President Sarkozy, surrounded by suits and journalists, is seen approaching a building in the port city of Guilvinec in Brittany, where the local fishermen are on strike to protest the rising cost of gasoline.

As he passes a fisherman shouts out, “Enculé!” Sarko, oblivious of the old schoolyard rule that you never assume an insult is directed at you personally, freezes, turns, his jaw drops, and he signals to the unseen fisherman to come down if he dares.

Now repeat after me:
“Si j’descends j’te mets un coup d’boule, donc il vaut mieux pas !” “If I come down I’m going to knock heads, better not!" “Coup de boule:” reference to the French soccer player Zidane who head-butted an opponent during a game.

 

French culture and civilization:
In France you can get busted for insulting a head of state. In America you can’t. Which I guess explains why in America, you try to pull that stunt and you’re lucky if all you get is busted. In France...

At the height of the Terror, in 1794, Robespierre appeared in a grand procession, leading the people of Paris. According to some witnesses the procession turned into a rout as Robespierre and friends, under the cold gaze and occasional insults of the Parisians, began to walk faster, and faster. A few days later, Robespierre was gone.

Allons enfants, an’ shit!