Re: [Leica] Lest we forget!

[Slobodan Dimitrov <sld@earthlink.net>]

Unfortunately, I lived in France for five years, with my family as
political exiles. I can emphatically state that the french have as
bigoted an attitude toward the Slavs as the germans do. My perception of
the french, in spite of their show of some backbone recently, will never alter.
Slobodan Dimitrov 

Teresa299@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 4/13/03 9:09:15 AM, kenlass@gate.net writes:
> 
> << This is in response to Don R's message.  I must wonder if he has ever
> been to France and especially to Normandy.
> .......
> 
> It is my observation that the average American who berates the French
> for being ungrateful has never been to  France.  Or if they have been,
> they went on a bus tour with Americans where they never had the
> opportunity to speak directly with real Frenchmen.
> 
> One should not judge what a people think and say just by what one reads
> in the newspaper or sees on TV.  It makes better news copy if the
> reporter can put a negative spin on things.
> 
> I would like to hear from others on the LUG who have had good
> experiences in France and other European countries.-- while
> photographing with their Leicas.
> 
> Ken Lassiter
> Boynton Beach, FL
>  >>
> 
> Ken,
> 
> I'm glad you brought this up, as I wanted to but didn't want to keep the
> nasty part of the thread going.
> 
> It seems like French bashing (which has to a certain extent always been an am
> erican and particularly a conservative american sport) has taken new heights
> these last few months.
> 
> My experience with the French has been nothing more than positive.  In paris,
> I didn't find people anymore snobby or rude then I did in parts of London NY
> SF or Los Angeles.   In the countryside, I found that the regions of France
> has as varied a personality as the states are in the US.  Maybe it was
> because I sought out certain places with specific intent (as in farmers,
> because I'm into heirloom seeds, photographers because of photography,
> gardens because I love garden design), the people there were genuine,
> friendly and willing to share.  And I didn't speak a wit of French.  (well I
> thought I did but once I got there it became clear that I might as well have
> spoken Martian).
> 
> Anyway, that ws unfortunately over 15 years ago, maybe things have changed,
> but when I hear folks talking about "the stinky french, the arrogant french,
> the rude french, the ungrateful french," I've got to wonder if any of those
> folks have been there.  If they have I'm sorry they had such a bad time of
> it, but maybe part of travelling to another place is the intent you bring
> with you in your heart.
> 
> Personally, I'd love to go to France (and the UK ,hell I've never been to
> Canada yet) and this time take some decent camera gear, Leica or not.  When I
> went the first time I went on a shoestring because I was really supposed to
> be going to school and all my $ went to living expenses.  So as a result all
> I had was a cheap point and shoot that died on me after my first week in
> England.  Sigh.  I wasn't "into" photography then like I am now but my coming
> back to CA without but a few photos made a huge impact on me.    I can't
> really put into words coming back without my photographs any better than a
> French, Leica user did....
> 
> "....Photographic representation is, alas, never faithful to the sentiment
> that triggered it, but imperfect as it is, it is a naive attempt to postpone
> death, to steal from time a fall of light, a priviliged moment,
> which will never again recur, but will continue to live thanks to the
> photograph - like those
> stars that have been dead for thousands of years but whose light still
> travels through space
> to show us what they were.
> - Jeanloup Sieff.
> 
> Kim
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