Hello all and welcome back to the Babblings. This time around I want to take a look at the recent boycott by some folks of French goods and services and the chance that maybe this is keying in to a deeper underlying sociopolitical feeling in America.

I think that unless you’ve lived under a rock (no pun intended with Iraq) for the past few weeks, then you know how the French have been battling the world’s opinion against that of the American idea of invading Iraq and forcibly removing Saddam Hussein from power. There have been many different issues resulting from this heated debate most notably being the idea that France is no longer a world power and shouldn’t be in the position of power that it is in. However, looking at this issue within our own borders shows a different story – it shows the fact that common Americans, people like you and me, are starting to build up a resentment towards the French. I’m not talking about the French as a people – you don’t see Americans burning effigies of French President Jacques Chirac in the streets, but if you have been paying attention to the news, you’ve seen a retroactive form of protest against the French – a simple boycott.

Many people might just slight this off as a few extremists saying that they are going to try to “get” France in their own way, but if the truth be told then this is really something that is being pressed throughout the nation. Regardless of my personal opinion on the whole situation with the boycott, there are some facts that should be brought to light. The United States doesn’t export many goods to France (not that the U.S. doesn’t export any goods, but not many), however the French economy is in an interesting state right now when it compares to imports and exports. The French are exporting a wide array of goods to many different countries of which America is one of the leading nations. After doing the math, economists tend to agree that with the French economy growing a full one percent each year, an American led boycott of French goods (that had at least 50 percent backing from the American public) would cripple the growing economy in France and basically put them into a recession.

As for the opposite of that (i.e. – the French boycotting American goods), there would be little to no change in our economy due to the burgeoning economic relationships with many of the East European nations. Interesting, isn’t it?

So what does this all mean? When I talk about the sociopolitical underpinnings of a boycott on French goods, I’m alluding to something that I think also needs to be brought to the light. This is the issue of American financial support worldwide. If you look at how much money we spend on foreign aid annually, you might be sick. Let’s just say that a national debt might be a thing of the past if all of that money was kept in the United States!

The problem that I think many Americans have right now is that America does so much for other nations and yet we are still looked down upon as the evil empire in the world. We helped to liberate Kuwait and they have citizens who curse our name. We brought Afghanistan out of the darkness of oppression and tyranny and there are still Afghans who don’t want us in their country to help out. We saved the French from being overrun by Nazi Germany and they stand in our way of eliminating a worldwide threat in Saddam Hussein. The list goes on and on and on…we send troops to the most remote regions of Africa to see that the food and medicine that we deliver gets to the people who need it instead of the warlords and the people harass and abuse our troops who are helping them.

I’m not saying that it’s time for America to say “Hey, be nice to us!” But rather it’s time to just simply stop the support. Let’s not make a big scene, let’s not make a lot of drama – let’s just stop the aid. In practical terms, one could argue that if there is so much poverty and disaster at home, then why put money abroad any way? But in a realistic sense, it might just be best to eliminate the aid that we give other countries that have shown time and time again that they are not grateful for the help that we give. We don’t have to be nasty about it, we don’t have to make a big production of it – but when you see Palestinians using the road building, economy spurring, and cultural advancement money that we give them on paying homicide bombers, then maybe you have a few billion dollars right there that we could keep in the homeland. When you see Iraq doing all of the evils that they are doing, then why not stop the “Oil for Food” program and let them use their money on feeding their population instead of weapons of mass destruction? Is this really an out there proposition?

The only resolution that I think would have to be made is in an instance like Afghanistan where America helped to liberate the poorest country in the world and has pledged support to get the country on its feet. Again with the post-war Iraq – if there is any rebuilding that needs to be done, then I would suggest donating some money and letting them rebuild themselves. However, spending all of this money on foreign aid where it is not appreciated is just a waste of time. Yeah, America can always say “we are the largest exporter of foreign aid in the world,” but if two thirds of the people that you send aid to hate you, does it really even matter that you sent them money or food?

So that is what I think about the French boycott and its roots in a much larger issue. Let me know what you think about this idea at joe1897@gmail.com and I’ll be sure to get back to you. Also, if you have a different view on this French boycott, then please let me know what your views are on the issue. Thanks again for reading and until next time, be good folks!

(Originally published as a Balrog Babblings article)

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