As nobody would know in the United States because soccer is even more unpopular than the hockey, France lost 0-1 to Scotland in an Euro Cup Qualifier match at the Parc-des-Princes stadium in Paris. I was at that game and saw probably the greatest goal in Scottish football history. The French dominated play the entire game and I think the only shot on goal by the Scottish was the goal that was a lob from around 30 metres. It was perfectly placed to catch the goalkeeper off guard. I only had time to turn the camera on to get the celebration which was more of a surprise than joy. Now I thought that the Scottish fans were going to be a problem when I was there because they are usually known for two things: they drink a lot and they are massive highlanders. Both were true however they were all good sports after the game and during. I got pats on the back and handshakes while wearing a French jersey outside and in the pubs instead of punches and broken chairs. I guess the French just have a good relationship with the Scottish; well they probably just both dislike the English.
Overall it was an amazing experience to witness the fan's pride in their country and their team which doesn't really happen in the US. We are so arrogant about everything that when it comes to sports like baseball and basketball at the international level we just expect to win and usually just screw around in the games rather than play. I went to US/Canada soccer game in Chicago in the summer and you would think it would be a big rivalry and that there would be a significant fan base. No there were more Mexicans than Americans because they were there for the game after that where Mexico was playing Guadeloupe oddly enough a French colony. So yeah I am just ashamed at the fact that when they play the national anthem at sporting events in America, nobody really sings and they have to put the damn words up on the board so that people can read it. In other countries where national pride is more prevalent, the whole stadium erupts in the national anthem and everybody around you knows the words.
I know that America doesn't really have a distinctive culture because it is a mix of cultures from around the world and is divided in 50 states, but I realized when I came here that I am in fact American and not from Illinois. We do things differently and our cultural identity is that we are accepting of all races and religions and that we incorporate them into a collective American identity. I wish more people had nationalistic pride so that things like the Spanish problem wouldn't happen. France has immigrants from all over the world: Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They all have their respective languages, but when they come to France they learn to speak French. France is made up of mostly immigrants and it’s hard to find a true Frenchman, but it is their common language that distinguishes their culture and national identity. I feel like people who come to the US should learn English just as all of the immigrants did in the centuries past. If people want to live in a country they must adapt to it and not have the country adapt to them. Nobody should come into another country and expect that they speak your language. I know Americans go around the world expecting English to spoken everywhere. I think that’s harmful because its arrogance and ignorance combined, which foreigners will realize and not treat you nicely. At least show a little effort and try to learn a few words in the correct intonation so that at least you show that you acknowledge the existence of their culture and language….I might be preaching and some might think that I am not wise enough to have the backing for these claims, but I am just telling it like it is without all the bullshit that seems to line people’s views today.
Overall it was an amazing experience to witness the fan's pride in their country and their team which doesn't really happen in the US. We are so arrogant about everything that when it comes to sports like baseball and basketball at the international level we just expect to win and usually just screw around in the games rather than play. I went to US/Canada soccer game in Chicago in the summer and you would think it would be a big rivalry and that there would be a significant fan base. No there were more Mexicans than Americans because they were there for the game after that where Mexico was playing Guadeloupe oddly enough a French colony. So yeah I am just ashamed at the fact that when they play the national anthem at sporting events in America, nobody really sings and they have to put the damn words up on the board so that people can read it. In other countries where national pride is more prevalent, the whole stadium erupts in the national anthem and everybody around you knows the words.
I know that America doesn't really have a distinctive culture because it is a mix of cultures from around the world and is divided in 50 states, but I realized when I came here that I am in fact American and not from Illinois. We do things differently and our cultural identity is that we are accepting of all races and religions and that we incorporate them into a collective American identity. I wish more people had nationalistic pride so that things like the Spanish problem wouldn't happen. France has immigrants from all over the world: Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They all have their respective languages, but when they come to France they learn to speak French. France is made up of mostly immigrants and it’s hard to find a true Frenchman, but it is their common language that distinguishes their culture and national identity. I feel like people who come to the US should learn English just as all of the immigrants did in the centuries past. If people want to live in a country they must adapt to it and not have the country adapt to them. Nobody should come into another country and expect that they speak your language. I know Americans go around the world expecting English to spoken everywhere. I think that’s harmful because its arrogance and ignorance combined, which foreigners will realize and not treat you nicely. At least show a little effort and try to learn a few words in the correct intonation so that at least you show that you acknowledge the existence of their culture and language….I might be preaching and some might think that I am not wise enough to have the backing for these claims, but I am just telling it like it is without all the bullshit that seems to line people’s views today.
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