First off I would like to say that I love your newsletter.

Secondly, I would like to know if you could give me a little insight on your thoughts for traveling with a possible war ensuing. I live in the US near Seattle, WA and while I already have plans to travel to France in June and am not going to change them, I would like to know your opinion about how the French may receive my family and I. I have traveled there 3 other times and love France and the people. It may be ignorant of me to ask such a question because I would hope that any French traveler to the US wouldn't stereotype me or treat me any different because of my governments views and I hope that it doesn't sound like that's what I'm going to them. I have faith that people will treat me as I treat them so maybe I've answered my own question. I just wondered if you could give me your opinion. Thank you very much. B

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Dear B
Thank you for writing, your mail is one of many I have received about relationships between America and France. The mail ranges from strong support of France and the other countries opposing a war, to hate mail vilifying the French and France as ungrateful cowards.

Firstly I can assure you that the French people will have no animosity or bad attitude to you or you family when you come to France. There is no new dislike of America or Americans and in spite of many things I have read in the American press recently, there is always a feeling of respect and gratitude for the allies who helped to liberate France in the 1938-45 war.

We have been in France for 12 years now and every November 11 every mayor in France reads a declaration from the President of France at every war memorial (there are over 25,000 memorials in France for the millions of French people who died). The speech is short, but always an important point is the expression of gratitude to the soldiers from America, England and other countries of the world who fought and died to liberate Europe.

You will be just as welcome as you found you were before.

Best Wishes

Tony

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Dear Tony,

Thank you for your input. For the record, I am against the war and am embarrassed by the ignorance in some of those articles you've mentioned by the American press. Luckily, I have found a few as well that supports the French. I guess everyone is allowed to have their own opinion.

Again, thank you for your kind email and also for your wonderful newsletter. As always, I look forward to visiting France!

B