The expression "cheese eating surrender monkey" is unintentionally funny. It makes those who parrot the expression sound like Dumb and Dumber.
It's also ironic because the United States Marine Corps Hymn "From the Halls of Montezuma" was written by a so-called "cheese eating surrender monkey," famed opera composer Jacques Offenbach.
Rational patriotism is fine. But it should not be confused with irrational jingoism.
Nationalism, xenophobia, yuck. I remember when I was a child, British culture infusing me with a strong hate of both the French and Americans. Now I laugh at how childish I was, but I am sad that some adults still uphold such childish views.
@TheTempleofNature That's not something exclusive to Britain lol You don't think the French are swayed to dislike the English or Americans? It happens in every country.
I agree with you. Also, that whole "Freedom Fries" thing showed just how childish the Bush administration really was. On the other hand though I'm personally tired of people calling all Americans things like "Shallow Warmongers".
i have no problem with the french. the only time i get testy with them is when they criticize us for things they as a nation have done in the past, and still do. the french do shady, imperialist shit TO THIS DAY, but are often quick to criticize the U.S for such things. as far as WWII, they just made some serious tactical errors that led to the mass surrendering.
No worries, I doubt the french take that stuff seriously. Coming from a country that has never had war on it's own soil. I mean it's ridiculous on so many levels.
A couple of things that have always bothered me about "bashing" the French. Like you said, the wise thing to do under the circumstances was to surrender. but it's not like the French didn't prepare for the war, they did, unfortunately they were ill prepared for the war that was thrust upon them. In the years leading up to the war, the French expended great resources developing the Maginot Line only to be overwhelmed by the Nazi Blitzkrieg. The war was over before France could counter.....
...The other thing that's alway bothered me is when my fellow "patriotic" American brethren claim that France never "backs us up after all we've done for them" seemingly forgetting that without France's aid and acknowledgement, our American Revolution would probably never have succeeded.
I've never actually heard that expression before but I do remember when the US tried to boycott everything French including the name. I thought it was a ridiculous idea then and I hold the same opinion today. And I always wondered. If we hate the French so much then why don't we give them back their Statue of Liberty? I would actually like to live in France but that will probably never happen.
I understood from some... well, one french person I lived with, was that it was the govenment surrendered, and many of the people didn't really want it, but worked with it since they didn't have much of a choice at the time... if this is a little off. I'm drinking a little, so sorry about that.
Does this really happen not ironically? For things two generations ago, under such fucked up circumstances. Also y'know they have such a history of being bad at war before that, right? They totally never won the fuck out of other wars or such.
I have never heard the phrase before, but when I lived briefly in the U.K., I'd heard the French referred to as "frogs." I asked my british spouse about it, and he said it's because they eat frog legs. (*shrugs*). But I agree with what you've said here. My father was a WWII veteran, in fact he was among the engineers who built the pontoon bridge across the Rhine river so the allies could get into germany. He adored the French people.
did they realy surrender they had the resistance, the men left and joined us brit's,a number of spies, not to mention the help given by common people to anyone fighting the german army or people trying to get away from them, good going for a nation that was left with nothing after the first one, but im english so you know what i'm going to call them behind their backs
Very true gothatfunk, our oceans do provide a natural barrier and we should not judge the French for surrendering. The threat of being attacked by a super power is very scary.
Plus pouring out french wine that they already paid for shows a level of stupidity. Not buying anymore is a fair protest perhaps but throwing out what you already paid for is dumb.
I have never understood why the surrender of the french in the worldwar II has been such a big issue to the americans. Even less than that I understand the whole "cheese-eater" namecalling. I mean, since when has it been wrong to like cheese?
Anyways, IMO france made the right decision. Had they not surrendered, their casualties would have been catastrophic and they woud have lost anyway. Following a noble ideal alone has never made anyone victorious.
I remember 2002 when the whole "Freedom" Fries craze took over here, easily one of the stupidest periods I can remember. I worked with a guy who didn't support Bush or the invasion of Iraq, but hated the french for not supporting it. It's a strange American double standard. "I'm American so if I critize America it's ok, but if you aren't American your opinion (even when you are right) no longer matters.
The French are obviously not good patriotic Americans. BTW, the U.S. has been invaded on more than one occasion; the War of 1812 by the British (when those dirty limeys burned down the White House), the Mexican border raids of Zapata, and the Japanese occupations of Wake Island and Aleutian Atolls (U.S. territories). Except for the War of 1812, these did not present an immediate threat to the U.S. populace. It could be argued that the Army of North Virginia invaded the U.S. in 1862.
@NoMoreC2 If his experience was like mine, very unfriendly, outright rude, when near any big city. The country folk seemed quite charming, by contrast. I suspect much of the animosity towards Americans I was subject to in and around Paris was, in fact, due to GTF's ascertation of the political posturing our government put forth. (temporary assignment at the US embassy in Paris in late 2003 - six months)
If you look at their war record it's actually very accomplished. It kinda reminds me a little of reparations ie a current generation should not be tarred with the actions, positive or not, of previous generations.
As a Brit, I do enjoy baiting my French friends, but view it as a sort of fraternal sparring rather than anything serious.. I expect and enjoy similar baiting in return, and in truth admire much in the French way of doing things.
The attitude of some Americans is bizarre though, are they so ignorant of their own history that they don't know the pivotal role that France played in gaining them their independence? They should look into why there are several places called Lafayette in the US.
I love France. I've lived there and thought it was a great country full of kind, patient people who were willing to help me with my French.
Blanket stereotypical about a country and its people are easy and usually mistaken. In WWI the French lost 1,397,800 of its mobilized men, the highest death toll for any country in the war. That might have accounted for what happened in WWII.
Best of luck with all the changes in your life. Hope 2012 is a fun productive year for you!
I love the French. I also love to hate the French, it's mutual. It's like slagging another football team, done in fun (mostly) knowing that they're going to give you shit right back, as well they should.
Now for the real fun. The French military is one of the strangest I've ever encountered. I've never seen a military celebrate defeats the way the French do.
And yes, it's wrong to call them Cheese eating, surrender monkeys. The proper term is FROG eating, surrender monkeys. (heh heh)
However... do you think France would actually use nukes if they were threatened like that? I don't know... something tells me that would cross a line, and lead into nuclear warfare.
I might be wrong, but I certainly hope they wouldn't. Of course, having nukes is a kind of deterrent, I suppose.
I use "France surrenders!" jokes too, but only as jokes. I have no illusions that they have any real relevance. Also don't have much to say war-wise, as a Norwegian living in the UK.
Um, the RUSSIANS did and thanks to the fact that they did, Hitler was ultimately defeated. If they had surrendered like the French, Hitler would have won the war. Every nation that surrendered made Hitler stronger.
@comslave The Russians never had the option of surrendering, it was clear from the very start that the German war against Russia was one of extermination, not conquest.
I must say, I had absolutely no idea what the title referred to, even after you mentioned the French. I just didn't get what any of that had to do with the French until I realized you were talking about stereotypes ^^;;
The surrender of Czechoslovakia was instrumental in causing the French surrender. Had they been allowed to fight, the German army would have been mauled because of the mountainous heavily fortified Czech frontier, and the Germans were able to equip three Panzer divisions with surrendered Czech tanks.And they would not have been able to make a sneak attack on Poland because they would have been already at war. The REAL cheese eating surrender monkey was CHAMBERLAIN.
Actually, I don't recall the phrase, so I must have ignored it.
Well, who knew the Germans were going to push through Ardennes and cut them off, and then outflank them again and push further into France? Plus, its wise to remember the German Army was a formidable force. The French Army did their best to protect their country. They simply lost the battles, and that does happen in war. Glad the US decided to help them out, as allies do.
@phenixwryter That was the Von Schlieffen Plan, to drive through Belgium and the Netherlands. It is what they did in World War I, and to think that Hitler was going to honor Belgian and Dutch neutrality was naive.
what should they have done? They should have fought. As many frenchmen that joined resistances joined the nazi's. when you fight evil, surrender is not an option. Say it's ignorant, if you like. I served my country, in war. I iknow what death looks like. I'm not a hippy like most of your viewers. Honor means more to me, and to enough like me, that I can say that even if my country surrendered, I wouldn't have. I'm glad you're taking a bit off, lately your stuff has been like this vid, stupid.
I thought the Frogs were known for their romantic and erotic appeal and exquisite cuisine - an object of envy? =P Either way as an expat Brit I've always understood the Anglo-French mutual (and somewhat playful) animosity, that has centuries behind it, but I've never understood US anti-French hatred. I just don't get it. Thanks for the interesting video and hope you do well with your lifestyle change GTF.
I was born in France myself, and I gotta say the few times I heard that expression, and it seemed to be meant, I didn't get offended. Not because I think that it is in any way fair, but because if someone says that, they are in my mind utterly ignorant, and therefore their thoughts on the matter have little to no importance to me. I frankly can't fathom a much bigger set of blinders than that required to really think that kind of thing. Thanks for the vid, and I wish you well in your "new" life.
I never use the phrase myself, being part French-Canadian. It is an ignorant name for the French and I was sad to see it return during the US Invasion. But then bullies often like to insult others to get them to do their will, don't they.
Also I find one of your final statements sexist. Why should only men die in a war? I demand that women have the equal right to have their brains blown out for someone else's political fun and profit!
@CrudOMatic Yeah, the french king at that time gave loads of money to the inhabitants of the then unofficial United States, in order for them to be able to tend to their needs without Britain's help. Even if the king did it somewhat out of spite toward the English, he still did it.
@theatomicskull999999 One: They got steamrollered by the blitzkrieg. Two: They'd suffered mind-boggling casualties in the Great War that was (and may STILL be) in living memory. Three: You never heard of the French Resistance?
I think history will show they were the only sane voice in the times of the Iraq invasion. I also think that American lack of education makes them sitting ducks for the propaganda that feeds their ignorance. Thus we see terms like this surface, along with many more. Just slap a flag on the Ford and they have done all the thinkin' they need to. When will we evolve?
I dont know a country in Europe that my home country Sweden haven't been in war with at one time or another. Only Russia and Denmark invaded us here. All wars make Sweden broke but 2 world wars changed that. So yes Europeans have had war and been invaded over and over.
Also I think many ppl look on WW2 in a very black and white perspective, ask what old Finns and ppl from the Baltic states think about the Nazis and Germany of that period, they helped them fight for their freedom from Soviet,
We know what would have happened if they had continued fighting instead of surrendering.
At best we would have had the first world war, Flanders Fields and the Somme all over again and the allies would have lost because the British army would not have withdrawn back across the channel at Dunkirk and regrouped.
At the time, European armies were geared up for trench warfare and artillery battles.
Blitzkrieg was a new idea that overwhelmed the opposing army before it could dig in
France is one of my favorite countries. I would only live in 3 capital cities in the world. LA, Paris and Dublin. (London - You are ALL too stuck up but have a great city. One of my favs is in Russia but just too cold) My primary choice would be County Mayo Ireland.
I'm a third French so I guess you could say I'm a self hating French because they ARE a bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys !
Why ?
Because unlike those neo Marxist Brits that at least put up a defense (but not without the US of course wanky blimeys) all the French did was put up a 'defense wall' and have gay cabarets old chum.
But hey the US didn't want to get involved either and what we get for it, creating a Israeli state, letting China go communist and a pair of Russian spies named Rosenberg giving the bomb to the soviets!
But never mind that were paying for a 50 yr cold war because some frogs lost their mettle and played espionage games with Brit spies !
The first time I went to France, late 90's - There were always protests in France. More specifically Paris, as usual. Nobody hated me because I was american, but because of what they thought most americans thought of them, PLUS our gov's dumb ass positions.
'03 I was in Paris, speaking French at the time, yet I was ridiculed despite my best efforts, being "American sludge." None of the european countries seemed to be able to think I wasn't that jack-ass GW. Having lived in Dublin & Paris! +2yrs
Good vid, Paul. I'm a Brit, but have a lot of French friends, I know FRance pretty well, speak French, and studied French at university. One point that the CESM crowd never pick up on is the amount of soul-searching in France after the liberation, since - despite the resistance - France did not liberate herself, and had to surrender (again) to American cultural imports (products, movies, etc). As for surrendering to the Nazis, in the same circumstance, Americans would have done the same thing.
Will you still be in the same general area? Mrs. Sirius and I are planning on visiting your region in May. I hope to meet up with you thien, if possible.
@EquitoErgoSum indeed. the war in europe was more than 2 years running before america got officially involved. how would we americans have perceived it if, after 9/11, it took 2 years for european nations to offer any assisance?
@gothatfunk as an american, I can't remember anything other then people saying we deserved it, from our european brothers. So, screw them. Also, fuck france.
@theatomicskull999999 Umm...I heard a rare few people that nobody liked or paid attention to saying that we deserved it. Well, the american preachers saying we deserved it.
You really didn't see what was happening then. We went insane for a while, and frankly, Britain acted as an enabler to let us be crazy, and let us cause more harm.
France acted like the mature friend trying to prevent us from being stupid.
As is the way a lot of Europeans see it. I can tell you how many people I've seen say we came in at the "end of the war", which is ALSO a complete distortion.
Not to mention the "Sitzkrieg" part of the war, when Britain and France did very little. Well, except for occupy the Rhineland, AND THEN LEAVE......
The expression "cheese eating surrender monkey" is unintentionally funny. It makes those who parrot the expression sound like Dumb and Dumber.
It's also ironic because the United States Marine Corps Hymn "From the Halls of Montezuma" was written by a so-called "cheese eating surrender monkey," famed opera composer Jacques Offenbach.
Rational patriotism is fine. But it should not be confused with irrational jingoism.
thechinadesk 6 days ago
This one is going to get a video response :-)
Anekantavad 2 weeks ago
I wouldn't even try to reason with people that would say something idiotic like that.
CMO999 1 month ago
Freedom Fries. Oh how we laughed :)
crazybasement 1 month ago
Great Britain was more difficult to invade...
Liftorangejuice 1 month ago
Nationalism, xenophobia, yuck. I remember when I was a child, British culture infusing me with a strong hate of both the French and Americans. Now I laugh at how childish I was, but I am sad that some adults still uphold such childish views.
TheTempleofNature 1 month ago
@TheTempleofNature That's not something exclusive to Britain lol You don't think the French are swayed to dislike the English or Americans? It happens in every country.
TheSaintAza 20 hours ago
I agree with you. Also, that whole "Freedom Fries" thing showed just how childish the Bush administration really was. On the other hand though I'm personally tired of people calling all Americans things like "Shallow Warmongers".
ChameleonLost88 1 month ago
As ever, thoughtful,thought provoking and eloquent .
The quantity may have lessened but the quality has not.
Q3ToPBuZz 1 month ago
I've loved that phrase ever since Groundskeeper Willie said it while teaching a French class.
army103 1 month ago
i have no problem with the french. the only time i get testy with them is when they criticize us for things they as a nation have done in the past, and still do. the french do shady, imperialist shit TO THIS DAY, but are often quick to criticize the U.S for such things. as far as WWII, they just made some serious tactical errors that led to the mass surrendering.
BillKiernan 1 month ago
@BillKiernan " they just made some serious tactical errors that led to the mass surrendering"
which led to a surrender to a numerically and materially inferior enemy.
Just like what the British did in Malaya and the Americans did in the Philippines a year and a half later.
:-)
Anekantavad 2 weeks ago
I honestly can not disagree with you on this. The French do get a bad rap for WW 2.
kelliko70 1 month ago
But I like Monkeys :( Especially Robotic Monkeys. Lapkine will be glad you made this video. :) Nice job man.
SnowWalkerPrime 1 month ago
Not most every European country has been invaded.
FuckIt11292 1 month ago
No worries, I doubt the french take that stuff seriously. Coming from a country that has never had war on it's own soil. I mean it's ridiculous on so many levels.
Zerafinel 1 month ago
A couple of things that have always bothered me about "bashing" the French. Like you said, the wise thing to do under the circumstances was to surrender. but it's not like the French didn't prepare for the war, they did, unfortunately they were ill prepared for the war that was thrust upon them. In the years leading up to the war, the French expended great resources developing the Maginot Line only to be overwhelmed by the Nazi Blitzkrieg. The war was over before France could counter.....
cali4niaSon 1 month ago
@cali4niaSon
...The other thing that's alway bothered me is when my fellow "patriotic" American brethren claim that France never "backs us up after all we've done for them" seemingly forgetting that without France's aid and acknowledgement, our American Revolution would probably never have succeeded.
cali4niaSon 1 month ago
Charles De Gaul.
SpiritKeeper 1 month ago
this made me want to eat some cheese.
MistressArte 1 month ago
Napoleon Bonaparte, The French revolution nuff said
MoMember88 1 month ago
MONKEYS DON'T EAT CHEESE!
FantasmaBAnco 1 month ago
I've never actually heard that expression before but I do remember when the US tried to boycott everything French including the name. I thought it was a ridiculous idea then and I hold the same opinion today. And I always wondered. If we hate the French so much then why don't we give them back their Statue of Liberty? I would actually like to live in France but that will probably never happen.
exacerbatedtaboo 1 month ago
I believe that Captain America put it best when speaking of the French Resistance:
"Their government may have surrendered, but the people never did"
Then again he does flip-flop on the issue:
"Surrender? Surrender?! Do you think this letter on my head stands for France?"
Beelzeboogie 1 month ago
whats so funny at 4:09
thramagen 1 month ago
I understood from some... well, one french person I lived with, was that it was the govenment surrendered, and many of the people didn't really want it, but worked with it since they didn't have much of a choice at the time... if this is a little off. I'm drinking a little, so sorry about that.
CraniumOnEmpty 1 month ago
Does this really happen not ironically? For things two generations ago, under such fucked up circumstances. Also y'know they have such a history of being bad at war before that, right? They totally never won the fuck out of other wars or such.
Keizril 1 month ago
I have never heard the phrase before, but when I lived briefly in the U.K., I'd heard the French referred to as "frogs." I asked my british spouse about it, and he said it's because they eat frog legs. (*shrugs*). But I agree with what you've said here. My father was a WWII veteran, in fact he was among the engineers who built the pontoon bridge across the Rhine river so the allies could get into germany. He adored the French people.
Hereticbooks 1 month ago
Do the French get any bonus points for having been right in 2002? I so wish 'W' hadn't got selected.
aMulliganStew 1 month ago
did they realy surrender they had the resistance, the men left and joined us brit's,a number of spies, not to mention the help given by common people to anyone fighting the german army or people trying to get away from them, good going for a nation that was left with nothing after the first one, but im english so you know what i'm going to call them behind their backs
333derick333 1 month ago
You're getting married?! awwww I am so happy for you, Paul! :-)
No way am I jumping off the Gothatfunk Express! I've been on it forever and will be until it completely derails. :-)
Best wishes, hun. <3
debbieomi 1 month ago
Very true gothatfunk, our oceans do provide a natural barrier and we should not judge the French for surrendering. The threat of being attacked by a super power is very scary.
Plus pouring out french wine that they already paid for shows a level of stupidity. Not buying anymore is a fair protest perhaps but throwing out what you already paid for is dumb.
stonedcommander 1 month ago
I have never understood why the surrender of the french in the worldwar II has been such a big issue to the americans. Even less than that I understand the whole "cheese-eater" namecalling. I mean, since when has it been wrong to like cheese?
Anyways, IMO france made the right decision. Had they not surrendered, their casualties would have been catastrophic and they woud have lost anyway. Following a noble ideal alone has never made anyone victorious.
Wulfshade 1 month ago 2
freedom fries lmao
mancltymagics1 1 month ago
I remember 2002 when the whole "Freedom" Fries craze took over here, easily one of the stupidest periods I can remember. I worked with a guy who didn't support Bush or the invasion of Iraq, but hated the french for not supporting it. It's a strange American double standard. "I'm American so if I critize America it's ok, but if you aren't American your opinion (even when you are right) no longer matters.
Godlesshayes 1 month ago
@Godlesshayes And besides, the French do far more creative things with potatoes than just boiling them in oil.
bluecollarcanuck 1 month ago
I am sure everything will be ok man )! You are a very talented man! Kind regards to you, your new wife and family!
TheWisemonkey8 1 month ago
Most of the use of that term in the US is mostly right-wing pseudo tough guys.
SiriusMined 1 month ago
The French are obviously not good patriotic Americans. BTW, the U.S. has been invaded on more than one occasion; the War of 1812 by the British (when those dirty limeys burned down the White House), the Mexican border raids of Zapata, and the Japanese occupations of Wake Island and Aleutian Atolls (U.S. territories). Except for the War of 1812, these did not present an immediate threat to the U.S. populace. It could be argued that the Army of North Virginia invaded the U.S. in 1862.
deepashtray 1 month ago
I visited france back in '97. Really, really awful people....and Im well traveled and have no particular animosity towards them.
johnnyphoenix74 1 month ago
@johnnyphoenix74 In what way?
NoMoreC2 1 month ago
@NoMoreC2 If his experience was like mine, very unfriendly, outright rude, when near any big city. The country folk seemed quite charming, by contrast. I suspect much of the animosity towards Americans I was subject to in and around Paris was, in fact, due to GTF's ascertation of the political posturing our government put forth. (temporary assignment at the US embassy in Paris in late 2003 - six months)
The food, however, is spectacular. :)
Alisterwolf66 1 month ago
Strangely enough the French have won more of their battles then most historically.
NoMoreC2 1 month ago
Congrats on getting married. How lovely. I guess you won't be saying 'my woman', you'll be able to say 'my wife'. :) Fantastic. So happy for you.
Roseybaby63 1 month ago
If you look at their war record it's actually very accomplished. It kinda reminds me a little of reparations ie a current generation should not be tarred with the actions, positive or not, of previous generations.
StanMarsh1 1 month ago
As a Brit, I do enjoy baiting my French friends, but view it as a sort of fraternal sparring rather than anything serious.. I expect and enjoy similar baiting in return, and in truth admire much in the French way of doing things.
The attitude of some Americans is bizarre though, are they so ignorant of their own history that they don't know the pivotal role that France played in gaining them their independence? They should look into why there are several places called Lafayette in the US.
bimblinghill 1 month ago
But I like wine and cheese.
bamboo4tameshigiri 1 month ago
I love France. I've lived there and thought it was a great country full of kind, patient people who were willing to help me with my French.
Blanket stereotypical about a country and its people are easy and usually mistaken. In WWI the French lost 1,397,800 of its mobilized men, the highest death toll for any country in the war. That might have accounted for what happened in WWII.
Best of luck with all the changes in your life. Hope 2012 is a fun productive year for you!
2bsirius 1 month ago
Fuck the French !!!!!! arrogant race of garlic chewing fucks!!!!!!!
JOOGAL1111 1 month ago
I'd expect them to do what Finland did.
SAsgarters 1 month ago
might have been said already, but a writer on the Simpsons actually coined that phrase
LtotheoganX 1 month ago
I love the French. I also love to hate the French, it's mutual. It's like slagging another football team, done in fun (mostly) knowing that they're going to give you shit right back, as well they should.
Now for the real fun. The French military is one of the strangest I've ever encountered. I've never seen a military celebrate defeats the way the French do.
And yes, it's wrong to call them Cheese eating, surrender monkeys. The proper term is FROG eating, surrender monkeys. (heh heh)
ravenslaves 1 month ago
never understood americas beef with the french
wideosvatcher 1 month ago 2
Surely them standing up against our collective stupidity in 2002 takes balls and also renders that phrase moronic.
Orygyn 1 month ago 9
@Orygyn agreed.
gothatfunk 1 month ago 5
However... do you think France would actually use nukes if they were threatened like that? I don't know... something tells me that would cross a line, and lead into nuclear warfare.
I might be wrong, but I certainly hope they wouldn't. Of course, having nukes is a kind of deterrent, I suppose.
Atalantius 1 month ago
As a bacon eating surrender monkey (i.e. a person from Denmark) I agree with everything you just said.
itsjustameme 1 month ago
I use "France surrenders!" jokes too, but only as jokes. I have no illusions that they have any real relevance. Also don't have much to say war-wise, as a Norwegian living in the UK.
Atalantius 1 month ago
Surrender is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of intelligence. If you fight until the last man, then it's likely you will cease to be.
The patriotism that abounded back in the early 2000's, in the US, was so widespread that many failed to see that it was, pretty much, jingoism.
I find it sad that a lot of people still don't see anything wrong extreme patriotism.
I'm looking right at you, members of the "Tea Party".
nishbrown 1 month ago
Um, the RUSSIANS did and thanks to the fact that they did, Hitler was ultimately defeated. If they had surrendered like the French, Hitler would have won the war. Every nation that surrendered made Hitler stronger.
comslave 1 month ago
@comslave The Russians never had the option of surrendering, it was clear from the very start that the German war against Russia was one of extermination, not conquest.
dangerouslytalented 1 month ago
still on board.
ZMoulton 1 month ago
When I hear that phrase, I think of the Battle of Verdun. 500,000 French casualties, and the supposed surrender monkeys didn't surrender.
As you said, it's quite easy to say that we would have done things differently, when we've never been in that situation.
And people make a big deal about how Britain stood defiant, blah blah blah...but they had the English Channel protecting them.
Really, anyone who says that phrase is a fool.
TheCrappyPhilosopher 1 month ago
I don't care about the French anymore then I care about the U.S.
GodlessManitoban 1 month ago
I must say, I had absolutely no idea what the title referred to, even after you mentioned the French. I just didn't get what any of that had to do with the French until I realized you were talking about stereotypes ^^;;
VarmitCoyote 1 month ago
Yeah, well they may have had alternatives to surrender. Perhaps hurling cattle, insults, and farting in thei general direction.
Benobo1t 1 month ago 15
@Benobo1t Great reference. So funny. We all know how incredibly powerful farting in someone's general direction can be. lol
Roseybaby63 1 month ago
@Benobo1t Fetchez la vache!
metalskinstudios 1 month ago
@metalskinstudios Run Away!!
Benobo1t 1 month ago
The surrender of Czechoslovakia was instrumental in causing the French surrender. Had they been allowed to fight, the German army would have been mauled because of the mountainous heavily fortified Czech frontier, and the Germans were able to equip three Panzer divisions with surrendered Czech tanks.And they would not have been able to make a sneak attack on Poland because they would have been already at war. The REAL cheese eating surrender monkey was CHAMBERLAIN.
dangerouslytalented 1 month ago 2
Throughout history, France has been the most military successful. So the term doesn't make much sense.
MrFinneh 1 month ago
Actually, I don't recall the phrase, so I must have ignored it.
Well, who knew the Germans were going to push through Ardennes and cut them off, and then outflank them again and push further into France? Plus, its wise to remember the German Army was a formidable force. The French Army did their best to protect their country. They simply lost the battles, and that does happen in war. Glad the US decided to help them out, as allies do.
phenixwryter 1 month ago
@phenixwryter That was the Von Schlieffen Plan, to drive through Belgium and the Netherlands. It is what they did in World War I, and to think that Hitler was going to honor Belgian and Dutch neutrality was naive.
dangerouslytalented 1 month ago
what should they have done? They should have fought. As many frenchmen that joined resistances joined the nazi's. when you fight evil, surrender is not an option. Say it's ignorant, if you like. I served my country, in war. I iknow what death looks like. I'm not a hippy like most of your viewers. Honor means more to me, and to enough like me, that I can say that even if my country surrendered, I wouldn't have. I'm glad you're taking a bit off, lately your stuff has been like this vid, stupid.
theatomicskull999999 1 month ago
I thought the Frogs were known for their romantic and erotic appeal and exquisite cuisine - an object of envy? =P Either way as an expat Brit I've always understood the Anglo-French mutual (and somewhat playful) animosity, that has centuries behind it, but I've never understood US anti-French hatred. I just don't get it. Thanks for the interesting video and hope you do well with your lifestyle change GTF.
8DX 1 month ago 2
I was born in France myself, and I gotta say the few times I heard that expression, and it seemed to be meant, I didn't get offended. Not because I think that it is in any way fair, but because if someone says that, they are in my mind utterly ignorant, and therefore their thoughts on the matter have little to no importance to me. I frankly can't fathom a much bigger set of blinders than that required to really think that kind of thing. Thanks for the vid, and I wish you well in your "new" life.
gilless429 1 month ago
I never use the phrase myself, being part French-Canadian. It is an ignorant name for the French and I was sad to see it return during the US Invasion. But then bullies often like to insult others to get them to do their will, don't they.
Also I find one of your final statements sexist. Why should only men die in a war? I demand that women have the equal right to have their brains blown out for someone else's political fun and profit!
CanadienAtheist 1 month ago
It was tough being anti war. Living where I do, it's still very difficult.
As for the French, I've never understood the hatred. Without the French, the US would likely not even exist.
tattooskin72 1 month ago
Good luck with the changes in your life, I hope it all works out well :)
TheRenekruse 1 month ago
The French helped America gain it's independence from Britain. We owe them a HUGE debt of gratitude.
CrudOMatic 1 month ago
@CrudOMatic Yeah, the french king at that time gave loads of money to the inhabitants of the then unofficial United States, in order for them to be able to tend to their needs without Britain's help. Even if the king did it somewhat out of spite toward the English, he still did it.
gilless429 1 month ago
@CrudOMatic paid in full in the 40's when we saved their filthy (they dont bathe much, trufacts) surrender monkeys surrendered to Hitler
theatomicskull999999 1 month ago
@theatomicskull999999 One: They got steamrollered by the blitzkrieg. Two: They'd suffered mind-boggling casualties in the Great War that was (and may STILL be) in living memory. Three: You never heard of the French Resistance?
JasonCrowell 1 month ago
I think history will show they were the only sane voice in the times of the Iraq invasion. I also think that American lack of education makes them sitting ducks for the propaganda that feeds their ignorance. Thus we see terms like this surface, along with many more. Just slap a flag on the Ford and they have done all the thinkin' they need to. When will we evolve?
tburke64 1 month ago
I dont know a country in Europe that my home country Sweden haven't been in war with at one time or another. Only Russia and Denmark invaded us here. All wars make Sweden broke but 2 world wars changed that. So yes Europeans have had war and been invaded over and over.
Also I think many ppl look on WW2 in a very black and white perspective, ask what old Finns and ppl from the Baltic states think about the Nazis and Germany of that period, they helped them fight for their freedom from Soviet,
Gripen1974 1 month ago
We know what would have happened if they had continued fighting instead of surrendering.
At best we would have had the first world war, Flanders Fields and the Somme all over again and the allies would have lost because the British army would not have withdrawn back across the channel at Dunkirk and regrouped.
At the time, European armies were geared up for trench warfare and artillery battles.
Blitzkrieg was a new idea that overwhelmed the opposing army before it could dig in
paulchartley 1 month ago
France is one of my favorite countries. I would only live in 3 capital cities in the world. LA, Paris and Dublin. (London - You are ALL too stuck up but have a great city. One of my favs is in Russia but just too cold) My primary choice would be County Mayo Ireland.
hevyAccel 1 month ago
I'm a third French so I guess you could say I'm a self hating French because they ARE a bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys !
Why ?
Because unlike those neo Marxist Brits that at least put up a defense (but not without the US of course wanky blimeys) all the French did was put up a 'defense wall' and have gay cabarets old chum.
Curas1 1 month ago
@Curas1
But hey the US didn't want to get involved either and what we get for it, creating a Israeli state, letting China go communist and a pair of Russian spies named Rosenberg giving the bomb to the soviets!
But never mind that were paying for a 50 yr cold war because some frogs lost their mettle and played espionage games with Brit spies !
Ahaa! !!! it's all the Frenchs fault, Again!
Curas1 1 month ago
The first time I went to France, late 90's - There were always protests in France. More specifically Paris, as usual. Nobody hated me because I was american, but because of what they thought most americans thought of them, PLUS our gov's dumb ass positions.
'03 I was in Paris, speaking French at the time, yet I was ridiculed despite my best efforts, being "American sludge." None of the european countries seemed to be able to think I wasn't that jack-ass GW. Having lived in Dublin & Paris! +2yrs
hevyAccel 1 month ago
When it all boils down to is religion
Mee551able 1 month ago
Good vid, Paul. I'm a Brit, but have a lot of French friends, I know FRance pretty well, speak French, and studied French at university. One point that the CESM crowd never pick up on is the amount of soul-searching in France after the liberation, since - despite the resistance - France did not liberate herself, and had to surrender (again) to American cultural imports (products, movies, etc). As for surrendering to the Nazis, in the same circumstance, Americans would have done the same thing.
Squagnut 1 month ago
Your lifestyle is in upheaval? You've decided to become a gay, sixteen-year old Japanese girl?
blackwolf1200 1 month ago 3
@blackwolf1200 sadly, no. but i am closing down my business, moving house, getting married, and relocating to a different town this year, so.....
gothatfunk 1 month ago 5
@gothatfunk Well then, for what it's worth I wish you great success in all the good things and ways :)
blackwolf1200 1 month ago
@gothatfunk i just wanted to say good luck. I hope that it wont be to long until next vid but i will wait, as all your viewers probably will
MrOhitsujiza 1 month ago
@gothatfunk Godspeed.
steinarrexfaroensis 1 month ago
@gothatfunk
Congrats! :)
premed2 1 month ago
@gothatfunk You're getting old. lol.
CuriousMoth 1 month ago
@gothatfunk
Will you still be in the same general area? Mrs. Sirius and I are planning on visiting your region in May. I hope to meet up with you thien, if possible.
SiriusMined 1 month ago
@gothatfunk Congrats :)
thethegreenmachine 1 month ago
The way most Americans see the entire second world war is incredibly distorted.
EquitoErgoSum 1 month ago 6
@EquitoErgoSum indeed. the war in europe was more than 2 years running before america got officially involved. how would we americans have perceived it if, after 9/11, it took 2 years for european nations to offer any assisance?
gothatfunk 1 month ago 4
@gothatfunk as an american, I can't remember anything other then people saying we deserved it, from our european brothers. So, screw them. Also, fuck france.
theatomicskull999999 1 month ago
@theatomicskull999999 Umm...I heard a rare few people that nobody liked or paid attention to saying that we deserved it. Well, the american preachers saying we deserved it.
You really didn't see what was happening then. We went insane for a while, and frankly, Britain acted as an enabler to let us be crazy, and let us cause more harm.
France acted like the mature friend trying to prevent us from being stupid.
JasonCrowell 1 month ago
@EquitoErgoSum
As is the way a lot of Europeans see it. I can tell you how many people I've seen say we came in at the "end of the war", which is ALSO a complete distortion.
Not to mention the "Sitzkrieg" part of the war, when Britain and France did very little. Well, except for occupy the Rhineland, AND THEN LEAVE......
SiriusMined 1 month ago