On Tuesday, March 11, 2003, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to designate April "French Trade Month" in Carrboro. Most residents realize the attitude of Carrboro, generally speaking, is live and let live. Because there are people in our town, as well as across America, who have been vocal in their opposition of this war, we have been labeled unpatriotic. Here in America we are allowed to express our misgivings about anything we want, including the war. That's why we are America. Here in Carrboro we remain proud Americans, but some of us think more can be accomplished through dialog than death. Our public officials have been berated, and even threatened, for the stance they have taken. They won't back down in their quest for true freedom, the freedom to express themselves as they see fit. There is no doubt that folks in Carrboro support our troops, but we would rather support them here at home than in a faraway land, fighting a war that is questionable at best. Considering Carrboro's history over the past few decades, it isn't surprising that the Board took this unpopular stance in support of the French. It was a Frenchman, Jacques Menache, who started the ArtsCenter here in Carrboro, and another, Cyril Boisson, who brought us the idea for Fête de la Musique, a free worldwide music festival that evolved into the Carrboro Music Festival, one of our town's greatest days. And who can forget our nickname "The Paris of the Piedmont." Some say we should buy local and not encourage trade with France. That darn Chapel Hill. If only one could find a fine Carrboro wine. And as for fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and breads, Carrboro Farmers' Market recently ushered in its 25th season. Let's see, vegetables from France or Carrboro? Hmm... Use your heads. Now that the war has started, we're seeing plenty of antiwar demonstrations, much like those we saw in the 70s during the war in Vietnam. One big difference is that our young men aren't being drafted like they were back then. A guy I was dating was drafted, and he quickly packed his bags and high-tailed it to Canada. Not long after, the FBI showed up at my door. A terrified teenager, they accused me of harboring Dave, which was ridiculous since I was still living at home with my parents. There were plenty of pacifists just like him, refusing to be trained to kill, and eventually being pardoned by the President for their actions. In the interim many young men spent years in Canada, waiting for the war to end so they could return home without repercussions. And even more died in a foreign land, or came back so screwed up their lives have never been the same. If you think there won't be similar consequences as a result of this war, you are deluding yourselves. Following is reaction to Carrboro's stance from folks worldwide... Thank you Carrboro. It's good to know there are still some adults in the US. The schoolyard antics ("freedom fries, name calling, giving the cold shoulder to the unwilling coalition, etc.) is ridiculous. Especially for a nation that prides itself on freedom of ideas, democracy, and that thinks it is the best and baddest mofo in the universe. Vive the French, Germans, and the Russians the rest of the unwilling coalition. If we are so big on freedom and democracy, then we should be willing to accept that our allies have the right to respectfully disagree with us (regardless of their ulterior motives - we sometimes have ulterior motives too). I am disappointed that the president/administration did not come out and disnounce the foolish antics of congress and the public in general on this french bashing. Interesting that german and russian bashing was not as blatant. Beverly Rice CARRBORO is the greatest. I live in the countryside near Carrboro and when I found out about French Appreciation month, I nearly flipped. I am so proud and delighted to be associated with this very civilized, rational and ultra-kool town! I had already started my own French appreciation year; I was utterly delighted to see the Daily Show segment on Carrboro and to find the French Appreciation webpage. Vive la France! Vive la Carrboro! Quel joie-de-vivre! Let's continue to stand up to the neocon Barbarians while we sip wine and enjoy the most cultured, exquisite treats the world has to offer! What a sacrifice! Giving up McDonald's! I was planning to leave the area, but now I don't want to leave. What community could be better than this? France has taught the world what it means to be civilized, and Carrboro has learned the lesson well. We have esprit de corps! Best regards to everybody. A Friend of Peace Dear Carrboro friends, I wanted to thank you for your initiative and express my hope that the divergences between France and the US will rapidly subside and that we will soon resume our relationship of sincere friendship. You know that most of the French were well aware that Saddam was a tyrant before the beginning of the war. You also know that to be anti-war did not mean to be supportive of Saddam. And above all you know that many French people were thinking of the American soldiers who were involved in that war and of their families. They share the America hope that everything would go as smoothly as possible for them and for the civilian population of Iraq. I would also like to say that we will never forget what America did for us, that we are sorry about the current climate between our two countries and that we hope that initiatives like yours will contribute to the preservation of frienship between nations. Thank you! Gisele Jezegou J'ai appris votre courageuse initiative grace a l'hebdomadaire "Marianne." Merci de ne pas tomber dans une francophobie aussi stupide que l'antiaméricanisme qui est loin d'etre ici ce que certains de vos medias laissent croire ... La France et les Etats unis sont depuis l'origine des republiques soeurs .. et même parfois les soeurs ne sont pas d'accord ... cela n'empeche pas l'amour ..entre les peuples . un gouvernement qu'il soit français ou americain reste critiquable . Ses décisions ne sont pas forcement les meilleures , l'histoire nous enseigne que certaines décisions gouvernementales ont été de lourdes erreurs ... et que l'infaillibilité n'est l' apanage de personne! Finalement ce qui nous unit c'est l'amour de la démocratie! JP Roncé Le Havre France Just sending you this mail to say I am happy that not all Americans believe that we are just stupid frog eaters, like not every Frenchmen thinks that all Americans are cowboy farmers with lots of guns in their pants. Even in France some people became American haters, but hopefully they are very few. I believe that's because our media are more after Bush than the American people. If there is a hating feeling it is more against Bush. Finally, I think that if more people acted like you, some wars could be avoided, and more peaceful ways could be found. Because if war resolves some problems, it is just for a time. Power plays and destruction never bring peace. Rautha Feyd France As a reprisal to the hysterical anti-frogs campaign of propaganda running in USA, to the ban of french fries (Actually they are belgian...) in the US Senate's canteen and to the sacrilegious pouring off of a bottle of Bordeaux down a drain (Shame on the profaner!), we, the french people, had planed to put an embargo against USA on french kisses. However, after I'd read the story about your lovely initiative and your brave stance on this issue, I have considered that such a resolution would have been too harsh and I vetoed it. Consequently, you brave citizens of Carrboro are allowed to kiss each other "à la française", duty-free and for ever (consenting adults only). Don't give up! "Nous sommes tous américains!" Daniel Desrumaux (A frog) Please first excuse me for my very bad English but it's not my native language... I only want to send you a little message of congratulations for the courage of your mayor and of the population of your town... I never went to america (too far and too much money for me) but I promise you that if I come one day in your country I'll spend my first night in Carrboro and I'm sure we'll find here a good pub to drink some glasses together... Best regards, Bernard Galy Toulouse - South of France Hi Carrboro. So refreshing to read in my newspaper today that it is possible not to support the war in th US. I have spent 5 years in Raleigh, NC and I enjoyed it very much. Actually, three of my children are native of North Carolina and are US citizen. I want them to be proud of having both French and US citizenship, and your outspoken position for peace makes me feel good about it. Congratulations for your courage! Michel Carrere of the South of France Carrboro we love you!!! Denis BLANC Nîmes South of France Laurent D'AMATO Lyon, France Congratulations for your French month! I have a good American friend living in North Carlina and I intend to visit him soon. Sure, I will visit your courageous town when I will come! Don't give up the fight! Jacques France I was so pleased to read this paper about Carrboro and your Mayor in Libération today! Those misunderstandings are so frustrating! I spent six years with Americans in Saudi Arabia, and I will never forget the good memories nor my friends. In spite of the temporary discrepancies we are facing now, you can be sure that 95% of the people in France love and respect you. I think the main reason why we disagree is that we Europeans have waged bloody wars at home for centuries. My parents and grandparents remembered what France, Germany and England were in 1945 and 1918: ruins, ruins and ruins. Presently there is virtually no border between France and Germany, but you can even not figure out what the hate between our countries was only 100 years ago! This is why we say: Never that again. I really hope these simple lines could help do away with all these bad misunderstandings. We live in Touraine - this is a good place. If you ever pass by, drop a line! Thank you again to Carrboro and to your Mayor! Pierre Laget, MD SAINT AVERTIN Cedex (France) Bonjour. Le lecture du journal "libération" est réconfortant : votre commune manifeste un esprit d indépendance et une réaction intelligente et saine à l égard des rapports internationaux que les Etats Unis tentent d imposer aux autres nations. Ce refus de la démocratie dont M.Bush fait preuve dés lors que ses interlocuteurs ne partagent pas l intégralité de ses vues est stupéfiant et inquiétant; sa gestion de votre pays gouverné par une idéologie religieuse est tout autant préoccupante. La manipulation des informations et les faux prétextes qu il a avancés pour légitimer son intervention unilatérale relèvent, bien sûr, du traditonnel mode de gouvernement dans tous les pays du monde. M.Bush attteint seulement un sommet dans cette déviance des démocraties. Pas plus les français que d autres pays détiennent une vérité ou la vérité. Seule une réelle volonté de discussion, d honnêteté intellectuelle, une recherche réelle d améliorer les conditions de vie de tous les peuples sont susceptibles de permettre de résorber les conflits entre pays. Il est regrettable que M.Bush ne prenne en compte que sa religion et des intérêts srtictement économiques pour tenter de diriger le monde : quel mépris à l égard des cultures des autres peuples.... Si pour une fois, je partage la positoin de notre président Chirac, je n'oublie pas pour autant tous ses errements durant toute sa vie politique. Peut être, pour une fois, est il quelque peu sincère dans un acte politique?.... Bonne continuation dans votre recherche d'une autre voie d'expression américaine et à bientôt dans d'autres échanges internautes, qui sait? Cordialement, Jean-Luc PARISET à Toulon - FRANCE P.S : Excusez l utilisation du français pour m adresser à vous mais si je vouais bien me faire comprendre de vous, il valait mieux que j évite de m'exprimer en anglais ou américain que je ne pratique quiasiment pas. Je ne doute pas que vous trouverez dasn vos rangs un traducteur. Well done Carrboro! I think you guys are displaying a lot of courage, and I want to thank you for this. It's heartening to see that not all Americans suddenly turn their backs on France, just because our current governments can't seem to agree on anything. I wish people would stand back from all this emotional stuff, and realise that this hatred stems from the political agendas and shortcomings of a bunch of politicians, not from some sudden incompatibility between people in our respective countries. I wish people on both side of the Atlantic just examine the facts, set aside the cliches, emotions and misinformation and migivings, and you might see that at the end of the day, it's nothing more than a dispute in an old couple. In France we say that there's nothing as healthy as a good argument from time to time, and that it takes 2 great characters to have a good fight. Just ask my wife :) Thanks again Carrboro, you make me think of travelling to the USA again, and you display the image of the America I love. PJ Pallez France Thank you everybody.. From FRANCE WITH LOVE! Hubleb France 85% of people in France disapprove the War in Iraq. Our Planet, our village, is no longer " the old west." But even if we disagree with that damned war ( excuse my English), be sure we still Love American people. God Bless America and ...Démocratie (1) Démocratie : if my neighboor is different in color and thinking, I respect him. André BLANC France Bonjour, Vous me faites de nouveau aimer l'amérique, merci pour votre prise de position. un français. Mike R. France I have just read in a French newspaper your idea to promote French products on April. I am a French citizen living in Spain, and just wanted to say I am very happy to see your initiative within the general context in your country. Thank you and good luck. Ms. Delphine Crespo Spain Excuse my English. I just read in a newspaper that you were against the boycott of French products. You please me, you know! Most of France, doesn't agree with Mr. Bush, but we're still wearing Nikes, Levi's, and still drinking Coca-cola. Nobody sold his Ford, etc. So thank you for being honest, for having your own ideas, and for trying to stop this ridiculous fight between USA and France, which would not be acceptable from children. Keep on that way, and again thank you. Lionel Paris Merci et bravo à votre ville et à son maire, Michael Nelson, pour votre courage et vos prises de position "anti-guerre." Nos produits méritent d'être chez vous, et nous chercherons les vôtres dans nos supermarchés! Vive la démocratie et l'amitié entre les peuples... Et faisons plutôt de la musique...!! Fabienne Moutin Biennale d'Art Contemporain de Lyon, France I read about your action of having a "month of French food" in your city. Although I am not French myself, I wanted to congratulate your board for the political courage of having such an original - and wonderfully ironic - idea during these dark times. My girlfriend is American, lives in Wenatchee, WA and I know how difficult it is to display free and responsible thinking nowadays. Thanks again :-) Philippe Noth Montreux, Switzerland I just would like to thank Carrboro's people for their action for France. In this time of "french phobia" an action like yours makes us feel better. Excuse me for my English, it has been a long time I haven't practised. Hélène Genno-Delcourt Chers Madame, Monsieur, Je m'appelle CHIRON Denis, j'habite en France dans la région de Bretagne dans la ville de Guipavas (20 000 habitants) à coté de la ville de BREST (200 000 habitants). Je voulais vous remercier car j'ai appris dans le journal local que la ville de CARRBORO comprenait les idées de la FRANCE. Nous, Français, avons eu sur notre sol plusieurs guerres et savons ce que cela entraîne comme souffrances et pleurs. Les Français aiment les Américains car nous n'avons pas oublié que l'Amérique nous a libéré en 1945. Nous n'oublions pas non plus que des milliers de jeunes soldats Américains sont morts en France et notamment sur les plages de Normandie. Amical bonjour de FRANCE. Denis Chiron I think Carrboro must be the most sane place in Fascist States of America right now. I, too, think the French need to be commended and thanked for trying to stop Bush's warmongering. Viva le France!!! Phillip L. Crown Iola, KS Carrboro is Car-nutty. France is no champion of peace. They are protecting the Hussein regime because their largest oil company, TotalFinaElf, was given huge contracts by the Hussein regime IF they can get the sanctions against Iraq lifted. Your foolishness will become apparent and your shame will grow when the Hussein regime is defeated and the lethal stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons are exposed. Stop now, and stand behind your President, before you risk more of your tiny town’s honor. Dale McGlothlin Greensboro, NC I wish more cities and towns had the courage you have in thanking the French for trying to save us from ourselves. I am so proud of the fact that at least one town in America is willing to stand up for the true American ideal. This is the first time in quite awhile that I feel like waving the American Flag with pride, thank you for that. You must have a wonderful town. Sally A. McDonald Are you even aware that France has been supporting Sadam with weapons of mass destruction and the means to build them for years? Are you even aware that this tyrant has killed thousands and thousands of women and children without the blink of an eye? Did you cry even one tear after 911? And weren't you even a little bit afraid when the terror alert went up to red a few weeks ago? If you are or have been aware of ANY of this, you will rescind this outrageous support of France. By supporting France, you are supporting the continued destructive terrorism of Sadam Hussein and all the other terrorists around the world. Please don't whine or complain if your family is the victim of a terrorist attack, as you have supported this. I am embarrassed to live near your city and will support a boycott of YOUR goods and services, in addition to that of France's. Diane Bero Durham Merci beaucoup. Serge Du sud de la France Thank you for reminding me of the America I love to love. JX Bardant Paris Please pass on my appreciation to your town leaders for supporting the maligned French. I will spend a night in your community when I travel through this year. Zac Garripoli Port Angeles, WA Hi. My name is Greco. I just sent this mail to say that I support the position that the city is taking about the war. I think what the Bush government is doing about France is totally wrong and immature. Congratulations!!! Greco Felippe Sorocaba . SP . Brazil I have read in a Canadian newspaper that you intend to put up a "France day" in your city. If that's true, THANK YOU, because I am French and the current animosity between the USA and my country make me very sad. I feel as if there had been a fight between members of my family and no one knows if we are going to talk to each other again. Gilles Giraud Montréal Canada How misguided and niave you are to believe that a war has not been already justified. First of all a war will not solve our problems with the middle east, and I don't think most Americans believe that it can. But this isn't about solving our problems with the middle east. This about stopping a murderous dictator who has already killed, tortured and raped millions of his own people. This evil man has no respect for life, let alone peace. He has already played a major part in killing innocent american lives, with his harboring, training, and finacial support of terrorist groups such as Al-Quaida. Do you accually think that if we do nothing, this man will not kill innocent american lives? Of course he will. War, unfotunaley, is a necessary evil sometimes. There are always going to be evil people in the world and the only way of eliminating evil is by killing it. Unfortunately this cowardly man will use his own people as sacrificial lambs, and hide amoungst the populous of innocent people. Does this mean we don't go after him because of his own disregaurd for innocent lives? Absolutely not, we eliminate his whole regime before they kill rape and torture more innocent lives. I know that this will do nothing to change your view of this horrible sittuation, but you must know that as Americans we will take care of our own. Thankfully we have a president with a backbone to stand up to these radical evil people that want to destroy America and what it stands for. We will win this war with or without your support. But just remember that our young people will be sacrificing their lives so you have the freadom to express you views. WE ALL WANT PEACE!! It's just that some of us understand what it takes to keep peace. Good luck with your propoganda campaign! The next bottle of French wine I drink will have a German label on it! Just remember history repeats itself. Richard Lee Informations learn us the attractive idea to have a partnership with french goods, during April. It's a very sympathetic challenge. May we imagine a more important event, a conference, a presentation of the dramatic trouble which stands in Europe, on all the aspects of this evident high-damaged conflagration ? Roquette Gilles in the North of France MAGNIFIQUE! Carrboro - I love you....thank you for your outspoken support of France. It is so heartening to know that there are so many sane and courageous people around fighting for peace and compassion....and as always Carrboro is in the forefront...We are proud to be Carrboro homeowners.... Betsy and Westy Fenhagen Carrboro, NC Home | Overview | About Us | Ads | Art | Businesses | Carrboro and Area Stuff | Carrboro Map | Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises