Strauss Kahn – Stylistically Challenged?
While the Offical motto of France is :”Libertie, Egalitie, Fraternitie”, there is an unoffical, but integral 4th element: Privacy.
While France is (again) “offically” a devout Catholic Nation, it has an almost Religious tolerance for “non-Catholica”activities. Particularly when they relate to “relations intime.”
Basically the French mind set is :”We don’t care who you screw, as long as you don’t screw up on the job.” The exact opposite of the American perception. Where every public figure must be as squeaky clean as Snow White. (But…wait a minute…..wasn’t she living with 7 men?)
The unspoken, but understood caveat of French tolerance being : STYLE. You do what you do. But you do it with the utmost discretion. Without fanfare. Without witnesses.
Definitely NOT the case with M. Strauss Kahn in New York. And this could be his greatest Political liability questing for the French Presidental Palace. To say that the French forgive “extra-marital sex” is to totally misunderstand French Culture. They regard it as just another aspect of life. And more to the point – someone else’s life. Which is none of their business.
Perhaps the greatest example of the French respect for personal privacy is the late President Francois Mitterand, who had two families. His “open secret” – a 20 year mistress .(and a child with) When he died, both families attended the funeral. C’est la vie.
Another former President, Jacques Chirac was infamous for his late night limo forays. It’s rumoured that on the night Lady Diana died in Paris, Bernadette Chirac had no idea where hubby was. C’est la vie.
Yes, folks, “It’s the life.” And whether you approve or not is so much squirrel dookie. These two Gentlemen did what they did with style. With discretion. And, most importantly, they did’nt screw up on the job.
Unlike “The Great Seducer.” who screwed, and screwed up on the job. Sadly, the IMF Directors didn’t have sufficient cojones to send him packing then. That would have saved Natissifatou Daillo, New York, and the World uneccessary agony. And all the blue meanies that go with it.
Anne Mansouret,the Mother of Tristane Banon, the young journalist who is charging DSK tried to rape her in 2003, while admitting consensual sex with Strauss Kahn, characterized his style as “brutal.” Saying : “He took me with the vulgarity of a soldier.”And characterized DSK as ” A predator.” (This was another on- the- job “indescretion.”)
The Politican that stands to benefit most from the current state of DSK, is Marine LePen, the leader of the National Front party. Owing to the fact that socialist voters “disenchanted” with “The Great Seducer” will cast their protest ballot with her right wing camp. Rather than annoint Nicholas Sarkozy Napoleon for another term.
Ms. LePen has this to say about the DSK “style” : “The truth that maybe the rest of France doesn’t know, but all of Paris knows, is that Strauss-Kahn has a problem with women, some say it’s an addiction.”
BOTTOM LINE : Sex, not a problem. Rape – BIG problem.
Will he run? Will he go into sex addiction rehab? Will “his Women” finally be his Achilles Heel?”
THROW ME A BONE HERE, PEOPLE!
What are ya thinkin’?
i’m thinkin’ you give to much ink to this jerk!
Here’s hoping “the great seducer” finally gets what he deserves!
You do a fine job of explaining the French cultural attitude toward sex. however, you failed to point out that there, as you must be aware, class and gender still rule.
it’s obvious that strauss kahn has NO STYLE!!!!…..and would be selling pencils at the train station without his wife’s money!
the one question you didn’t address in your otherwise excellent post was : “What planet is Anne Sinclair on?” – becuase on this one – everyone knows a scumbag when they see one.
I hear you sylvia! – if it’s true that “love is blind”….anne sinclair has to be the love_blind poster girl!
anna…..you forgot to add “deaf” and (definitely) “dumb!”
Ladies….enough of the Anne Sinclair bashing pleeeeze! We get the point!
sex addiction rehab? – i don’t think so!
I think the way you explained the cultural differences between france and the usa is excellent. the on thing both have in common is, as you say, “rape -BIG PROBLEM.” Hopefully this will override the classic French Liberalism, as far as M. DSK is concerned.
just to say from a french point of view to mr tremaine that we are not confused about exactly what strauss kahn did, or the fact that he has a big problem.
Here in Sweden, we have much the same view of the French in respect to privacy. The difference, I think, is that we are generally more discreet about “questionable” personal realtionships.
i don’t think “DSK” is any different from all those other politicans. he just got caught.