There are eight of us, including the kids, and we’re sitting at an oceanfront restaurant on France’s Atlantic coast, watching the sun go down spectacularly over the pounding waves. I’m thinking that it’s possible to set water on fire, and I let my mind absentmindedly characterize the colours I’m seeing with a painterly vocabulary. “Magenta, vermillion, ochre, cerulean…”
Really interesting, Lianne. I'm up against a deadline so I'm going to read this again later to digest a little more. It brings up a lot of different areas for consideration/debate. Thanks!
I've often wondered if the European (and particularly French) disregard for PC niceties was a sign of greater prejudice or simply the sign of a more relaxed and uninhibited attitude towards such things as race (and gender) relations, to the point that they can joke about them more freely. So many times, however, I've been told by visible-minority individuals who have lived in France of the much greater levels of racism they experienced over there as compared to here. So that pretty well settled the matter for me, even if I suppose it's just anecdotal evidence.
I suspect the French would disagree. Vehemently. With a bunch of expletives. I’ve wondered the same, though, and I don’t think the question is straightforward. I’ve heard horror stories from both sides of the Atlantic. I can’t help feeling, however, that there is a higher degree of deliberate ignorance in Europe. They resent being told what to think, what to say and how to say it. I can’t help feeling like that sort of behaviour lacks empathy, for one thing, and is actually a little intellectually lazy in some instances. Like they can’t be bothered to consider the weight of their words.
Well, I must say I appreciate your not falling into the usual clichés one finds in the well-trodden British and North American genre of apologia for the apparently problematic aspects of French culture, where the conclusion almost invariably seems to be, "perhaps they have it right after all." I've often wondered if there is a comparable genre in France, contextualizing and ultimately defending perceived Anglo-Saxon superficiality, crudeness, and over-earnestness.
Haha yes! Apologia is something of a national sport in British and North American culture isn’t it! As for the French, I wonder the same, although I can’t say I’ve noticed even the début du commencement of a desire to defend any Anglo-Saxon perspectives, which I feel are more likely to end up the butt of a joke. I’m possibly making some gross generalizations here. :))
And it only stands to reason that Canadians would be the absolute masters of apologia! :) If what you are suggesting is true, then I suppose the situation is a little analogous to the way lefties regularly fall over themselves to try to understand and legitimize the mentality of the right-wing, with absolutely no reciprocal effort on the other side.
Completely! Although, in our land of apologia strong and free, I get the sense that many are what I’ve heard referred to as “extreme center.” We’re just so darned consensual! :))
Really interesting, Lianne. I'm up against a deadline so I'm going to read this again later to digest a little more. It brings up a lot of different areas for consideration/debate. Thanks!
Thanks, Hannah! I’d love to hear your thoughts when you have more time. It’s definitely not a straightforward topic!
I've often wondered if the European (and particularly French) disregard for PC niceties was a sign of greater prejudice or simply the sign of a more relaxed and uninhibited attitude towards such things as race (and gender) relations, to the point that they can joke about them more freely. So many times, however, I've been told by visible-minority individuals who have lived in France of the much greater levels of racism they experienced over there as compared to here. So that pretty well settled the matter for me, even if I suppose it's just anecdotal evidence.
I suspect the French would disagree. Vehemently. With a bunch of expletives. I’ve wondered the same, though, and I don’t think the question is straightforward. I’ve heard horror stories from both sides of the Atlantic. I can’t help feeling, however, that there is a higher degree of deliberate ignorance in Europe. They resent being told what to think, what to say and how to say it. I can’t help feeling like that sort of behaviour lacks empathy, for one thing, and is actually a little intellectually lazy in some instances. Like they can’t be bothered to consider the weight of their words.
Well, I must say I appreciate your not falling into the usual clichés one finds in the well-trodden British and North American genre of apologia for the apparently problematic aspects of French culture, where the conclusion almost invariably seems to be, "perhaps they have it right after all." I've often wondered if there is a comparable genre in France, contextualizing and ultimately defending perceived Anglo-Saxon superficiality, crudeness, and over-earnestness.
Haha yes! Apologia is something of a national sport in British and North American culture isn’t it! As for the French, I wonder the same, although I can’t say I’ve noticed even the début du commencement of a desire to defend any Anglo-Saxon perspectives, which I feel are more likely to end up the butt of a joke. I’m possibly making some gross generalizations here. :))
And it only stands to reason that Canadians would be the absolute masters of apologia! :) If what you are suggesting is true, then I suppose the situation is a little analogous to the way lefties regularly fall over themselves to try to understand and legitimize the mentality of the right-wing, with absolutely no reciprocal effort on the other side.
Completely! Although, in our land of apologia strong and free, I get the sense that many are what I’ve heard referred to as “extreme center.” We’re just so darned consensual! :))
I can't argue with you there! ;)