You Could Have Heard a Pin Drop Stories
Posted Under: Life
You Could Have Heard a Pin Drop
JFK’S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60′s when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk responded “does that include those who are buried here”? DeGaulle did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop
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When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, ‘Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.’
You could have heard a pin drop.
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There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying “Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done?
He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them”? A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: ‘Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 5,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?’
You could have heard a pin drop
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A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?’ Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, ‘Maybe it’s because the Brit’s, Canadians, Aussie’s and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.’
You could have heard a pin drop.
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AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE…
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. “You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. “Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.” The American said, ‘The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !” The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ”Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
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Originally posted 2009-08-08 18:48:21.
Reader Comments
Are these true and actual quotes or are they jokes? They are currently being distributed as a viral e-mail and presented as actual quotes.
Why do you ask?
We are not sure if the stories are true. We suspect they are not. They do however make for a good laugh. We recommend you read them and enjoy them for what they are…funny stories.
-The Joke Master @ Cartoon-Links
Who cares if the stories are actually true as written? In my view the sentiment is true and accurate, and I don’t think it is funny.
I don’t think these stories are funny at all: they’re just unfair and ignorant. If any American(or anyone, really) believes them to be true, they should be pitied.
to Elie De Rosen
Regardless if they are true or not, they very well could be factual. Prove them wrong. And while you’re at it, explain why stating the truth is being ignorant?
Did Elie even look at the heading on this webpage? Lest I remind you that it is a JOKE & HUMOR website. If you are offended by jokes, you shouldn’t have come here, nevermind having had the ignorance to post a gripe. Again, the biggest problem in this world today is political correctness giving everyone soft skin. Lighten up.
Elie De Rosen – “I don’t think these stories are funny at all: they’re just unfair and ignorant. If any American(or anyone, really) believes them to be true, they should be pitied.”
Oh, I’m sorry, Elie. Do these mean jokes hurt your poor French sensitivities? Tell me, how are they unfair? Do you find it unfair that Americans and other allied troops died to liberate France from Germany? Because, you know, at this point as rude as the French are to us I’m pretty sure we’ll just let them have France if they ever decide to give it the lucky third try.
Elie, I’m right on your side. These aren’t jokes, these are racist slurs against France.
And let me remind you that while most Americans think the French people hate America, it’s most of their DREAMS to come to America and live there. Although I don’t know why, I’d rather live most anywhere else than here.
Also, who were the first to come and help rescue American citizens after the bombings on 9/11?
AND without the French, who would still be under British rule? America wouldn’t even be a COUNTRY without France.
As a matter of fact..who isn’t in multiple wars right now?
…You could have heard a pin drop.
I admit, I didn’t see the heading on the webpage. Still, these stories seem awfully serious, even compared to normal French jokes.
Did Elie even look at the heading on this webpage? Lest I remind you that it is a JOKE & HUMOR website.
Whether these are true or not is irrelevant. While the French did help us in our Revolution, they did only because we were at war with their enemy. We paid that back in spades during WWI. They still owe us for WWII. they seem to forget that if it wasn’t for the US in WWII they would be speaking German today and eating sausage instead of pushing cheese around the plate.
The Colin Powell quote is verified yet not quite a “pin drop” reaction. Never-the-less a poigniant candid response to a couched accusation:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/powell.asp
RE: Colin Powell – Fank519 (thanks for the Snopes link)
Sure is a long winded statement and stream-lined as a joke or e-mail chain yet he forgotten that if the States didn’t go in and mess up most of the world in the first place (Snopes reported it as Afghanistan) they wouldn’t be there ‘rescuing’ the world – fighting for freedom, etc, etc.
While at first I was ok with the ‘jokes’ I did find them rather offensive and one sided to further inflate American egos. As for the French – many allied lives were lost, not just American. And no – I am neither an Afghan nor French.
As for joke…take it grain of salt – I think I’d need a cup instead.
I think that while these are all French scenarios that they shouldnt be complianing and the US helped them so they wouldnt be an extension of France
Im saying this an I am half french.
True enough. Even if they are not historical, they are most definitely hysterical.
@Chelsea
Without the americans and british there would be no france it would be a german speaking country.
Yes, these jokes are overbearingly pro-American – but considering the sheer volume of jokes calling all Americans fat, stupid, and aggressive, I daresay a few in the opposite vein are perfectly acceptable.
I did not see much about D-Day in the papers or the news
I asked my 17 year old son if he knew what happened on
that day took him a few minutes before he figured it out,I told him neither I nor he would be here if it were
not for those brave men because my father was sitting in
a German prison of war camp near present day Poland he was shot down on his 25th mission as tail gunner on B-24
had France not been invaded &German’s beaten my father
would have been put into slave labor by the Germans after
they killed up all the Jews & Pole’s.My father saw first
hand the concentration camp’s& he assured me they did exist! My son did say one thing that struck a note of humor I asked him what the French were famous for he
said Losing War’s! I happen to agree with him.The
French are are bunch of loud mouth do nothings they
back stab the U.S. every chance they get!
Those are jokes?!! Seriously i think if i have to be told that something is a joke (or read the top of the page as the case may be) before it amuses me, then its not a joke at all. So it makes you feel good, it makes you feel flattered that your people sacrificed their lives to help others, that doesn’t make it funny!! I’m sure those war heroes did not die on the battle fields of france glad that one day you guys wud be able to make jokes about it.
#and i’m neither french nor american
Apparently your only able to hear pins drop after a statement of the US’s military strength.
A couple of these are pretty funny, and they are intended as jokes. Its just like if a black comedian at a black comedy club makes “cracker” jokes. I don’t particularly want to hear them but I’m not going to complain they’re racist. I joke IS a joke if its funny to its target audience. Most Americans who read this will find either some humor or pride in these making them completely worth while. If you think these are offensive, who cares, you’re not going to stop any person from making any joke even if its the most ignorant disgusting piece of garbage, someone will think its funny and it will still be a joke. Trust me, there are plenty of these against Americans and only the worst and most stereotypical of us actually get offended by them.
Please people they are only amusing anectdotes, and after all the French, like the Germans cant laugh at themselves so someone has to do it for them, ive just finished reading “the book of French Military Victories” thinest book ive ever read after “the Italian Book of War Heroes” the British Good Food Guide” and the “American Book of Diplomacy”.