There is a change in the air. It started after the election. I've lived in France since 1972. During the Nixon years, when you said you were American, people expected you to explain American involvement in Vietnam. They weren't concerned whether you were pro or anti; being an American meant you represented the country.
Ford? Well, his presidency didn't seem to affect us. You could say you were American and people didn't seem to judge you. They were, of course, curious about how the Watergate scandal could have gone so far as to make a president go away. They were amused by Ford's bumbles.
I don't remember any negative effects from the Carter years. I don't think the French remember Carter at all. When talking about Obama's family, they keep saying it's the first time there are young children in the White House since Kennedy. Amy Carter went totally unnoticed. And I guess they don't think Chelsea Clinton was "young" enough.
When Reagan became president, you got all kinds of looks. How could Americans vote for an actor? So, whether you were for Reagan or not, you found yourself explaining that he had also been governor and so on. There was a kind of anti-American sentiment in the air. As the US had a conservative government, the French voted in Mitterand.
Then Bush Sr. came along, but that was just a continuation of the Reagan years. The Gulf War more or less united everyone, but there was a feeling that the only coalition country that was going to get any business after the war was the US so you felt a little resentment when you said you were American.
Clinton years were pretty friendly. You'd say you were American and people would ask how we could be so naïve and be so upset about a little lie. It was like explaining Watergate. You had to explain how the government worked. It doesn't matter -- no one ever asks you -- what you think of the situation. People just assume that you are either the average American they see in the news and don't undeerstand or that you have adopted their views. They don't ask you.. This can be troublesome.
Most people I dealt with disliked Bush Jr., even before his first term. They felt he had no culture and no knowledge of the world beyond the US borders. It so happens, that's how I felt. But no one asked me. I received all the anti-Bush jokes in my e-mail and critical comments during lunch. By the time re-election came around in 2004, and the boss sent an anti-Bush joke to everyone in the office, I reminded him that he did not know my political opinion, nor the opinions of our colleagues in the US office, and that he shouldn't be sending that kind of stuff to everyone. He gave me a really strange look until I let him know that I happened to agree with him, but did not think it was good etiquette.
During the campaign, I think most of the people I dealt with could not imagine anyone being pro-Republican. Once McCain was the sure candidate, no one said anything against him except that he was too old. However, once Palin was selected, they were incredulous. So was I. They became pro-Obama fairly early in the campaign, but didn't think he'd ever be the candidate. The big change, though, is that when you say you are American, they look at you and smile and congratulate you for electing Obama. Again, it doesn't matter if you did or didn't. They just assume you did. No problem for me, but I imagine Republicans who voted for McCain, here, feel funny.
Paul and I went to the joint AAWE/AARO inauguration party on Tuesday. I don't remember being excited about an inauguration before, to the point of wanting to share the moment. Anyway, we went to this thing and Paul was not the only Frenchman. I observed them watching the procedings. In France the separation of church and state means that church (God) has no place at all in state events -- no invocation, no swearing on a bible, no "God bless France". So that religeous aspect never ceases to amaze them. The whole inauguration celebration is confusing. In France, the new president takes office a few days after the election. There is no prolonged transition period. So, here we Americans are again -- explaining.
I don't know if the French are especially curious. I wonder if Americans who have foreign neighbors are so curious about their elections or their government processes. I think that this curiosity is good. Right now, the people I am in contact with are very happy with the US. There's a kind of euphoria about Obama. That's nice. They smile when you say you're American.
Showing posts with label Election 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election 2008. Show all posts
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
My 15 minutes of Fame
More like 15 seconds, but at the end of this report (
The next evening there was a Barak Obama event in Paris and an "undecided" couple that I met at the Hillary event went to the Obama to-do and said it was much nicer. They did not tell me if they came away any more convinced to go with one candidate or the other.
I've made up my mind since then. I'm really happy that the Democratic party is allowing Americans abroad to have a say - 22 delegates. In the real election I vote "in" Philadelphia, my last legal residence in the United States. The kids, except Emma, also vote in Philadelphia because their only reference is my last address. Emma registered in Florida when she was in college. If I get the primary ballot this year (I did register for an absentee ballot, but we can never be sure about the primary ballot coming through) I am on the honor system NOT to participate in the presidential primary if I choose to participate in the Democrats Abroad election. That's fine with me. I prefer not to make local choices in Pennsylvania - I do not live there! If we had a system that would allow Americans resident abroad to vote in the real elections as citizens abroad, I would prefer that. With the electoral college system, though, that is just impossible; we have to vote "in" states.
http://www.parismatch.com/parismatch/dans-l-oeil-de-match/reportages/au-salon-avec-les-partisans-d-hillary/ ), that's me asking my question to Terry McAuliffe - and not really getting any answer. I think the report is a bit off; several of us in the room were not convinced Hillary supporters. It was a Hillary evening, but we wanted to learn more in order to make our decision. It was really a fund-raising event - not why I should vote for Hillary but why I should give money to her campaign.
The next evening there was a Barak Obama event in Paris and an "undecided" couple that I met at the Hillary event went to the Obama to-do and said it was much nicer. They did not tell me if they came away any more convinced to go with one candidate or the other.
I've made up my mind since then. I'm really happy that the Democratic party is allowing Americans abroad to have a say - 22 delegates. In the real election I vote "in" Philadelphia, my last legal residence in the United States. The kids, except Emma, also vote in Philadelphia because their only reference is my last address. Emma registered in Florida when she was in college. If I get the primary ballot this year (I did register for an absentee ballot, but we can never be sure about the primary ballot coming through) I am on the honor system NOT to participate in the presidential primary if I choose to participate in the Democrats Abroad election. That's fine with me. I prefer not to make local choices in Pennsylvania - I do not live there! If we had a system that would allow Americans resident abroad to vote in the real elections as citizens abroad, I would prefer that. With the electoral college system, though, that is just impossible; we have to vote "in" states.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Lots of Activity
I'ts been pretty busy these last few weeks. How on earth did I manage to do anything when I was working?
Speaking of working, I went to a job interview at a small company in Fontenay sous Bois - very near home. They are not really paying for a technical writer; it looks more tlike they want a part-time office assistant who can print out whatever is needed for bids as they come up and write new material when necessary. I suggested they use me (through an agency) to do the writing and find someone else for the lesser tasks. It was interesting, though, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the company.
I saw Yamina - always pick up where we left off - as if it was yesterday. Well, yes I did see her a couple of months ago, but before that, it had been years. She told me about her trips to the States as supervisor of groups of French kids on linguistic trips. The organization she goes with seems to be hooked up with a weird group of host families, mostly evangelical Christians who seem bent on converting their guests. I don't know if it is giving these kids a warped vision of the United States or if I've been away so long, I'm the one with the warped vision.
I also went to a lunchtime AARO meetup at a pizzaria at Montparnasse. That was fun. Most of the 25 or so attendees were members and I already knew several from AAWE and other meetings. Just a pleasant social event.
It's amazing how many Americans are in Paris on a temporary basis. I'm used to seeing the ones like me who are married to French people and even the ones who came to work and have stayed on, but I've been meeting more of the kind that are retired and have come here to spend a year or so and others who still maintain residences in the States, but come here for several months a year. I meet them in the Ile de France walks, too. The falling dollar is an obsession for these people. A few years ago, they were really well off and now, they can barely get through the month. Even for me - when I calculated what I might draw from US funds, I wasn't thinking in terms of almost $1.50 per €1.00.
Last week, I went to a Democrats Abroad for Hillary meeting. It was a conference call with meetings in many major cities around the world and one of the head honchos for Clinton's campaign - a fund raiser. I was hoping for some help in deciding. The meeting was for Hillary supporters, but there were a few of us there who are undecided. I got invited to the Democrats Abroad for Obama meeting the next evening, but didn't go. While we were waiting for the call to begin, we were asked if we had any questions and I offered mine: Why should I, an American living abroad, want to vote for Hillary Clinton? It was deemed a good question and I got to ask it during the conference call. Unfortunately, it didn't get answered. I don't know that there is an answer. Considering all the problems in the States, why should we (some 3-7 million Americans abroad) be of any consequence? Why? Because there are so many of us, we could almost be a state! I could give an easy answer and say that we need tax reform - have our income abroad removed from the tax declaration if we are declaring and paying tax on it where it was earned. But there are other things - when the kids were growing up and I didn't have a clue as to how to pass on the "American" part of us, I could have used some help. In Paris, it is not all that difficult - just join AAWE. But there are many who do not have such help, who can't afford even what is there. Medicare extension, too, for people who paid into the US system all their lives and are now abroad. Again, it doesn't concern me, but it does affect others.
I saw Chilla again at both the AARO meetup and the Dems Abroad for Hillary meeting and yet again at the Jay Gottlieb recital at Neuilly the other evening. This time he played a full program of American composers: Copeland, Ives, Bernstein, Gershwin, Glass, Jarrett, and Adams. I find Ives a bit hard to listen to; the Copeland and Bernstein pieces were not the usual things you hear. Iwas totally hypnotized by the Glass and loved the Koln Concert (Jarrett). Jay is totally absorbed in the music as he plays; he's amazing to watch. And of course, Rita came to this recital, too.
On Mondays and Thursdays I go to an art class in Fontenay, just 10 minutes from home. This replaces the art classes I went to in Paris, before. Last week was the first time I went on a Monday and everyone was doing his or her own thing until the end, when Francine, our hostess and instructor, asked us to bring over our work for group comments. There was the portrait of a man - and I immediately recognized him - our neighbor, Bruno. (Actually, he moved away a few months ago, but still, he was our neighbor for 20 years!) Turns out I'm in class with his sister, Isabelle. And she's a damned good portraitist. Just another instance of the small world phenomenon.
So now, I've spent too long at Anne's computer and it'll be too late to call FNAC to get help getting my own computer in order. I think I screwed up some settings and can't find my wi-fi connection. I'll see if I can get it done on Thursday. Tomorrow, I'm going on a walk at the Parc Citroën. Last week, I joined the walk through the Parc de la Courneuve but did not continue to the Basilique St. Denis.
Speaking of working, I went to a job interview at a small company in Fontenay sous Bois - very near home. They are not really paying for a technical writer; it looks more tlike they want a part-time office assistant who can print out whatever is needed for bids as they come up and write new material when necessary. I suggested they use me (through an agency) to do the writing and find someone else for the lesser tasks. It was interesting, though, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the company.
I saw Yamina - always pick up where we left off - as if it was yesterday. Well, yes I did see her a couple of months ago, but before that, it had been years. She told me about her trips to the States as supervisor of groups of French kids on linguistic trips. The organization she goes with seems to be hooked up with a weird group of host families, mostly evangelical Christians who seem bent on converting their guests. I don't know if it is giving these kids a warped vision of the United States or if I've been away so long, I'm the one with the warped vision.
I also went to a lunchtime AARO meetup at a pizzaria at Montparnasse. That was fun. Most of the 25 or so attendees were members and I already knew several from AAWE and other meetings. Just a pleasant social event.
It's amazing how many Americans are in Paris on a temporary basis. I'm used to seeing the ones like me who are married to French people and even the ones who came to work and have stayed on, but I've been meeting more of the kind that are retired and have come here to spend a year or so and others who still maintain residences in the States, but come here for several months a year. I meet them in the Ile de France walks, too. The falling dollar is an obsession for these people. A few years ago, they were really well off and now, they can barely get through the month. Even for me - when I calculated what I might draw from US funds, I wasn't thinking in terms of almost $1.50 per €1.00.
Last week, I went to a Democrats Abroad for Hillary meeting. It was a conference call with meetings in many major cities around the world and one of the head honchos for Clinton's campaign - a fund raiser. I was hoping for some help in deciding. The meeting was for Hillary supporters, but there were a few of us there who are undecided. I got invited to the Democrats Abroad for Obama meeting the next evening, but didn't go. While we were waiting for the call to begin, we were asked if we had any questions and I offered mine: Why should I, an American living abroad, want to vote for Hillary Clinton? It was deemed a good question and I got to ask it during the conference call. Unfortunately, it didn't get answered. I don't know that there is an answer. Considering all the problems in the States, why should we (some 3-7 million Americans abroad) be of any consequence? Why? Because there are so many of us, we could almost be a state! I could give an easy answer and say that we need tax reform - have our income abroad removed from the tax declaration if we are declaring and paying tax on it where it was earned. But there are other things - when the kids were growing up and I didn't have a clue as to how to pass on the "American" part of us, I could have used some help. In Paris, it is not all that difficult - just join AAWE. But there are many who do not have such help, who can't afford even what is there. Medicare extension, too, for people who paid into the US system all their lives and are now abroad. Again, it doesn't concern me, but it does affect others.
I saw Chilla again at both the AARO meetup and the Dems Abroad for Hillary meeting and yet again at the Jay Gottlieb recital at Neuilly the other evening. This time he played a full program of American composers: Copeland, Ives, Bernstein, Gershwin, Glass, Jarrett, and Adams. I find Ives a bit hard to listen to; the Copeland and Bernstein pieces were not the usual things you hear. Iwas totally hypnotized by the Glass and loved the Koln Concert (Jarrett). Jay is totally absorbed in the music as he plays; he's amazing to watch. And of course, Rita came to this recital, too.
On Mondays and Thursdays I go to an art class in Fontenay, just 10 minutes from home. This replaces the art classes I went to in Paris, before. Last week was the first time I went on a Monday and everyone was doing his or her own thing until the end, when Francine, our hostess and instructor, asked us to bring over our work for group comments. There was the portrait of a man - and I immediately recognized him - our neighbor, Bruno. (Actually, he moved away a few months ago, but still, he was our neighbor for 20 years!) Turns out I'm in class with his sister, Isabelle. And she's a damned good portraitist. Just another instance of the small world phenomenon.
So now, I've spent too long at Anne's computer and it'll be too late to call FNAC to get help getting my own computer in order. I think I screwed up some settings and can't find my wi-fi connection. I'll see if I can get it done on Thursday. Tomorrow, I'm going on a walk at the Parc Citroën. Last week, I joined the walk through the Parc de la Courneuve but did not continue to the Basilique St. Denis.
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