anti american

I'm a Canadian living in Paris. I'm frustrated to share with you that I occassionally experience anti-americanism. I have even been accused of lying about my nationality.

For example, on Sunday I was walking along Rue Mouffetard. I was a NIKE posterboard...but I was out getting exercise and in the land of Liberté why should this be a problem? New digital camera in hand I was trying to get some pics to send to friends living vicariously though my abroad experience.

A Frenchman rammed into the back of my leg with his Velo (bike) and started to chastise me for walking along the middle of the narrow road. I quipped that the road is closed on weekends for pedestrians and I, like everyone, had the right to walk along the road. There was plenty of room for him to pass. He began berating me for being American and shouting about how he detests Americans. So what....he saw the sporty attire and camera and chose me as his target? Believe me, he is NOT the typical Frenchman. He's just an asshole. But I was shocked that he accused me of lying about being Canadian. Surprised he pushed me again. Surprised, as a woman, that he was surprised when I rightfully pushed him back.

Whether I am American, Canadian or North American is not the point. I was doing nothing wrong.

If anything I can tell you that my experience abroad has made me think a lot about the duty of citizens. There are many people around the world who chastise Americans abroad because of their discontentment with the American government.

Living in the US during 9/11 I became very curious about politics. I chose to complete my degree with a minors in political science and philosophy and a heavy emphasis on law. I berate the US Supreme Court for their judicial activism. I berate the government of such a strong country for allowing education to be so expensive many are ignornat of their own country's foreign policies. You see, it's not that Americans are ignorant or oblivious. Their own education system fails them. I took on a heavy burden of student loan debt because I wanted to be educated. Not everyone sees the possibilities. Not everyone has the opportunity to do what I did.

Nevertheless, freedom of speech and liberty to do not seem to entitle one to push me in the street because of their hatred of another country's policies. Talk about predjudice. I took on great studies, posed many questions... I learned to study the Constitution. I leared to write legal briefs. I learned to think philosophically. I learned to be open to different arguments against my beliefs and gut feelings.

And that said. I worked tooth and nail to move to France. This was a personal choice. For a long time, I studied the language, the culture, the ins and outs of daily living. And I made a choice to fork out a huge amount of savings to pay the tuition to complete a Masters degree in France. I plan on staying here.

To push a woman in the street because of preconceived notions is proof that a 40 something man is still in his infancy. Had I been more proficient in my language skills I would have told him that my grandfather spent 4 years in France during WWII away from a newly wedded wife to fight for freedom on the continent of Europe. My birthfather's ancestry is French. Since childhood I have wanted to live here.

I guess he is nothing but living proof that ignorance exists in all lands. And the only way to counter that ignorance is to build tolerance .... through education. And perhaps the occassional trip the doctor for a psych eval isn't out of the question for some.

But finally, when I recant such stories, in French, to my French friends.....they are embarassed and angered AND unsupportive of such irrational behaviors of their own countrymen.

Just as I am still embarassed and angered over the Canadian who attempted to charge me after Christmas for my invitation.

So remember.....the moral of the story: regardless of race, national origin, religion...etc....there are assholes and ignorant people everywhere. Do not you yourself generalize.

bisous!

K

judgement....thy name is friend?

I'm tired of the phrase, "He/She has issues." Duh. Welcome to the human race. We all by nature have issues. We are imperfect. The way I see the world, there are two kinds of people: those trying to get better and those who are just pissed. I am happy to lend an ear to someone who is trying to breakthrough the next obstacle. Or soemone who is racking their brain trying to figure things out. I am however frustrated by those who think people with "issues" are somehow lesser. Oh sorry. Forgive me. I didn't get the silver spoon! As a friend recently said, "It's not where you are. It's how far you've come." I loathe, to some degree, people who think that all the troubled people are just incapable or somehow lesser than. The people who frustrate me are those that just complain and take no action. They frustrate me only because I know they are stuck wasting time and I wish I could help them see the light. The other people that frustrate me are the one's that are so judgemental they make it hard for some to move on. Here's a laughable scenario: Someone who grew up in a good family with all the "normal" elements the we loosely define as the White Picket Fence....and yet this person looks down on others who are trying to get beyond the barriers of not having this fence. It's an intersting study of the human mind. It's funny to watch people who have experienced relatively normal lives judge others who have not. They have no clue. They have absolutely no idea. They cannot relate. And yet they sit on their imagined throne casting judgement on all those lessor than. The irony? Those people are actually the weaker species and they know it. They know that if they were to endure some of the hardships of their friends/family/acquaintances they would break. And so their only saving grace is to judge.I find it increcibly ironic. A person who cannot comprehend any form of abuse because they were lucky enough to not have been exposed to it....judges all those who have endured such pain. Thanks. With age, I have learned to look at these people with empathy: how great for you that your life has been so wonderful that you think others have somehwow brought crap upon themselves! If only the world were so simple. If only we could all wake up and say, "today I will stop dwelling on all the negative experiences that formed my core as I was growing up and unable to look at my experience from an adult perspective." LOLI grew up in crap. I am angered to this day, at times i realize it still effects me. But even in these moments I realize how it defines me. I look at people with objectivity. Maybe too much sometimes. But we are all just souls. Why do some start off so far behind the pact, I dont know. Why cant we just forget what has happened to us - well for many its defined us. I for example can admit, I didnt grow up in bliss. It has affected me in crazy ways. But at the same time, I know that the only way I can heal myself is to deal with it. Understand it. And then I can break the cycle. The notion that anyone should just forget and move on...well that's when people end up doing crazy hurtful things.