Dijon's Porte Guillaume

Being French in the United States, you tend to hear a lot of definitive opinions by Americans about the French. It seems to me that, for whatever the reason, France seems to get a strong reaction from Americans. People either love it or hate it. Neutral positions seem relatively rare.

Some are positive, albeit perhaps almost unrealistic in their adoration for all things French. But at least they seem to have an open mind towards France.

Then, there is the other side, the overly sure people all about how "the French" hate Americans. Most of them have never been to France, and the others might have visited for a few days, and assumed that going up the Eiffel Tower, strolling along elite shops on the Champs-Élysées, sitting at an overpriced sidewalk café (likely designed for tourists) and visiting the Louvre qualifies them as experts in all things France.

These people know, with absolute certainty, that "the French" are obnoxious and fit all of the stereotypes that far too many Americans have of them. They are cowards and elitists and wishy-washy and arrogant, somehow, both womanizers and homosexuals, all at once. But more than anything, the dominant stereotype of "the French" for these people is that they absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, hate Americans. 

It seems strange to me, this certainty that so many Americans have that "the French" hate Americans, and that "the French" surely fit into certain stereotypes. In truth, I have never met any French person who even came close to fitting the stereotypes that Americans have of them. Never saw a French person wearing a beret (although I saw American tourists wearing them while in France n this recent trip). Never heard a French person make the kind of noise that Americans assume French people do, although I admittedly indulge Americans with my own imitation of this from time to time, often in a sarcastic manner. 

Also, I never really met any French person who truly hates Americans. That likely is hard for many Americans to believe. In fact, many (perhaps most) Americans seem to have a really hard time believing it when I say it. Yet, that is the truth. I have heard French opinions which can be critical of certain aspects of American culture, and especially their political leanings. But I hardly think that this qualifies as hating Americans, generally. 

How can I say that? 

Well, French people watch American television and movies. They listen to American music and many of them wear American fashions. They think it is cool to use English and/or American phrases (sometimes words are invented to make them sound like they are English). They have taken a liking to American-style fast food, to the point where there are more McDonald's in Paris than in Manhattan. And there are monuments to Americans and the unique and special historic relationship between the United States and France. Seriously, there are avenues in Paris named after Americans (Wilson, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy). Paris has a Statue of Liberty, which of course was a gift from the French to Americans, and which commemorates the special relationship between the two countries. There are statues of Americans, particularly George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. 

Then last year, I ran into a plaque in my family's hometown of Marly-le-Roi, a suburb of Paris, which also honored Thomas Jefferson. It is not a particularly famous town which will attract tourists or anything. 

Finally this year, I took a picture of Dijon's Porte Guillaume, which sometimes is referred to as Dijon's Arc de Triomphe. That is a bit unfair of a comparison, because this arch is much smaller and less impressive than the one in Paris. It was originally built to honor Guillaume de Volpiano. And yet, once again, there was a plaque there honoring an American. Once again, that American was Thomas Jefferson.

Gotta tell you, it sure seems like a funny way for a country to "hate" Americans, continuously naming streets and sites in honor of Americans and commemorating friendship between the two nations, and watching American movies and shows and listening to American music and eating American-style food and often even borrowing American phrases. Just my personal slice of opinion, but maybe it's time to cut the crap with that whole stupid stereotype of "the French" hating Americans to begin with.

All of that said, political differences certainly exist between the two nations. In fact, they have never been wider than during this era of Trump. It feels more serious than even the French Bashing of the early 2000's during the George W. Bush years. However, France is hardly unique in that regard, as the same can be said for almost the rest of the world outside of American borders. Trump just has that kind of impact on the rest of the world. 

Anyway, I digress....

This post was originally simply about pictures I took of the Porte Guillaume in Dijon, because it is one of the images which I kept seeing over and over whenever I looked at articles or videos of what to see while in Dijon. So here are those pictures which I took.

Enjoy.