Agression for a French song in Australia, a Us head of the "Catho" puts things in (another) perspective

Angers printed medias largely reported the verbal agression whose a young French woman was recently victim because she song in French during a travel she made by bus in Australia. That event led Le Courrier de l'Ouest to ask to John Webb, deputy chairman of the Université catholique de l'Ouest (Uco), in charge of international relations (himself American citizen) his point of view. Mr Webb, native of an English speaking country, answered that he had already been criticized in France for talks he had in English. "In France, we must speak French" was the critic he heard. Hopefully John Webb didn't say that he was threatened the same way of the young French student in Australia.

Nevertheless, that reaction from (probably) French people in France (or in Angers?) about the use of English raises questions. Hitherto, French people don't criticize foreign people coming (temporarily or definitely) in France from very different countries (Asian, African or European) to speak their mother language. So, according to Mr Webb statement, the critics he heard were not triggered by the use of a foreign language, but because that foreign language was English.

France behaviour has always been ambivalent towards English. That behaviour is mixed both by admiration and repulsion. In Angers, many stores front sides use English words (an example is presenty by Texto, a store located in Lenepveu street). English classes delivered at the Institut municipal or Université du temps libre are overcrowded... But these are not isolated examples. And at the same time, French, who are legitimately pround of their language, have the feeling they are colonized by English. Are French masochists?