You could have heard a pin drop.

macms · 01-16-2009, 09:04 PM

In an email....

When in England, at a fairly large conference, Condi Rice was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. She answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. 'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.' The American said, ''The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it. 'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!' The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

chippewastud79 · 01-16-2009, 09:08 PM

Very nice Fred

md4958 · 01-16-2009, 09:09 PM

you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to macms again.

JaKaacH · 01-16-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md4958

you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to macms again.

+1

newcigarz · 01-16-2009, 09:50 PM

Very nice Sir.

JohnnyKay5 · 01-16-2009, 10:04 PM

always good for a laugh.. nice

G G · 01-16-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcigarz

Very nice Sir.

Have to agree.

hotreds · 01-16-2009, 10:08 PM

Hope this thread isn't too political for some of the mods here!

Studebaker · 01-16-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotreds

Hope this thread isn't too political for some of the mods here!

Ouch!

CBI_2 · 01-16-2009, 10:17 PM

Thanks Fred. I think many in this country could do with a bit of this perspective.

Da Klugs · 01-16-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotreds

Hope this thread isn't too political for some of the mods here!

"Discussing" the French is a time honored tradition.

Don Fernando · 01-17-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotreds

I find this picture pretty offending and very arrogant.

How about all the English, Australian, Dutch soldiers and all the other soldiers from different nationinalities fighting and dying in a war the Americans started? Now, normally I would not complain about it, but when an asshole wears an arrogant and very untrue statement like that on his uniform I think he should be severely punished. Behaviour like this makes me sick and if I was a politician I would seriously consider not renewing the Dutch mission in Afghanistan due to statements made by this asshole who should be glad that he is getting all international support at a high price.

schnell987 · 01-16-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md4958

you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to macms again.

+1

Thanks again, Fred.

stitch · 01-16-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md4958

you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to macms again.

It's ok ... I did it for you

Fred is one of the great ones.

01-16-2009, 11:56 PM

Great post, Fred!

A quick question though....

Why are the Paris street lined with trees?

Because the German Army likes to march in the shade.

markem · 01-17-2009, 12:13 AM

nice post, but let us not forget that there would be no good ole USA to save the world if the French didn't save out ass in the 18th century. The US leaves this mostly out of the history books, but the island of Antigua was worth more to England than the colonies, so French activity there gave rise to our 'victory'.

Before we go around pretending to be superior, let's recall that we were once quite lowly. And that's about all I have to say about that.

01-17-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstrommark

nice post, but let us not forget that there would be no good ole USA to save the world if the French didn't save out ass in the 18th century. The US leaves this mostly out of the history books, but the island of Antigua was worth more to England than the colonies, so French activity there gave rise to our 'victory'.

Before we go around pretending to be superior, let's recall that we were once quite lowly. And that's about all I have to say about that.

Since this is a pride thread and being a history buff, even that fact is now debated with a lot of new light being shed on things.

Great thread for sure.

Da Klugs · 01-17-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstrommark

nice post, but let us not forget that there would be no good ole USA to save the world if the French didn't save out ass in the 18th century. The US leaves this mostly out of the history books, but the island of Antigua was worth more to England than the colonies, so French activity there gave rise to our 'victory'.

Before we go around pretending to be superior, let's recall that we were once quite lowly. And that's about all I have to say about that.

Don't forget the statue of liberty as well. Nice gift and... well she's French you know.. pretty sure she goin commando under that robe.

(I wrote and didn't post pretty much what you said here. But ... well it's France

)

replicant_argent · 01-16-2009, 09:11 PM

nice, Fred.
All the hullabaloo about those men and women we hold dear, and should have a place in our thoughts and prayers every day... Wasted on those that do not understand history, or even diplomacy.

GTS21 · 01-16-2009, 10:55 PM

Excellent excellent stuff

01-16-2009, 09:04 PM	#1
macms ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mile High Posts: 996 Trading: (56)	You could have heard a pin drop. In an email.... When in England, at a fairly large conference, Condi Rice was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. She answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.' You could have heard a pin drop. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?' A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?' You could have heard a pin drop. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.' You could have heard a pin drop. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE... Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. 'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.' The American said, ''The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it. 'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!' The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.' You could have heard a pin drop. __________________

01-16-2009, 09:08 PM	#2
chippewastud79 Fatter than you! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Larry Location: A little place called home. Posts: 5,397 Trading: (44)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Very nice Fred __________________ If we weren't supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat? You can never have too many cigars, they are like an investment in good times.

01-16-2009, 09:09 PM	#3
md4958 Captain Cannoli Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moe Location: Suffield, CT Posts: 5,712 Trading: (62)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to macms again. __________________ "One fart can foul the air for everyone" - Esteemed philosopher "If avoiding the nasty $hit is being a snob, them I am guilty as charged."- Same esteemed philosopher.

01-16-2009, 09:50 PM	#5
newcigarz Smoke and Mirrors Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: On the bottom shelf Posts: 3,139 Trading: (15)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Very nice Sir.

01-16-2009, 10:04 PM	#6
JohnnyKay5 Armed Forces Tumbleweed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 1,046 Trading: (22)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. always good for a laugh.. nice __________________ *HIGH FIVE!*

01-16-2009, 10:08 PM	#8
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,665 Trading: (63)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Hope this thread isn't too political for some of the mods here! __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

01-16-2009, 10:17 PM	#10
CBI_2 Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Paul Location: In my skin. Posts: 2,066 Trading: (0)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Thanks Fred. I think many in this country could do with a bit of this perspective. __________________ "The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants." Albert Camus Cool Cigar Themed Stuff

01-16-2009, 11:56 PM	#15
Darrell Guest Posts: n/a	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Great post, Fred! A quick question though.... Why are the Paris street lined with trees? Because the German Army likes to march in the shade.

01-17-2009, 12:13 AM	#16
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,625 Trading: (47)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. nice post, but let us not forget that there would be no good ole USA to save the world if the French didn't save out ass in the 18th century. The US leaves this mostly out of the history books, but the island of Antigua was worth more to England than the colonies, so French activity there gave rise to our 'victory'. Before we go around pretending to be superior, let's recall that we were once quite lowly. And that's about all I have to say about that. __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

01-16-2009, 09:11 PM	#19
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. nice, Fred. All the hullabaloo about those men and women we hold dear, and should have a place in our thoughts and prayers every day... Wasted on those that do not understand history, or even diplomacy. __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

01-16-2009, 10:55 PM	#20
GTS21 Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 460 Trading: (0)	Re: You could have heard a pin drop. Excellent excellent stuff