Comment on the following quote: (America, evolution, verse, philosophy)

[KARL_MARX]

"The best of America drifts to Paris. The American in Paris is the best American. It is more fun for an intelligent person to live in an intelligent country. France has the only two things toward which we drift as we grow older—intelligence and good manners.-F. Scott Fitzgerald"


I know this quote, should have been placed in the world section, but I think its more fitting in a section were philosophical minds converse. I personally think there's validity to this quote. During my short time in time Paris ,I couldn't help but notice that the capital of France has an aura of thriving intellectualism. Now, I doubt your going to find anyone argue that Parisians are literally smarter then Americans-- but that said they do treasure art, philosophy, politics and culture in general. While American are getting drunk pissed, Parisians seem to be enjoying the company of their fellow countrymen in a genuine manner. Or in the words of Leonardo Dicaprio- "People are actually alive there, not like here".

Now I realize this post is full of leftist sentiments, and generalizations, but I'd thought I'd still get your opinion.

[KARL_MARX]

YouTube - Revolutionary Road - Official Trailer

I doubt the movie is anywhere this good, but the trailer is phenomenal!

[TqmSpcMba]

Disney World in Orlando Florida is better than Paris.
Parisians are illiterate thugs who attack "McDos" MacDonalds fast food shops.
I think they even attacked the Disneyland in France.
If they are so such great lovers of art and history and culture and intellectuals, why do they try to guillotine Mickey Mouse?

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by TqmSpcMba

Disney World in Orlando Florida is better than Paris.
Parisians are illiterate thugs who attack "McDos" MacDonalds fast food shops.
I think they even attacked the Disneyland in France.
If they are so such great lovers of art and history and culture and intellectuals, why do they try to guillotine Mickey Mouse?

If Mickey Mouse was beheaded I'd laugh.
Much truth in the OP. I've been to Paris 7 times and enjoyed each visit. It's the most uniques city I've seen.

[effie g-tad]

i'd call the intelligence esprit, whereas good manners .... not so sure about them.

freedom fried, perhaps.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Let's see now..... The last time I went to Paris, the city reeked of Urine, the Tower was extremely rusty and the locals got a kick out of pushing the tourists into the tower so they got rust stains on their clothes. The people were outrightly rude, the best part of Paris was when the plane took off getting me back into civilization in West Africa where people at least had good manners.

[Minato ku]

If Paris are rude is because the life is rude in Paris. This is not the city of love but a big business city of 12 million inhabitants
Paris is not a city of tourists, tourism represent only 3% of the economy, that's why you are not threated like a king.

I doubt that you can see a sole local in the Eiffel tower, Parisian never go here, as they never go in the Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame.
Most Parisian never sit at cafe. Most stereotype about are untrue.
Did toursits understand that they are don't really visit the city but districts where 90% of people are tourist.

This picture is far more Paris than the Eiffel tower or the Louvre.

Originally Posted by TqmSpcMba

Disney World in Orlando Florida is better than Paris.
Parisians are illiterate thugs who attack "McDos" MacDonalds fast food shops.
I think they even attacked the Disneyland in France.
If they are so such great lovers of art and history and culture and intellectuals, why do they try to guillotine Mickey Mouse?

Full of stereotype.
Paris full of McDonalds, more than in many north american cities and these are almost the most successfull in the world.

The only attack of mcDo that I know was made by a far left wing farmer (Jose Bove). Do you really think that farmer live in Paris ?

[MontanaGuy]

I've been to Paris twice and there's no question that there is an appreciation of culture, art and it's an intellectually stimulating city. They do resent being overwhelmed by American culture and to be honest I don't blame them. I don't see this as some sort of pretentiousness on their part, I think many French people are just turned off by the crass and often shallow nature of American businesses that seek to dominate the globe and turn the world into endless strip malls full of fastfood chain restaurants. I have encountered rude people in France but I've also gotten into conversations with people as I've traveled there and it seems like they know more about American history than most Americans and yet Americans are generally ignorant about France.

[coosjoaquin]

Just like in any country you are going to find good people and bad people. What the French do have above many other countries is the incredible amount of culture hidden inside their ancient buildings and delicious baguettes.

Good:
-The family I spent with during my student exchange program. They, their daughter and their two adopted kids treated me incredibly nice and took me to see all the sights on the north of France.

Bad:
-The guy that failed to scam me in Paris.
-The humping dog that the aforementioned family owned.

[b. frank]

Originally Posted by Minato ku

Paris full of McDonalds, more than in many north american cities and these are almost the most successfull in the world.

My favorite thing about Paris was that I could drink legally in public (I was 19) and that I could get beer in McDonald's. Awesome!

Other than that, it was unmemorable.