Jacques Attali on French Culture (and the French Left)

And what is YOUR point of view, Shapeless?

I don't know about him but I think French women are chic ...

And the cheese is to die for

Well, Mame, I do want to keep both that way...

Indubitably! Some things you just shouldn't change.

My firsthand experience with French culture and politics consists only of a six-month stay in Paris last year, which needless to say isn't quite enough to have an informed opinion about much of what Attali is saying here. I can say with certainty that many of my acquaintances here in the States have very romanticized images of French culture in a very generalized sense--as do I--but none of them look upon France with the kind of jealousy that Attali mentions here, especially in the wake of last year's labor demonstrations. I was living in Paris for most of that time, and I remember several conversations with my French friends (who were mostly in their early- and mid-20s) in which they explained why the strikes were necessary in their view. I can recall one of their comments almost verbatim: "What Villepin doesn't seem to care about is that the CPE will require us to work as hard as we can just to keep our jobs." I remember trying to find exactly why this was problematic, and I still dont't quite see it; but from my friends' perspective it was apparently self-evident. I don't think I will ever have enough of a modern French student's mentality to understand this reasoning (though it must be said that there were many, many other French students who did not oppose the CPE). So to answer your question, Francis, I don't have much an opinion in this matter.

Except that I'm with Mame in believing the cheese is to die for.

As you have observed, Shapeless, there was a lot of controversy about the CPE (first job contract).

I have an opinion as many others but, because of my social position, it may be biaised..

Anyway, it didn't get through..

Now, I entirely disagree with Attali, on the topic of jealousy, which is more a candy thrown in the French public.

There's a similarity with Washington politicians telling that other nations hate the US because they are jealous...

Agreed.