Americans Snub French Cheese Exporter
Discussion
A Frenchman who sells cheese over the Internet has seen his inbox fill up with e-mails from disgruntled Americans this week.
They are more than happy with his Camembert, but not with his government's policy on Iraq.
"Pam and I have enjoyed ordering from you in the past," read one e-mail to fromages.com co-founder Marc Refabert. "(But) because of the current position your government is taking on not supporting the U.S. at this time regarding Iraq, we are not going to support France in any way. ... We are sorry."
Orders are slipping from the key U.S. market, which accounts for 80 percent of fromages.com's business. But just as the French government is unmoved by U.S. criticism of its unwillingness to back war against Iraq, so Refabert is shrugging off the boycott.
"It's their way of showing their patriotism. Good for them," he said. "We've decided not to reply to the e-mails. What good would it do? I'm not a politician. ... But you've got to be adult. I don't think it's a very well thought-through reaction."
Refabert said he thinks American customers won't be able to maintain the boycott for too long because French cheese tastes too good.
"It's just temporary. They'll come back in two or three months."
They are more than happy with his Camembert, but not with his government's policy on Iraq.
"Pam and I have enjoyed ordering from you in the past," read one e-mail to fromages.com co-founder Marc Refabert. "(But) because of the current position your government is taking on not supporting the U.S. at this time regarding Iraq, we are not going to support France in any way. ... We are sorry."
Orders are slipping from the key U.S. market, which accounts for 80 percent of fromages.com's business. But just as the French government is unmoved by U.S. criticism of its unwillingness to back war against Iraq, so Refabert is shrugging off the boycott.
"It's their way of showing their patriotism. Good for them," he said. "We've decided not to reply to the e-mails. What good would it do? I'm not a politician. ... But you've got to be adult. I don't think it's a very well thought-through reaction."
Refabert said he thinks American customers won't be able to maintain the boycott for too long because French cheese tastes too good.
"It's just temporary. They'll come back in two or three months."
On the other hand, if more Brits were prepared to make buying decisions on ethical grounds, Britain would probably have more of a manufacturing industry left.
Bodo said: Shows how brainwashed the email-writing Americans are.
In this case - yes I think they are wrong in their viewpoint, but at least they are following their convictions
Edited to say - they won't last long - American cheese is bland cr*p in my experience
>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Thursday 13th February 18:21
CraigAlsop said:
In this case - yes I think they are wrong in their viewpoint, but at least they are following their convictions
Edited to say - they won't last long - American cheese is bland cr*p in my experience
>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Thursday 13th February 18:21
They should have mentioned that they've switched to Cheddar (to support the noble Blair) in their emails. Now that would be following convictions
Come on, the 'cheese eating surrender monkey' line came from Groundskeeper Willy of 'The Simpsons' when he was teaching french class when the teachers were on strike.
All in good fun, of course.
Besides, I don't see what is wrong with not dealing with someone who you don't agree with, however, I do hope the American has made up his own mind, and not just listened to all the hype from the media.
Just MHO, of course.
Gary
All in good fun, of course.
Besides, I don't see what is wrong with not dealing with someone who you don't agree with, however, I do hope the American has made up his own mind, and not just listened to all the hype from the media.
Just MHO, of course.
Gary
So, does that imply that some Americans behave like the Simpsons at the moment ? That was just a questions, nothing wrong about that. Hopefully not but it's going too far now. The French government, as the German one, doesn't support a war in Iraq, point. That doesn't say that the French or the German people do or don't. Certainly the French won't be the last to step in once the ball is rolling. I have a work mate from Iraq and he hates SH and wishs him to hell. But he doesn't like the idea of a war in Iraq because his grand parents still live there. So, what do you do ? Bomb Iraq just to get rid of this one man ? On the other hand, this kind of global pressure is the best way to make SH shit in his pants 
.
.So, does that imply that some Americans behave like the Simpsons at the moment ? That was just a questions, nothing wrong about that. Hopefully not but it's going too far now. The French government, as the German one, doesn't support a war in Iraq, point. That doesn't say that the French or the German people do or don't. Certainly the French won't be the last to step in once the ball is rolling. I have a work mate from Iraq and he hates SH and wishs him to hell. But he doesn't like the idea of a war in Iraq because his grand parents still live there. So, what do you do ? Bomb Iraq just to get rid of this one man ? On the other hand, this kind of global pressure is the best way to make SH shit in his pants .
.It does not only apply to cheese.
Everything French or comes from France is fair game in a boycott. Including the tourist trade. We are on a discover vacations at home trend now. Overseas vactions are not popular right now with us anyway and more Americans are staying home to spend their money here. If it's a money game they wish, then we will play it, and we play that game very well. The French items are optional or luxury items and not the staples of life.
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Thursday 13th February 21:09
Everything French or comes from France is fair game in a boycott. Including the tourist trade. We are on a discover vacations at home trend now. Overseas vactions are not popular right now with us anyway and more Americans are staying home to spend their money here. If it's a money game they wish, then we will play it, and we play that game very well. The French items are optional or luxury items and not the staples of life.
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Thursday 13th February 21:09
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