L'Ile Verte. The green island, here in La Ciotat, for a peaceful image to begin today's post.
Today's Word: chercher ses mots*
: to be at a loss for words
*I settled on this "word of the day" following the struggle in writing a story in these sad, scary, and emotionally-charged times. Thank you for reading with open hearts.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
In the parking lot at Aldi I was loading our groceries, Mom's, then mine, into our car, when I saw two familiar faces. It was the funny duo behind us in the checkout line. Turning to the brothers (who were twins?), I smiled:
Je voulais vous remercier pour votre bonne humeur. Ça fait du bien–surtout en ce moment. I hope they understood my French, and my appreciation for their funny commentary back in line, when they were snapping each other's face masks and reminding one another to keep at a safe distance from the next customer. They were regular Laurel and Hardys in the age of coronavirus!
The short, gray-haired men, so full of antics back in the store, suddenly grew shy, in a French version of Aw, Shucks! "Well," one of the guys offered, you've got to have a sense of humor in times like these!"
"C'est sûr!" I agreed, adding, "Are you from La Ciotat?"
"Oui!"
"My mom and I are from Arizona," I shared.
The men grew thoughtful. "A lot of upheaval in the US right now…" one of the brothers reflected.
"Here in France, too…" I said, mentioning the riots breaking out in Paris and beyond.
"Non!" The brothers replied, in a possible misunderstanding (were they unaware of the émeutes?).
"Non!" They affirmed. "We are not racist!"
I think the brothers were referring to themselves–or possibly to our region? Either way, they echoed the feelings or beliefs or ideals of many.
Our conversation ended in awkward silence, one that lingered. Later that day the brothers' words returned to mind. "We are not racist." I understood what they meant. I believe they were sincere. I know I am too! My last thought came as a surprise: But is that enough? Is it enough not to be racist?
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Je voulais vous remercier = I wanted to thank you
bonne humeur = good humor
ça fait du bien = it does one good
surtout en ce moment = especially at this time
une émeute = uprising, riot
I leave you with a peaceful image taken here in La Ciotat. Thank you for reading.
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thank you for this, Suzanne
I am not a troll. I am Francaise and you people are just la-ti-da, with too muh money.
I support Marine Le Pen and Rassemblement national. More and more French people do.
My “strange comments” did not go through because they had French quote signs—.
There is no white privilege. There is white people working hard. Black people working hard. All people working hard. We are the middle class.
BLM is the racist.
You all must get hard. I and my husband came here from France to get away from what you are all saying.
Love and appreciate your comments Patricia, (your writing also ☺️) I will also add my comments here. I’m frustrated and saddened because we as a country were in complete agreement over the situation with George Floyd and then when the riot groups came in it set everything backward , this can never be condoned. There is definately a bigger agenda going on in my country. As long as race is continuously brought into the equation racism will not go away. I cannot and will not support BLM as I do find it a racist group in of itself based on my research. (ANY group that elevates itself above others is racist ) and is an anti police organization. We appreciate the fact that MOST officers are risking their lives daily to affect good and keep our society safe for ALL . I am fearful for their lives just as much. They are husbands, wives, fathers mothers daughters and sons just the same.
I read this book, Barb! It is a book that should be read by all white people. It makes salient points that may be hard for us to face!
Dearest Kristi, our brave writer extraordinaire,
Thank you for opening this subject up to the light of day, a subject not often examined fully other than in times like this!
Words are powerful.
If I had witnessed that act of unconscionable, disgusting treatment of another, I’m pretty sure I would have spoken up vehemently, something like, “Stop! You’re killing him! Do you want to pay the price?” Sometimes shaming others who are in power and out of control need to hear it.
It is simple …
if you can be anything, be kind.
Do good, be good.
One way of knowing how racist one is by taking the Harvard IATest.
Dear, in case you haven’t heard, white privilege is about the fact that your life isn’t made harder because you are white. It does not erase the struggles of any individual white person. I read “BLM is racist” & I know that you aren’t listening. Put the very real needs of the safety & survival of others beyond your fear of misrepresentation. The world needs it.
My husband and I have made our lives harder, ourselves. We came to this country to get away from those in Europe who would not let us improve our material class no matter how hard we worked. We bought houses and made them good and improved, and then rented them to good families. We worked seven days per week for twenty years. We are now going well. We are providing for our children. Yet you call this White Privelege. I resent your attitude. We have many black friends are they are hard at work just as we have been because they are middle class, like we are. We don’t lie around and wait for anyone to make our life harder or easier. We take the action, make it harder ourselves, and know that it will bear fruit in this wonderful country. WE made our lives harder than you could ever have imagined and anyone can do it if they want to for the long run and for their children.
I agree with your comments about the pandemic. I work in a hospital in Southern California and am counting on a Covid surge 2 weeks from when the protesters first started. I do support their first amendment rights however I fear that will be an inevitable consequence.
As far as bystanders saving George Floyd’s life- sadly, let’s be real. No one would have gotten close to him- the other officers wouldn’t have let that happen. In the video, people were begging for them to check his pulse, but they were powerless. The only people who should be held accountable are the police.
Kristi,
Thank you for your eloquent and thought provoking post during this difficult time. I appreciate your candor and questions which have led me to do some serious self-reflection. We all need to start by taking inventory of our own thoughts and beliefs and go from there. Love and respect are first and foremost.
Maybe generations of oppression and police brutality could have been avoided if black people had thought of asking nicely for racism to stop?
I think we all need to stop and really think about why people have been moved to do this destruction of homes, businesses etc etc. Are they just thugs? Or have they not been listened to for decades, and have run out of ways to express themselves politely?
I’m not convinced the police who murdered Floyd would even have been charged with anything, had someone not filmed it, and had people not protested it.
I whole-heartedly disagree. BLM is not elevating itself above others. It is attempting to draw attention to a crisis. The common argument is that All Lives Matter. Well, that is obvious. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston or the Boston Marathon was bombed, and phrases like “Houston Matters” or “Boston Strong” came to the forefront, everyone stood and rallied around these tragedies. No one, during these crises would cry “But All Cities Matter”.
Living just outside Minneapolis, I can telling the majority of protests were peaceful. We had multiple RVs come up from out of state to hide behind the protesters and incite riots after dark. Most of the burning was done by white agitators. Some were caught. Others, driving vehicles without license plates fled on foot when stopped and left behind where rocks, incendiaries and assault rifles within.
I do agree that police officers are risking their lives daily and that most officers are inherently good. But the system is broken. And what some hard-working law enforcement adhere to in order to keep their job or pension might just be to stay in line and avoid rocking the boat.
Change is needed regardless.
I would lie to reccoend TN. Coates book, ” Between the World and Me”. Powerful and revealing portrait of life as a black man and relevant to all minorities all over the world.
Search Candace Owens on YouTube and watch. What a smart young black lady that has the courage to speak up.
Thank you, Kate. Well said.
Sorry, Cate.
The French Revolution was a ‘riot’ too I suppose…