When you think of all the different things you might find in France, wine or food or beauty or clothes or chocolate or whatever, innocence isn't usually included in the list. But it should be. On mine at least.
We spent last weekend in Vannes, with friends. We drank a lot of good wine, including a 1983 Sauternes that was nectar, we ate a lot of good food, and we joked around a lot. And much of the joking around dealt with themes that would be considered VERY politically incorrect in the US.
While I can admit that the whole pc thing may have had one or two good (but very limited)effects on language, in general, it has led to the loss of innocence. Let's be realistic, you can't say or do anything in the US now without it being interpreted through the crazy pc innocence removing filter. Nothing is harmless now.
At dinner Saturday night, Husband pointed out to me that I got offended a lot more when I first arrived in France than I do now. I laughed at the absurdity of my previous state of mind and said, "Funny, I had to come to France to find my..." I couldn't think of the right word, and 3 people at the table said at once, "innocence." Who would've thought?
6 comments:
I knew this was going to show up in a post sometime soon...
Not me. Wrong word(s)
Christina - And I'm just getting started.
Zeb - I knew you'd like that reference.
Charlie - Which word would you suggest mr. smarty pants?
'lose your fear'. a goodly percentage of americans i have met on their home soil are frightened of many things, including being accused of being non-PC. some continue to be afraid of 'things' when abroad. it must take many years to lose that conditioned paranoia.
PS, when you think about it, how can innocence be re-discovered? Like much else, innocence once lost... etc
I. Love. That.
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