Viewing France Askance No More

LEFT: Mmmm, Blanc de Blanc. Evil sister who never gave up French product pictured.



A nice and neat little New York Times editorial by Roger Cohen sums up many Americans new view of France. Sarkozy might preside over a divided France, much as President Bush does here, but his talk and actions have done more to make Paris relevant on the world stage again than all the bloviating and equivocating of Jacques Chirac. Chirac dreamed of such importance. It could have been his, too. All it would have taken is some moral courage and well, morals. Instead Franco-American relationships languished and Europe seemed destined for the scrap heap of history. Well, we'll all end up there, eventually. France just seemed determined to get there sooner.

I don't know why, exactly, but a more solid relationship with our Gallic brothers is encouraging. The conflicts troubling the world seem overwhelming on a good day. To be at such odds with France, when France and America ostensibly hold many of the same beliefs dear was distressing.

No more French wine boycott for me (I wasn't alone). The cheese? Well, that wasn't such a loss. My sister kept France in their cheese and wine, though. I'm not sure my boycott mattered much. According to this, though, maybe it did matter. I take longer to make a decision and to unmake it than most, so I'm probably a boycott straggler. Actually, a trip to France sounds good about now. Who knows?

Isn't it just loverly to consider it?