Une Nation "Romantique"

Okay, I'll admit it. I've often romanticized France. It's history, culture, language and general beauty often astounds me and draws me in like the warm, sweet fragrance of a fresh baguette.

I often refer to myself as a francophile due to my tendency to obsess over anything related to Paris or France. The 4ft-wide map of Paris

on my living room wall might be the first indication. Spending six weeks in Paris was not nearly long enough to satiate my thirst for une vie francaise.

But alas, I am coming to terms with some of the horrendous fates dealt by the french, especially during and since the colonial years. The racism, misogynistic and ignorant hatred for the "other" by the french is astounding--something my francophile self hates to reconcile.

As an American, I have had to learn the harsh fates dealt throughout my nation's history. I have had to learn how those fates still prevail today. I have had to learn to comprehend and liberate myself from the potential continuance of prejudices and ignorance that will be the demise of any nation. But I have also learned that as a nation we can grow and change. I am blessed to be an American.

And through that blessing, I want others to know that they can experience that same joy if they only acknowledged the problems they must overcome. So, in order for me to make some impact, I must first learn more.

I plan to follow-up this post with more insights into my studies of France's colonial involvement in North Africa and current issues related to immigration and religion. For such a romantic nation, France sure has a lot to get right to really become the republic it thinks it already is.

I fully recognize I am far from an expert on any of these issues, but as far as I can tell no one in America knows they exist even as the romanticize France. I believe I will always love France and hope to live there one day, but it seems only fair to understand the entire beast.

To share my love, here is a beautiful photo of one of my favorite places in Paris, the Rodin chateau (photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs' flickr).

And if you want to read an amazing book about the Veil Ban in French schools, which goes beyond the actual ban into France's problems with racism, gender discrimination, sexism and more, read Politics of the Veil by Joan W. Scott.