France versus UK?

Question

I am French and I would like to know if really you detest France as since our common descendants which goes back up to the war of 100 years and in the age of colonies with Napoleon but why? If you like France specify.

In Jintu: the French whites are also hardworking as the blacks-man who they often do not work and are of benefit and live English of the French systeme as for they too are educated from the birth to detest the French.

Answer 1

France is the natural enemy of England, just as Germany is the natural ally. It's only in the last 100 years that things have been turned around the wrong way.
England has always been viewed as an upstart by France, as a pretender to the French throne, ever since William, Duke of Normandy, invaded.
France simply feels threatened by England, and England defends herself as best she can.

ça fait plus que 20 ans que je parle Français, je me suis marié avec une française, mes enfants sont de nationalité française, j'ai habité plusieurs années en France et j'ai un MA en histoire et politique européene...les français et les anglais ont trop en commun pour bien s'entendre - ils seront toujours en competition les uns avec les autres.

Answer 2

It is not so much a detestation of the French but more a case of simple envy. Which reminds me of what Winston Churchill once said about France - "The trouble with France is that it is occupied by the French".

There is no real hatred between the British and the French. It's just a lot of hot air mostly and letting off steam. Usually when the British are exasperated [fed up with] the EU, they quite often blame the French.

From my point of view being a pensioner, the only Frenchman in my life-time who really was totally French was Charles de Gaulle. I liked him a lot, so did Winston by the way, in spite of the waffle surrounding their war-time relationship, which on the whole was very good.

I remember deGaulle going to Quebec in Canada and coming out onto the balcony of a building in the city centre and proclaiming in a clear voice "Quebec Libre". Quite right too.

In spite of it all - vive la France - France Libre!

Answer 3

The English don't have a problem with you guys, your country is still sour over being owned in every war it has ever declared on the UK. I once went to France for a holiday, and got rude answers when I tried to ask something in English. French Immigrants, mostly the black people of Africa, are a lot more helpful than the white citizens. Which I deduce is because the blacks aren't raised from birth tolled to hate anything that comes from the other side of the English Channel.

Answer 4

The rivalry is still there but so are the ties and I would not use the word "hate". It's the usual irritation (anyone for garlic ?) on both sides for the less appreciated aspects of living side by side, with only a "Channel" dividing the two countries and nations.

ps sorry lads but have you nothing better than to "hate" the Froggies ? France is a great country to live and to holiday in. We had a house in St.Raphael for a while and it was gorgeous. Nowadays I go to Cannes twice a year on Business and I still enjoy it. What's the hate angle ? They're in the 6 Nations Rugby championship with us; they were on the same side in two WWs, what's your griping all about anyway ?
I like France and, quite frankly I don't "hate" any Nation; to conclude I can't stand certain people and whole segments of gripers. Now you can give me a cartload of thumbs down.

Answer 5

Sir Philip Sidney put it in a nutshell in about 1581:
'that sweet enemy, France'.
Obviously the mere existence of two very different nations side by side is going to result in enmity. But without the French contribution to our culture, we English (NOT British - Scotland was traditionally allied to France and to this day a Scot will support France in an England-France match) would be little better than wild beasts.

Answer 6

I think it is more of a rivalry than hatred. It probably began with William the conqueror (who was actually Norman rather than French) coming across the channel and taking over England who started things.

Then, Henry II (1154-89) acquired title to most of what is now France through his inheritance of Normandy from his mother, Anjou from his father and Aquitaine from his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who had previously been married to the king of France. His English "empire" thus stretched from the border of Scotland to the Pyrenees. By contrast, the French king ruled only a small area around Paris and a few scattered holdings elsewhere. So there was a little antagonism there, no doubt.

As a result of the marriage between the English king Edward II and the French Princess Isabelle, their son claimed the throne of France ( through his mother) which unfortunately led to what is known as the 100 Years War.

Elizabeth I was courted by the French Duke of Alencon, who was a hunchback with dislocated hips, and whom she affectionately called her "little frog" - leading to the rather pejorative term of "frog" to mean a Frenchman.

Throughout the centuries, however, English and French royalty and aristocracy frequently inter-married. Charles I married the French princess Henrietta Maria and after his death their son, the future Charles II, was given sanctuary by the King of France.

The excesses of the French Revolution soured the English against the French, and then Napoleon's European depradations and avowed intention to conquer England really caused a major rift between the two nations which lasted for a long time.

And the rivalry for colonial power and trading supremacy further exacerbated things.

In both World Wars, many Britons felt that the French (in general) did not fight hard enough for their own country against the Germans although there were many individuals who made tremendous sacrifices and suffered for their efforts to defeat their invaders.

As the granddaughter of a French woman (born in Rouen) who came to England with her German husband in 1915 to escape the horrible situation they were put in by the First World War, I am proud of my French ancestry and have studied the history and culture of France.

I also know that in both World Wars many British soldiers fell in love with and married French women.

France is a beautiful country, with fine cheeses and wines,
lovely architecture, and, in my experience, good people.

Personally, I have always found individual French people to be charming and gracious, just as are the natives of most of the countries of the world. In Normandy I have found the local population to be very grateful to the British and Americans who visit them, because of the great sacrifice by allied soldiers during the D-Day Invasions of 1944 which eventually liberated their country.

Vive la France!

Answer 7

No, it is only the insecure and ignorant people who detest France.
Thousands of English people have moved to live in France permanently because they prefer the life style.
I've being going to France for 43 years and have always found it a pleasant experience

Answer 8

Of course we don't.

I am English and like both France and more particularly the French.

I find your fellow countrymen both welcoming and courteous.

It is only tabloid newspapers that say unpleasant things about the French (and they do it tongue in cheek - as a joke)

Some French papers do the same about the English.

Scots , Welsh and Irish are different in their views about forigners

Answer 9

I'm English and no I don't. You have a diverse and beautiful country and generally a proud and patriotic people.As long as visitors remember they are in France ie speak or try to speak French,you will be welcomed, especially the more rural you go.And you have fantastic motorcycle roads and attitudes to them.

Answer 10

i´m german and i like the situation now between France and Germany.We was the biggest enemies.And now we are good friends.It is fantastic.I hope we have more a better friendship to Great Britain and Ireland on future.We are good friends no question.but i think Europe were be better when the friendship to these Countries were like to France.