Though there are other comments of yours that I fail to understand since I have surely quite different life experiences from yours. I will agree with you on how I experienced the French the time I visited their. I know what you mean. But there could also be something of a natural built-in attitude of people like us who represent the dominant world power that people outside the US can find offensive and react negatively toward. Maybe the French are just more honest than other peoples who depend more on the favors and good graces of our financial, political and economic networks.

Thanks for your help.

Paul