U.S. Political Satirist talks about media in America (video)

I have recently come back from 10 months in America, taking a break from the many years I have lived in France.  While I was there, I was shocked at the division I could see and hear between Republicans and Democrats, as well as the media sensationalism that seems to have overtaken my motherland.  Indeed, journalism has moved far from the Watergate era and from my days of journalism school.  In this video, Jon Stewart tries to explain to a Fox News journalist that everything is not black and white and easily comparmentalized, which is what US journalists appear to do nowadays.
This binary nature of Americans is a cultural parameter, compared to the French characteristic of looking at all sides of a story before deciding.  The American approach allows for quick decision-making; the French approach leads to a much longer process of debating and indicision, due to the complexities and full range of thought.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn: A Tale of Two Countries

Voilà une semaine après le début du débâcle DSK en France.  J'aimerais prendre quelques minutes pour réciter mes observations côté US et côté français.  Il n'est pas souvent que les deux pays rentrent en conflit direct; j'ai donc choisi ce moment pour reprendre mes "posts" sur ce blog. 


For those who may be unaware of the scandale that this affair has created in France, beware that many accusations have been made regarding the propriety of the US justice system, the possibility of a conspiracy theory (complot), the role of the press, and the staging of the court hearings to make a very prominent and respected politician and presidential hopeful look bad.

French television programming has been filled with talk shows, analyses and over-analyses of the situation and once again not understanding ces sacrés américains and their strange ways.  

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was a presidential hopeful here during the last presidential election in 2007 when current president Nicolas Sarkozy won his first term.  At that time many hoped DSK would run, considering him miles above Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal and Centrist Democrat François Bayrou, and were sorely disappointed that he lost to Royal 20.83% to 60.60%.  Many were hoping that he would get another shot at it in next year's presidential election.

La presomption d'innocence dans les deux pays

The choc began when DSK was shown with handcuffs being led by police.  The practice of publishing or broadcasting such images was made illegal in 2000 in French law, during a reform of laws regarding presumption of innocence.  Socialist party members have qualified the images as cruel, brutal and that of resembling a lynching, the latter being an interesting reference to American culture.  On various shows specially organized to discuss the controversy, many Socialists spoke passionately about the injustice they felt DSK had suffered, becoming very emotional on several occasions during public appearances.

On the other hand, mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg stated simply:  "I think it is humiliating, but if you don't want to do the perp walk, don't do the crime.''  Pretty straight talking and potentially slanderous, since DSK has not been proven guilty.

US - France:  Different cultural perspectives 

However, this difference of opinion does reflect the cultural parameter of universalism vs. particularism.  The latter, a common feature of protestant countries, is based on the absolute differentiation between right and wrong; Emotion is not in the equation.  In particularist, often Catholic and Latin countries, it can be more difficult to separate logic and emotion.  This is just one of many ways that allow the French to continue to see many sides of a story, compared to a more binary, black-and-white view for Americans.

It was amazing to hear stories like DSK's wife, former national news anchor Anne Sinclair, saying she didn't think for one minute that he was guilty and that she was happy to know that her husband had a reputation of being a séducteur, which is, she said, an important quality for a polictician.  While charm and charisma are good attributes to win over an electorate, the moment may not have been right to express that idea - and call it seduction particularly.  Some people are wondering if DSK found it hard to separate seduction and using authoritative power.

Levels of Authority

Yet another observation made during this polémique was that DSK was said to have been mistreated by the justice system and the press in America, while the victim's story was given little attention with no real focus to its potential credibility.

It is true that DSK is a respected politician, but he does have a history of chasing women.  In 2002 Tristane Banon says she was attacked by him, but never made a formal complaint, after being dissuaded by her mother, who thought it would be inappropriate to do that to such an important man and that it would certainly cause shame to Tristane.  The story becomes even more incestuous when we understand that Tristane is the goddaughter of DSK's second wife and that her mother, Anne Mansouret, is an elected official representing the Socialist Party in Normandy.

This brings up the cultural concept of power distance and authority, both of which are higher in France than in the US, which is more egalitarian in terms of societal perception and interaction.  This is separate from ideas of what some call social justice and the allocation of resources.

Strauss-Kahn asked NY police for a traitment de faveur, or special treatment, as he was a dignitary and didn't want to be seen handcuffed.  Putting aside the argument as to whether public handcuffing limits an accused person's right to being presumed innocent, it does say something about a man and the culture he is used to if he asks for such a favor.  Perhaps this happens more than we know and if so, why don't we hear about it?

I am not presuming innocence or guilt for DSK and it is not him pictured in handcuffs, nor my respect for him as a politician, nor accusations alone that will make me decide.  It will be the facts presented in the trial that will be convincing or not.  Both sides will present their cases, having had ample time and resources to do so.  Once again, we can hope to believe that it will be the judicial system - not the media circus - that will determine the outcome. 

Closing the French-American divide

Wachusett Regional High School

After 18 years of living in France, my family and I have relocated to just seven miles from my American high school, located in central Massachusetts.  This is month four.

It has been educational and enlightening coming back to live in a country that is so talked about by my French compatriots, my English colleagues and the European media. 

I have spent months of time in the U.S. over the past 18 years, if we total up vacation times, which have been as long as six weeks long.  I have maintained contact through these visits - and more recently via the internet.  But this time it is clearly different.

I am working and attending school here, rather than simply being a visitor and hanging out with family and old-time friends.  I am listening to NPR during my 90-minute commute to work in a wealthy Boston suburb.  I am encountering a new group of people in my Master's classes at Clark University and as an ESL trainer at two universities here.

In the ESL classroom, I had previously only dealt with the French or people living in France who'd adapted to the French mindset, even if no one group of people can be completely the same - thankfully.  Here I am meeting Saudis and South Americans, which opens up a whole new world view - and closes the gap between the U.S. and France.

My memories of the U.S. had been based on an America under Clinton (yes, that is far away!) and I've discovered that if you don't live it, you don't get it fully.  I feel totally at home here and have 'caught up' with things, but until I came back and lived it for myself, I couldn't form a complete picture.  The view had been distorted by the French and American medias, by what so many people in France feel compelled to share with me and by my own absence and non-participation in American society.

After four months, I feel so much more in touch with the U.S. now that I have breathed the air, seen trees changing colors, bathed in its waters, listened to its music in context, watched the incessant political bantering, spoken to its inhabitants and so many other precious things one can not do from abroad.  I have reconnected.

I have been surprised to hear about the rampant disillusionment of Americans with their government - on a very personal level.  To see the large immigrant population that has difficulty speaking English, which had never been apparent to me before.  To hear repeatedly when I say I've moved back here from France:  "Why did you leave?"  The question full of doubt and wonder as to why I would leave such a comfortable place.

Granted, this may be because I am located in New England - and more specifically Massachusetts - a traditionally democratic state.  But it seems that a real shift has occurred since I left:  Americans are no longer boastful of the greatness of their country and seem to think highly of other countries and even look to them for solutions.  They seem to be modest and wishful to attain something like greener grass on the other side.

I must say I like this new America.  Even if it's harder to get a job in it.

This brings me to my main point:  how much is it possible to learn about a country in intercultural training seminars?  Clearly we can not aspire to dissect each culture taught and make everything apparent to learners.  But we can help people to see the cultural parameters that exist and help people to understand and interpret what they observe.  We need to give clear-cut present-day examples to help them see some first examples in order to find others on their own.  And we all need to understand that each observation and conclusion is biased by our own personalities and life experiences.

The full picture will not come into focus until many years of living in a host country.  Just like perfect language acquisition will remain impossible for many.   But training can help professionals anticipate - perhaps even avoid - confusing situations and give them tools to deal better in these foreign settings.