I don't quite know why but I am easily irritable these days, so I thought I'd better get the following down in print before they harden into obsessions.
- The tendency on French TV and radio to HALF drown out the voices of people speaking in a foreign language. The result is that you can't understand either language.
- On radio and TV news programmes, the rapid-fire recital of a series of facts and figures, followed immediately by another series. Brains greater than mine would no doubt have more success in confronting the deluge, but what on earth is the point of hurling this undigested mass at us, given that 30 seconds later we have forgotten everything we've heard?
- French public life is currently characterised by what is known as la grogne, which we may roughly translate as 'discontent'. School teachers, businessmen, lorry drivers, Breton farmers, winegrowers, artisans, policemen, in fact just about every social category you care to think of, is 'discontented' at the moment. Aided and abetted by their hopeless brethren in the media (see above), they not so much air as shout their grievances, naturally at breakneck speed. Writing as someone who is not wealthy enough to pay income tax, I just find it sickening that such people NEVER ONCE at least address the fact that we are living in a period of economic crisis and that the world does not owe us a living. ALL of their considerable intelligence is channelled into 'making' their case, NONE of it into accepting, at some level or other, that we are likely to be worse off for the foreseeable future.
- Why is it that French governments so quickly run into trouble? At the deepest level, it is because they run on a platform which they know they will not be able to implement. And why do they do that? Because they know it's the only way to get elected. And what does that tell us about the French electorate?
- All right, then, you say, if things are so terrible here why don't you go back to where you came from? I would, but it's probably even worse over there.
It's cruel to laugh so I'll try not to - (adjusts gag).
ReplyDeleteBut you are probably best off where you are.
To take some of your points, totally out of order:
I think your election campaigns are probably even more dishonest than ours, and that just might be because our (equally duplicitous) media give the various parties quite a grilling at the time, don't just wait for the inevitable cave fall. I don't remember anyone other than you taking a serious look at Hollande's promises at the time of your last election - it was all sugary and spicey and on a level with "I agree with Nick". So - yes - that does tell quite a lot about the French electorate but even more about the press, I think.
I think I'll stick with just that one of your grognes or I'll be here all day, but on the whole I agree with you. And can think of quite a few other teeth-grinders - like those shouty football commentators. Where did I put my gun?
Also "walkabout" commentators in just about any programme you care to mention.
DeleteGreetings Barnaby
DeleteThings are difficult in the UK at present though they could be worse. On the positive side we still have freedom of speech, guns are outlawed even generally for the police and there is a hugely cosmopolitan population. On the negative side we have so much emphasis on Human Rights and still no balancing human duties legislation; politicians who tend to follow rather than lead, much of our industry is foreign owned and Christianity is becoming more and more sidelined.
Still though after vistiing and enjoying travel to USA in 2012 I would not like to live there permanently until the gun lobby is tamed. Canada was good though but often too cold.