FRANCE, VERSAILLES,etc and the US

Christopher Jones answers my criticism of Versailles and the palaces built in imitation of it: ªInteresting how this "normal" little country managed to infuriate the Bush administration over the Iraq war and now the deployment of NATO forces in Iraq. France is not just another country. It has played and continues to play a very important and necessary role in the world: as the political motor for the EU and a necessary but positive critic of the US. Considering the current lamentable state of fashions, arts and films, which thanks to US imperialism, have swiftly disintegrated into a semi-Morlock state, a little French influence would do us all some good. If you think pierced navels, dirty jeans, tattoos and t-shirts are "normal" US fashions, count me out. I will stick with Chanel and Dior. If you've forgotten, have a good look at the pictures of -- say for example, Audrey Hepburn. Remember her? Those were the days when the US had some interest in fashion too. In the end, Americans are jealous of the French because they cultivated beauty for itself. Is Paris, just an "ordinary" city like Milwaukee? Are France's treasures in art, architecture worthless? Is its natural magnificence comparable to the burnt hills of the San Fernando valley? More and more, I feel that the French have a good sense for life itself and the proof is that Germans are adopting their ways (they were always fascinated by them.) I sincerely hope that the French do NOT become a "normal" country and start eating GM junk food. As for its political leaders, could the US have produced a political leader with the imagination of General de Gaulle? Nope. BTW, I would probably put him as the most amazing and successful superstatesman of the 20th century -- light years in advance of all US presidents, British PMs and the rest of those who "manage" the state instead of building from nothing. Note: Versailles was splendid isolation but what is Washington DC? How many lament the "Out of touch syndrome" of those who live inside the Beltway?"

RH: Christopher misrepresents my `position. In political terms France is just another country, and it must get rid of its folies de grandeur, from which de Gaulle suffered. My comments had nothing to do with current American dislike of France. I understand those Frenchmen who think that the US suffers from folies de grandeur. As for pop culture and slobs, I have long been vocal in my denunciation of them. I deem the downtown of all modern large cities a fall from grace after the beauty of older cities like Paris or Oxford, but a city should be judged by the quality of the habitats of ordinary people, and there even the San Fernando Valley is preferable to sous les toits de Paris. Life in Palo Alto /Stanford is far better than life in Parts, where I spent many years.