelwhite2600]

Not an enemy! I’m American, but absolutely love everything about France. Where would The United States be without France? I can’t imagine that! I miss France so much ! I have my airline credit and hôtel credits for my next trip. One thing covid has done is make me appreciate my vacations more than I ever have in my life. I will be back as soon as this is over. ❤️🇫🇷

[@octaveful]

And you’ll always be welcome back 😀

[@Mcgoohan6]

Love from brittany 🇺🇸❤️🇫🇷

[@bigploppa154]

how could you not have hate for France as an American over the past 50 years? they forced us into Vietnam, they publically condemned and shamed us for Iraq, and the only conviction the US ever had for 9/11 was a Frenchman.

[@ramonantoniodejuanbennett6239]

I love France! I hope to visit there with my wife someday soon. Je t'aime France!

[@Mcgoohan6]

🇺🇸❤️🇫🇷

[@Chris-bn5pe]

We as America will always be grateful to the assistance by the French in forming our country! Viva liberty

[@TheBlackManMythLegend]

What I like about Americans as a french is their positive mindset and most of the time they are quite straight up and their humour like the British they are fun people . Also I think they are openminded in France we are not that open minded the amount of things that are considered normal in the USA or uk are larger . You can be eccentric and still not be massively rejected but in France you kinda have to be almost like everybody

[@herblybxb_]

I’m born in the us and more than half french, I moved to France in when I was 8 and came back when I was 14 so I got a bit of both sides.

[@loneranger4734]

what city did you move too

[@jamestrueblood1990]

I’m Franco-American also Swedish father lived in France Spain Sweden and back here in the US I feel so blessed and balanced having French Swedish and American blend with a touch of Portuguese I think we are so similar in different ways if that’s makes sense but we both have an attitude

[@grietga]

US and France do share a revolutionary heritage, which led people on both sides to believe that they share the same fundamental values. That may be true for several them, but also led to some misunderstanding on some others, like religion. France kicked out religion from its ruling system, with its concept of laicity, when the US built itself based on the principle of freedom of religion, which is quite a different thing, as religion is in many ways part of public affairs in the US (freedom of religion also exists in France but is considered a private matter).

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

Yeah The US and France both born of revolution one a successful revolution (US) one a failed/flawed revolution (France)

[@gerrimander]

grietga What a load of pretentious drivel. Sound like a primary teacher or a Google reciter. Most if not all countries on the planet 🌎 have at one time in thier historic development had thier civil wars and thier individual outcomes. 21st. Century. Criteria... Use Anyone To Your Advantage . Just be smarter.🤡 $$€€¥¥££🔫🔫🔫🔫

[@sydlawson3181]

Lol "religion is private" sounds like a lame excuse to target foreign faiths like Islam for their visible features but hey, I guess you do you. Just dont wonder why Paris happened.

[@democracyisnon-negociable3819]

@@Ghastly_Grinner USA successful revolution ? It took them 100 years later and civil war to abolish slavery…. French Revolution directly abolished slavery! Now which revolution gave more freedom ?

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

@@democracyisnon-negociable3819 oh no not slavery lmfao seeing as the American revolution was actually successful unlike the French which devolved into revolutionary blood letting followed by a dictator that promptly engaged in continent wide war untold loss of life yeah I would say the US Revolution was far more successful

[@gerrimander]

It's because you both speak the dominant international language. ENGLISH!

[@AliceObscura]

I'm American and a true Francophile. Vivre la françe...our truest and best friend!!!

[@first-french-empire]

I love usa the usa will always remain my favorite country long live the United States and france 🇫🇷❤️🇺🇲

[@CJ_1406]

4:28 The jogger: *WHOOOSH!!*

[@mengluna1294]

Usa 💝💝💝 very kind and loving and strong ... So as its many allies like philippines

[@cakeyummy2401]

🇺🇸❤️🇵🇭

[@L.M1792]

I believe we are as a whole greatly accepting of our empathy towards others, no matter where we may happen to have originated from. I mean we tolerate the in-compassion of others on a daily bases with considered greatness, we have been taught diligently to be as such, especially regards our no longer noticing or responding to their annoying and ultimately destructive flaws. I hope you have a creative and productive year ahead. Thank you very much for the wonderfully written and edited report. God bless

[@Rick_Cleland]

Hi Flo!!

[@stevencarrier2466]

I love Flo and Genie!

[@chanchalsharma7396]

Yes, because France is not puppet of US alike other European states. France takes its independent stand on its policies.

[@JK-ek5vj]

where wat that attuitude in ww2

[@nocabletv635]

Well said

[@dankichan_6920]

Lol speaks an indian guy whose country is a puppet of Russia, china and east asia

[@thepatriot4076]

@@JK-ek5vj did you forget that France help the USA gain its independence or did you skip school that day?

[@imgonnaplum]

I enjoyed the video until "rick" started talking.

[@andrewvare3173]

Used to hate it when she "just wanted to be friends".

[@larslarsen1444]

I would like to see a Frenchman push a grand piano down the stairs.

[@timr.2257]

What? China is definitely one of the top markets for McDonalds.

[@adamthewolf9940]

France 👍

[@marythoidou2352]

All the Europeans see the Americans like this! And most of them they are: religious,gun proud,center of the world, myself I prefer the French,as Europeans we have many in common.

[@o_o825]

So is this whole deal between the U.S. and Australia just a blip?

[@Tattle-by-Tale]

Eh, France just being stereotypically whiny lmao

[@newmanchester8504]

I've been to Le Havre, France in July of 2017. Went there on a cruise ship that sailed from Southampton, England in the UK to a city in Belgium, Oslo in Norway, Hamburg in Germany (Deutschland) and Le Havre in northwestern France. It was the last stop before heading back to Southampton in the UK. In Le Havre I ran into some nice people there. They weren't rude. I notice the people don't look at each other because to them looking at other people is rude. Funny thing that happen to me in Le Havre. I was standing at this hamburger stand waiting for my sister to buy some water there. Out from nowhere, a homeless man came walking pass me and this bald-headed guy. The homeless man just came by talking to himself. I didn't know what he was talking about because he was speaking French. As the homeless guy walked away, I looked at the bald-headed guy. The bald-headed guy looked at me and did a hand gesture sign for crazy to tell me the homeless guy was crazy. I did it back to him, and he nod his head to indicate yes. The bald-headed guy had tattoos. Also, in Le Havre I saw rotisserie chicken being cooked in glass stoves outside on city streets because people were selling them along with other things. Selling food on the city streets will never fly in America. The lady who was selling bus tickets near the cruise ship terminal was sweet. It was Bastille Day when I came to France. French flags were all over the place. I saw a lot of them at the Place de I'Hotel de Ville. My sister asked a French woman in Le Havre where the souvenir shops were at. The woman told my sister where they are. She wasn't rude, stuck up and wasn't judgemental by ignoring my sister. Americans being rude by talking ignorant and loud is like nails on a chalkboard to some of the French. Here my comparison between the Americans and the French, 1. Americans are fake, plastic, narcissistic, toxic, anti-social, mean, rude, loud, arrogant, paranoid, crazy, weird and they like to tear you apart by making you feel sad, miserable, less about yourself and you can't be yourself. That is just in the big cities and suburbs and not in the countryside were people are down-to-earth, friendly and easy to talk too. The French are a bunch of culture snobs. Some, not all, are stuck up and have a superiority complex. Overall, they are friendly. 2. The French believe in manners and the Americans don't. 3. Just like in all of Europe, when it comes to work the French work to live and Americans live to work. Americans work way, way too much and never spend time with family and friends. The French on the other hand work less and make more on their jobs. They have a lot of time to spend with family and friends. Someone from Sweden told me that me and Americans are fat and get diabetes because we deep fry everything we touch. That person is almost right, but there is more to that. You get high blood pressure if you eat fried foods all the time. Yes obesity is a huge problem in the states. The French has this problem too. 4. In France the government is afraid of the people and in the United States the people are afraid of the government, don't care and glued to social media. Others say voting is a waste of time and ''I am not going to vote for no president, because they are not going to do anything for me.'' 5. The United States has a for-profit health insurance healthcare system and France has a universal healthcare system. Americans are uninsured, underinsured, bankrupt over medical bills, try to get care, denied care and die waiting to get care. In France everyone is covered. I wasn't in France for very long, but next time I will go back to the country and see how it is.

[@toumasttamacheq2211]

i love you

[@KCBasketballShots]

If only the French didn’t surrender so easily

[@qwerty2409]

No no, just enemies

[@TroyBrownTV]

@11:00 respect for the rights of man is not French. And America’s degree of respect has nothing to do with France. The slaves created all of that

[@Kronwall]

How many Americans speak (Fluent) French?

[@adenwilliams6993]

around 2 million

[@Kronwall]

@@adenwilliams6993 Where...? NYC? New Oreans? Boston? Parts of Vermont/New Hampshire/ Maine?

[@siononalundula1699]

@@Kronwall EXTREMELY spread out.

[@Kronwall]

​@@siononalundula1699 Where exactly then? Louisiana?

[@theoeguia3302]

Me and alot of people in New York and New Jersey

[@mengluna1294]

Also love france because it gives us a look of life that is not made in blood but in elegance and luxury

[@Isaactorres60]

The older I get, the better I understand the French. America is tacky but practical, France is snobbier and lazier but higher and more elevated in principles. Sad, but the US is not in great shape right now, the country is tearing apart, meanwhile, Europeans are not.

[@user-xk9xp4gp5d]

KOREA NO.1!!!

[@shane_rm1025]

No, just friends! Democracies must stick together! (Although I dont know how much longer US will be one.) 🇺🇸❤🇫🇷

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

We aren't a Democracy

[@joshuamylesgibson]

America is a constitutional republic.

[@shane_rm1025]

@@joshuamylesgibson But our representatives are democratically elected, which means it's also a democracy.

[@joshuamylesgibson]

@@shane_rm1025 that's fair john

[@JD987abc]

Excellent segment as usual. In France a cornerstone of its democracy is Liberty Equality and Fraternity, the good of all. In the US it is egocentric, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. This is ingrained in US citizens. The result is the self above community. That’s why the US has dissembled to the point of revolution with a narcissistic madman as president.

[@liliancr9146]

Iam not in America not interested

[@Ghastly_Grinner]

If we are going to be honest the US doesn't even really think about france you have 0 power

[@lffit]

Anglo Saxons consider they are born to rule, the French annoy the poor darlings lol

[@glocen]

we have nuclear weapon and we are the strongest 🇪🇺 country in military rank lol

[@C2Canada]

French doesn't even qualify to challenge America.