BOYCOTT FRANCE!

[SunnyBeaches]

The following companies are subject to boycott:

** Air France. Air Liquide. Airbus. Alcatel. Allegra
(allergy medication). Aqualung (including: Spirotechnique,
Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest). AXA Advisors.

** Bank of the West (owned by BNP Paribas). Beneteau
(boats). BF Goodrich (owned by Michelin). BIC (razors,
pens and lighters). Biotherm (cosmetics). Black Bush.
Bollinger (champagne).

** Car & Driver Magazine. Cartier. Chanel. Chivas Regal
(scotch). Christian Dior. Club Med (vacations). Culligan
(owned by Vivendi).

** Dannon (yogurt and dairy foods). DKNY. Dom Perignon.
Durand Crystal.

** Elle Magazine. Essilor Optical Products. Evian.

** Fina gas stations and Fina Oil (billions invested in
Iraqi oil fields). First Hawaiian Bank.

** George Magazine. Givenchy. Glenlivet (scotch).

** Hennessy. Houghton Mifflin (books).

** Jacobs Creek (owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989).
Jameson (whiskey). Jerry Springer (talk show)

** Krups (coffee and cappuccino makers).

** Lancome. Le Creuset (cookware). L'Oreal (health and
beauty products). Louis Vuitton.

** Marie Claire. Martel Cognac. Maybelline. Méphisto
(shoes and clothes). Michelin (tires and auto parts).
Mikasa (crystal and glass). Moet (champagne). Motel 6.
Motown Records. MP3.com. Mumms (champagne).

** Nissan (cars; majority owned by Renault). Nivea.
Normany Butter.

** Parents Magazine. Peugeot (automobiles). Pierre Cardin.
Playstation Magazine. ProScan (owned by Thomson
Electronics, France). Publicis Group (including Saatchi &
Saatchi Advertising).

** RCA (televisions and electronics; owned by Thomson
Electronics). Red Magazine. Red Roof Inns (owned by Accor
group in France). Renault (automobiles). Road & Track
Magazine. Roquefort cheese (all Roquefort cheese is made
in France). Rowenta (toasters, irons, coffee makers,
etc.). Royal Canadian.

** Salomon (skis). Sierra Software and Computer Games.
Smart & Final. Sofitel (hotels, owned by Accor).
Sparkletts (water, owned by Danone). Spencer Gifts.
Sundance Channel.

** Taylor Made (golf). Technicolor. T-Fal (kitchenware).
Total gas stations.

** UbiSoft (computer games). Uniroyal. Universal Studios
(music, movies and amusement parks; owned by Vivendi
-Universal). USFilter.

** Veritas Group. Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Vittel.
Vivendi.

** Wild Turkey (bourbon). Woman's Day Magazine.

** Yoplait (The French company Sodiaal owns a 50 percent
stake). Yves Saint Laurent.

** Zodiac Inflatable Boats.

P.S.: Thanks to GOP lawmakers, cafeterias in the U.S.
House of Representatives will today start offering
"freedom fries" instead of you know what.

Please e-mail this to as many friends and family as you
can. Send a message to France that will not be forgotten!

[V.Viper]

The unity of freedom has never relied on the uniformity of opinion.
* * * * * * * * *John F. Kennedy

Our reliance is in the love of liberty .... Our defense is the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands everywhere.

* * * * * * * * * Abraham Lincoln

TWO GREAT QUOTES OF TWO GREAT PRESIDENTS !!!

( These Words Are Strong and Appropriate Quotes For Today ! )

[Floridaguy]

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif hmmm... my wife's favorite handbags are Louis Vuitton, she has a bunch of them. My dad's favorite drink is Wild Turkey with tonic and a twist of lemon. Heck, I never even knew Wild Turkey had anything to do with France. Turkeys after all, are an indigenous species in North America. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif

[SunnyBeaches]

Quote[/b] (Floridaguy @ Mar. 15, 2003 -- 1:03 pm)]http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif hmmm... my wife's favorite handbags are Louis Vuitton, she has a bunch of them. My dad's favorite drink is Wild Turkey with tonic and a twist of lemon. Heck, I never even knew Wild Turkey had anything to do with France. Turkeys after all, are an indigenous species in North America. *http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif
Ummmm...........excu se me Floridaguy......but if I am willing to forego L'Oreal, Nivea, Chivas Regal, Moet, T-Fal, Yves Saint Laurent and a few other things.........SUREL Y your wife and father can go without a Fre%(# thing or two darlin! ;) (OMMFG Jerry Springer?http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif???) lol

[azwhitewolf]

Quote[/b] ]** Zodiac Inflatable Boats.

This must be their "Army Surplus"!

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rotflo.gif

[Aknauta]

Boycotts will only hurt America. America is the largest importer in the world. We are also the largest Exporter in the world. If Europe, Canada and Mexico decide to boycott us then we will be in serious economic trouble. This works two ways you know.

I can understand the frustration in not being able to strike back but hurting the french people is not the answer anymore than they boycotting our people. There are other ways of expressing our disappointment in international politics.

At this time we need the support of as many people as we can get and that means not punishing the millions of French citizens who like America.
I am against boycotting France....and Canada....and Germany.....and Mexico......etc.

[Charie]

Jerry Springer? * Jerry Springer? *Are you sure that isn't Jerry Lewis?

I used to love Jerry Lewis when he was still a real person and hadn't become an icon. *This is before he went on television.

If I pull all the shades down d'ya think I could watch my J.L. video while sipping the rest of my Wild Turkey?

Speaking of Turkey, Flguy, there are several of them that I can think of, who are indigenous to France. *http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif

[Aknauta]

ditto on JL....his early films with Dean were great, mostly....

[Terri]

I find it interesting that Fina and Total are French owned. There is a Total station just down the way from me. No more fillups there!

And Krups! I need to replace my Mr. Coffee and I was thinking of Krups! Not a chance now!

Yikes! I have Michelins. Oh well, I maybe I'll put a piece of that spare duct tape over the name. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rotflo.gif

Aknauta, a boycott is like a vote. We all have the option to choose. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin2.gif

[Terri]

This is from Dick Cheney's hour long interview on Meet the Press yesterday. It seems material to me when we think about any future relationship with France.

The preceding question was about the latest offer from Le Worm for a 30 day delay, which led to this recital of the French record on Iraq. *

Transcript of Meet the Press, March 16, 2003 (http://www.msnbc.com/news/886068.asp?0dm=V218V )

MR. RUSSERT: Is it because of their financial dealings?

VICE PRES. CHENEY: I can’t say that. I don’t know. Excuse me.

I know, for example, in ’95, when there was an effort to pass a resolution, the Security Council finding him in material breach, France opposed it.

In ’96, when there was an effort to pass a resolution condemning Saddam Hussein for his slaughter of the Kurds, France opposed it.

In ’97, when there was an effort to block travel by his intelligence and military officials, France opposed it.

In ’98, France announced he was free of all weapons of mass destruction—somethin g nobody believed.

And in ’99, of course, they opposed the creation UNMOVIC, the existing inspection regime, that they now want to place their total faith in with respect to trying to disarm Saddam Hussein. Given that pattern of behavior, it’s difficult for us to believe that 30 days or 60 more days are going to change anything.

[lm8077]

I love your list, let's keep it coming. We need to really hurt Frances's economy.

[SunnyBeaches]

Quote[/b] (lm8077 @ Mar. 18, 2003 -- 9:51 pm)]I love your list, let's keep it coming. *We need to really hurt Frances's economy.
I have been unable so far to verify the validity of the following....but I have checked out 4 different hoax sites thus far and have been UNABLE to find it listed as a hoax!!!!!!! I e-mailed Lagardere and asked them but in 14 hours they have yet to answer me! Makes me pretty d@mned sure that it is TRUE!


"Ever heard of Lagardere SCA? No? Well maybe because it's a French company.
OK .. have you ever heard of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.? Probably not,
but Hachette Filipacchi publishes some magazines you may have heard of.
Those magazines would be Elle, Car &Driver, Women's Day and others. Now
it's getting familiar, isn't it? OK, so we have Car &Driver which is
published by Hachette Filipacchi which is owned by Lagardere SCA which is a
French Corporation.

So .. are we finished here? No, not quite. It seems that a man who has been
the news quite a bit of late owns around ten percent of Lagardere SCA.
About $90 million dollars worth. His name? Saddam Hussein."

[SunnyBeaches]

Quote[/b] (SunnyBeaches @ Mar. 18, 2003 -- 10:06 pm)]Quote[/b] (lm8077 @ Mar. 18, 2003 -- 9:51 pm)]I love your list, let's keep it coming. *We need to really hurt Frances's economy.
I have been unable so far to verify the validity of the following....but I have checked out 4 different hoax sites thus far and have been UNABLE to find it listed as a hoax!!!!!!! *I e-mailed Lagardere and asked them but in 14 hours they have yet to answer me! *Makes me pretty d@mned sure that it is TRUE!


"Ever heard of Lagardere SCA? No? Well maybe because it's a French company.
OK .. have you ever heard of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.? Probably not,
but Hachette Filipacchi publishes some magazines you may have heard of.
Those magazines would be Elle, Car &Driver, Women's Day and others. Now
it's getting familiar, isn't it? OK, so we have Car &Driver which is
published by Hachette Filipacchi which is owned by Lagardere SCA which is a
French Corporation.

So .. are we finished here? No, not quite. It seems that a man who has been
the news quite a bit of late owns around ten percent of Lagardere SCA.
About $90 million dollars worth. His name? Saddam Hussein."
I e-mailed Lagardere and asked them to either verify or deny the allegation. Their reply verified the validity of the statement but did not verify the amount of $90 million. Their profit for 2002 alone was in excess of $425 million so I have no doubts that the $90 million is indeed true! I hope this clarifies the situation!

[AngelsRWorldChamps]

I will boycott some france items if an item of equal or better quality is mkae in america, I will also boycott france items if in not way shape or form effects American Jobs after all there are (the american jobs) belong to ourt brothers and sisters and its hwo they put food on their table. It is not right at all to hurt fellow americans.

[Aknauta]

Terri, no a boycott is not a vote, it is an action that harms the economic interests of a nation. In the case of a French boycott, the nation most harmed will be America.

For an example of this let's break in on a conversation......"A more respectable challenge is found on O'Reilly's boycott page where nine French targets are listed: Chanel, Clarins, Dannon, Evian, L'Oreal, Louis Vuitton, Moet, Remy, Yves Saint Laurent. With regard to Dannon, O'Reilly seems to have this adolescent conception of yogurt arriving in America from France via ship. Stop the ships and only France gets hurt.

Ah, the simplicity of demagogic populism. He hasn't even bothered to notice on the Dannon Web page he's linked that Dannon produces products in three U.S. plants (in Ohio, Texas, and Utah) and distributes them from five U.S. facilities (in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania). The plant in Ohio is the largest yogurt plant in the world producing an astounding 3 million cups per day. That's certainly a lot of Americans (and don't forget those all-important single moms) to be put out of work from a boycott.

Clarins has 19 subsidiaries operating in 150 countries (mostly U.S. allies) including the U.S. Groupe Clarins USA in Orangeburg, New York might not be a huge operation, but it definitely represents Americans who will be harmed by a boycott.

The rest of the O'Reilly list of French companies (champagne, cognac, perfume, clothing) would have done well to copy the Japanese auto companies and represent their impact on the U.S. economy in their corporate literature. Overall they've done a poor job in this area and will likely pay a significant price along with their U.S. wholesalers, distributors, advertising agencies and media, and small retailers who will all be harmed by declining sales and the costs of unsold inventory."


For more of this conversation:

go this way (http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?contro l=1184)

[Terri]

Aknauta, a boycott is very similar to a vote. That's what brand loyalty is. When I purchase a product I am investing some confidence in the company that made that product. I have no confidence in the French.

While I understand your point, I reserve my right as an American to buy what I want to buy.

One of my next purchases will be a coffeemaker. It will not be a Krups.

There is a Total station near me. I will not be purchasing gasoline there.

Perhaps those Americans who have invested in or are employed by French companies will want to make a wiser decision next time. I am not going to continue supporting a country like France because of our economic concerns. These things will shake out. Trade partners change all the time and principles are involved here. The point needs to be made.

I want to point out another function that a boycott serves. This is a very tense time, Aknauta. Americans are very well known for what is called "black humor". While it may seem useless to you for us to indulge ourselves with things like French jokes and boycotts of French goods it serves a purpose. It binds Americans together at a time when morale is important. It also helps to highlight the obvious fact that France is not a friend to America.

Now, you certainly have the right to advocate for the French, but the rest of us have the right to disagree, to tell jokes and to boycott the French and I have every intention of doing all those things and enjoying every minute of it. *http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[AngelsRWorldChamps]

Quote[/b] (Aknauta @ Mar. 19, 2003 -- 11:59 am)]O'Reilly seems to have this adolescent conception of yogurt arriving in America from France via ship. *Stop the ships and only France gets hurt. *
Best idea I heard, but without the product American people will be out of work

[Aknauta]

Terri your misleading sentence, that I am in favor of the French, is a cheap shot.

I don't support the stupid position of the French government, but having lived in France and having some French friends I can tell you that many French people dislike their government too, but most DO like Americans. The French are an aloof people and hard to understand and like but they are part of our world, Western Civilization. Picking serious fights among ourselves is wrong. Wrong for the French and wrong for us. Allowing a boycott at a time when Western Civilization is under attack is not good sense.

As you say, anyone is free in this country to express themselves however if I present ideas that help to understand the argument more fully I ought to be praised for it, even if you disagree.

My idea is that boycotts rarely work and mostly hurt the people that they don't intend to hurt. Boycotts can lead to war between nations, it has happened in the past. Economic warfare is probably the root reason for wars in the last 5 centuries. Do we need this at this time? No.

The French will reap their reward for obstinancy in due time.

[Terri]

Call it a cheap shot if you want to, Aknauta, but it was my impression of your opinion of the French based on your posts in this thread and others. If it's wrong then I accept that. *

Let's look at your yogurt example a little more closely. If people boycott Dannon yogurt what do you think that might mean for American companies making and selling yogurt in America?

Increased production?

Increased sales?

Increased revenue?

Increased hiring?

Growth?

Yes, I think so. Americans will not be without yogurt but they will be buying an American product from an American company who also hires American citizens. *What's wrong with that outcome?

Why shouldn't we express our disapproval of another country? Should we just continue buying products from people we don't approve of? That's a little too PC for me.

I realize that some people will continue buying French goods and they have a perfect right to do that. I'm not saying that they don't, but I'm not going to.

If this boycott causes war with France I won't lose any sleep worrying about the outcome.