Date:  Wed, 16 Mar 1994 11:45:02 -0600

From:  Larry Davis <DAVIS[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WSUHUB.UC.TWSU.EDU>

Subject: Re: French linguistic legislation



Like a number of people on this list, my experiences in France, in Paris and

in other places as well, have been very positive. Certainly more so than in

New York during the ADS festivities. I recall that the French consulate in

Chicago once sent one of its employees out into the Loop asking, in French, for

help to the nearest hospital. She was ignored (and occasionally abused) for

well over an hour before someone thought to point her out to a police officer

who at least recognized the language she was speaking and called her superiors

who in turn called the consulate. Can some of the Francophobes beat that one?



I am not in favor of lingustic legislation, although it never works anyway,

but do indeed feel sympathy for folks who would like to stop American cultural

imperialism. They can't of course, but I feel for them.



Larry Davis