Interview of Brigitte

Interview to Brigitte

Brigitte is my mother. She’s 46 years old ans lives in Vertou, near Nantes.

What do you most like in France?

I like living in France because of the diversity of the landscapes, as mountains, beaches, country-side... The food is excellent, above all cheese, wine, bread, salted-butter, the “galettes bretonnes” and a lot of other things that are very good... There is also a hudge cultural diversity beacause French people is composed of different peoples, with different origins. I think the values that democracy claims are important for France, it’s a great thing to have this political system in our country.

Contrary, what don’t you like in France?

I think racism is one of the worth things in France, and all the other kinds of intolerance. It should not exist, not only in France, but in the whole World! But we are talking about France so I hate that. I also don’t like the safety-laws wich stimulate the hate between people. And I think legal and incarcerating people has to be reconsidered, because many things aren’t tolerable.

What do you retain of French History?

First, the French Revolution, which is a great event of the French History, and above all the “Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen” which has given more freedom and equality to France. The “30 glorieuses”even if France is not the only country that took part at this episode. The resistance during the war is a great symbol of solidarity and bravery. The “Belle Epoque” and the fight for the women’s freedom are also things that we can be proud.

What should France borrow from the other countries to get better?

The old Asiatic wisdom could make the society get better because the Asiatic peoples have not the mind as cartesian as the Europeeans. From Africa, their hearty welcome is a good example to follow. I don’t mean every Africans are welcoming, that sounds like a setereotype but it’s true that most of them are more welcoming than the French, for example. In the North of Europe, countries like Denmark or Sweden could bring us better social values and a better notion of equity. The German’s and the Dutch’s educational systems have some things that could be good for our educational système but they have also disadvantages.

What could French give to other countries?

The Social Insurance, and more generally the Public Utility are more developped in France than most of the other countries. It’s a good example of solidarity, even if it is getting worth nowadays. The “laïcité” of the studying are important to stay equals and free. The Princples of the French Republic are things that we can be proud of and that coud be examples for other nations, even if they are not always observed today.

In your opinion, what are the best icons of France?

Of course, I think first at the Eiffel Tower and Paris, with the Louvres and Versailles, alle these famous monuments and places that everybody knows. Platini and Zidane are also good icons of France because they are famous in the whole World and a lot of young footballers want to be like them. I think also at the cock, the Republic colours, the French flag. And the motto “Liberty, equality, fraternity" should be good icons of France but I'm not sure it's still right to say that in France nowadays