| Boycott France! | |||
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| Netlore Archive: Email chain letter urges American citizens to boycott all products made by French-owned companies | |||
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Email example contributed by J. Walsh, 26 March 2003:
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Subject: Fw: Boycott France This time France went far beyond just taking a position. They deliberately tried to undermine the USA at the UN and NATO and the rest of the world. The secretly ran around the world spewing their hate for the USA as a Superpower. This is unforgivable. With friends like France we don't need any enemies. And all this because of their economic ties and support of Saddam done in secret. What a bunch of French bastards after our efforts to secure their homeland. And now that the war has started they want to come and suck up so as not to lose their economic position with the New Iraq. They can go to hell! Bush is being much too kind to Chirac after what he has done. We need to tell the world about this disgrace! Join the "Boycott France" Campaign. Please review this list of major French companies that Americans should boycott. If everyone who gets this list would send it to just two friends, within 10 days more than 100 million people will be contacted! France has every right to disagree with America. But France has moved from simple dissent to active hostility toward America. French President Chirac warned East European nations that if they side with America, France will oppose their membership in the European Union. This week, William Safire reported in the New York Times that France has been secretly helping to arm Iraq - and has been helping Iraq build long range missiles. These same missiles may soon be used against American soldiers. Just as France is exercising its right to disagree, Americans can exercise their right to boycott -- and avoid helping companies and countries that do no stand with America. French Products and Companies to Boycott The following companies are subject to boycott: a.. Air France.
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Comments: This is but one of several different chain letters advocating a U.S. boycott of French products. Although email-based boycotts are rarely successful, the Boycott France campaign falls into a somewhat more respectable category, benefitting from planning and support from legitimate organizations and promotional efforts involving both online and offline media.
Would-be boycotters are advised to take note of the fact that email chain letters remain among the most untrustworthy information sources imaginable. Check the facts before you proceed. According to researchers at BoycottWatch.org, several of the "French" companies listed in these messages are not, in fact, French — Cartier, DKNY, Rowenta, Smart & Final, Taylor Made, Yoplait and French's Mustard, to name a few — and many others have yet to be confirmed.
See Boycotting the French for updates.
Sources and further reading:
NewsMax's Boycott Socks French Businesses
NewsMax.com, 14 April 2003U.S. Boycott Being Felt, French Say
Washington Post, 16 April 2003French Wines Feel the Distaste
CNN, 16 April 2003War Boycotts Haven't Hurt Companies' Bottom Lines ... Yet
Fox News, 18 April 2003
Last updated: 04/21/03
