mousehands : ask philip

showing question #163

question from laurine joubert

ha ya philip i want to ask you if you are frnech cause i am french and i think you are by your accent call me on 07932****** this email address is not really mine aurevoir

As unlikely as it may seem, one person’s Frenchness does not directly affect another’s, except in terms of a parental passing on of the Gaulish Gene. Like the selfish gene, it has an almost uncanny desire to survive. Come rain or shine; come archery or collaboration; come even pain rustique or brioche, the ideals of Paris will never fall. Our accents define us, we may never escape them.

As patriotic and hand-stuffy-in as it is, does that make me French?

Yes, yes it does. Take me away to the land of our fathers, Ms Joubert! Bring final and eternal peace in our time, that is all the world asks of you.

This question was asked on 18 July 2005 and answered 1 month and 6 days later on 31 August 2005.