Page Eight SCARLET AND BLACK Friday, October 2|. I?“ Arnow Relates Third Year Abroad Experiences Paris Center of Political Activity; Anti-Americanism Considered By MIKE ARNOW Rather than relate all the ex- eriences of a year in France. would like to write about two mbjects pertaining to this year which are probably of particu- lar interest to Grinnellians: political lite in Paris, and so« (Jailed French “Anti-Ameri- oanism”. Political Activity Paris. and especially the student quarter. is n gnldmine .8 political activity. one of my first eirperlences in stu- dent political lite was an evening session sponsored by the Young Communist Party, where several North Vietna- mess “darts showed films on recent economic develop- ments in North viet Nam, and then led n discussion, in- discriminately calling every- one “comrade." Several weels later, French students marching and chanting to protest the war in Viet Nam (“H.S. go horn ' eta). played a fascinating game at cat-nud-monse with the police, through two miles or rush hour truffle. But political activity in Par- is, is not restricted to one point or view. Fights between the young communist students and members of "l’Dccident" (a right-wing student group dedi~ Gated to the defense of “West- ern Civilization and Christian- ity”) are known to occur. Once I attended a dinnerdiscussinn on Viet Nam, and was some- what surprised to find that the chief speaker and all the Viet- namese present were staunch advocates or us. military in- tervention in Viet Nam. Nor is political activity in Far- is restricted by age. Last win« car, there was a meeting of the French Leit (a rather loose term which included —— at that meeting — supporters oi the French socialist and communist parties) to protest the kidnap- ping oi Mehdi Ben Berka, Moroccan revolutionary who had been abducted from the middle of Paris, in broad day- light, last November. l-ligh ot< ficiais in the De Gaulie govern- ment had been implicated in the “affair", and the chief speaker of the evening, M. Francois Mitterand (who had opposed De Gaulle in the December election). used the occasion to deliver a diaa tribe against the government. The most interesting as- speet or this meeting win that it incimhd a relatively small proportion or students. and a large number at adults, especially those in the the middle - age category. These were the people who identified tlielnsdlves win: the traditional French Leitr the heirs or Jaures: the leg- acy or L‘eon him and the popular treat or the 1930's. Encounter In addition to meetings of a strictly partisan nature, there are a host of meetings or a more general character; “The Famine in indi " with U N r: s c 0 speaker or, discussions on economic devel- opment with people in aid programs in the French government. But perhaps the most stimulating political en- counter I had was a discussion with an Algerian sociology stu- dent during a GOO-mile car He had been active in various youth projects in Algeria, had left when Ben Bella was OVSF thrown, and was so critical of the Boumedienne regime that his presence in Algeria would been considered subversive. He A Homecoming Welcome We invite You To Come In And See The Latest Fall Styles floats and Bar Goats Plain or Fur Trim Dresses FOR ALL OCCASIONS Smart Sportswear Skirts-Siacks-Sweaters Mix and Match Lingerie Dusters Robes ALL NAME BRAND MDSE. iii'llii.. From HAMMAN'S APPAREL FASHIONS FOR YOU was very articulate. and his experiences in youth work in Algeria were enlightening as to the social progress being made in a developing country. in the past few years, we have heard a great deal about French ”anti - Americanism". Ever - conscious of our world image, we take this perhaps too seriously. Certainly, there is some animosity toward Amelia Cans, but it should be under- stood and not exaggerated. When such animosity does in tact exist. it is not always sini- ple to identify the cause. Some- times an unpleasant personal experience with an Amercan may lead to animosity. At oth< ei- times, it may develop as the result of rumors or stories about Americans. Sometimes un- triendly feelings toward Ameri- cans may just be part or a rival- ry which the French have ielt historically with the AngloSax- ons. Chauvinism? But very onen, therg is an element or national pride in- volved. it is not surprising that the French, who, a cen- tury and a hall ago regarded their country as the polltical and cultural capital or the world, should be envious of, or uniriemlly toward, the giant or the western hemis- pherc. In fact, the chauvin- ism which one sometimes sees in the French attitude toward their own culture and civilization may, to a large degree, he more consolatory than real. its n French pro< ressor or political science put it humorously, “You Ameri- cans are politically and eco- nomically our s u p e r l n r. Therefore, culturally, we are your superior” (or, “we must think that we are, to maintain self-esteem"). But “anti - Americanism" is not so rampant as many would believe. In fact, a few distinc: tions might help to clarify this notion. First oi all, many people tend to equate "anti - Americanism" with the French desire tor an independent ioreign policy. Certainly, dir- ierences or opinion in politics, ii extreme enough, can lead to animosity, and Vice verso. That De Gaulle find: frequent exception to American tnreigu policy ls less indicative or ari— imosity than it is or a desire to think and act independently of the United States, and at an honest difference oi opinion , lOWA CLEANERS 120 5TH AVE. GRlNNELL about the present world point Cal situation, That De Gaulle and some Frenchmen see themselves as the builders iii a new Europe is not so symptir matic of their wish to elevate France to a position of strength and prestige in the world arena. Second, a distinction should be made between what the French {eel (or what De Gaulle feels, which may not always be the same thing) in the realm of international politics, and how Frenchmen feel personally toward Ameri- cans. 1 spoke with a number of French people who. regardless or their political ideas, were quite open-mind- ed in their personal relatio- with Americans. A third distinction which must. he made is that between “ante Americanlsm” and the nature or the French people. The French are, in general, quite reserved and still toward strangers, not only foreigners, but other Frenchmen as well. in fact, Frenchmen would be the last: people in the world to deny their sometimes chilly nature. American Sensitivity We Americans are very sert‘ sitive to such reserve for we strike up tricndships easily; sometimes tend to think of the rest at the world as either for or against us; and think this dichotomy Will manilest itself even in personal relationships. Thus, the attitude of a French man who is frankly indifferent toward us personally can be disconcerting. Several other clarifica- tions should he made, For example, one source or the “anti - Americanism" id e. is the American tourist who speals little French Ind has but superficial contact with French people. And. it distinction must be made be- tween France and Parisr Paris is the social, cultural and political huh or Franco, hut the forty million French- men who live outside tin Paris area can not he lg. nored. What would we think at the Frenchman who spent n month In New York. and on the basis of “conversations" with his hotel keeper, the clerk; in Macy’s, and ii stu- dent in Greenwich village. went home telling lib friend! that the Americans are urti- French! With all this said, i would like to retort (at myself) with several items or personal err- perience. in the course of tour~ teen months, i lived in two French homes and met a num- her or French young people. I was not aware of any animos- ity toward me because or my nationality; i had a Close and warm relationship with both lamilies with whom i stayed; and 1 consider my relatiorh Ships with the French students I knew to be very friendly and rewarding. MES FWWEh§ _ 1012 Broad_ Pli. Z36-3l97