@Elias
Dear Elias,
Thank you for your generous expression of support.
I would disagree with you that this forum is truly one in which genuine ’debate’ takes place.
Unless the editors screen out the hatemongers, and those who are obscene, then it cannot truly be a respctable forum. If we were debating in a university hall, the attention-getters would be thrown out the first time they started ranting.
Of course, this is not the Academy Francaise, nor is it a church, but still there are some rudimentary principles which should apply :
1)no ’ad hominum’ attacks,
2)and absolutely no obscenity. Ideas can be bantered about, but personal and obscene attacks should be outlawed.(They do not enhance the debate,- they only provide notoriety to a few malcontents.)
As for the « rift » betyween our two countries, this is to weak a term to be appropriate.
The wound is mortal.
But diplomats will continue to speak, and smile, but deep down the wound runs deep, and the hurt Americans feel is beyond remedy.
Nevertheless,- life goes on, - a ’new’ France that is less French, and more ’international’ emerges, -each nation faces its own challenges,
- only we understand,- on this side of the Atlantic,- more clearly then ever before, - who our friends are, ...or, - are not....
Best of luck with your bar exam this fall !
Claire Elizabeth