-Caveat Lector- >>>Next they'll be giving back the Louisiana Purchase, all the California vinyard stock, and marking all those postcards, "Return to Sender" right before they burn everything having to do with "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" just after they get their jackboots shined. >A<:>E<:>R<
Sofitel surrenders, lowers French flag http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi- 0303010130mar01,1,6526842.story?coll=chi%2Dbusiness%2Dhed Backlash toward France's opposition to U.S. policy on Iraq affects French- owned firms and sellers of French goods. By Rob Kaiser Tribune staff reporter March 1, 2003 The Sofitel Hotel has surrendered. The French-owned hotel chain quietly lowered the French flags flying in front of all 10 of its U.S. properties earlier this week to avoid being stung by anti-France sentiment stemming from the European country's vocal opposition to war with Iraq. Although the chain said it had not received any complaints, each hotel's French flag was replaced with a state or city flag. "As a mark of respect, we felt it might be nice to bring it down for some time," said Helen Lalitte, vice president of marketing for Sofitel North America. The company has two hotels in the Chicago area: the Sofitel Hotel Water Tower on the city's Near North Side and the Sofitel Hotel O'Hare in Rosemont. Sofitel's flag-lowering highlights the awkward dance for businesses selling French products and culture in the U.S. as France continues to oppose the U.S. push toward war with Iraq. >From French restaurants to wine stores to language schools, business owners are keeping a watchful eye on whether some Americans' anti- France attitudes--along with calls to boycott French products--will cut into their bottom lines. Owners of French-related businesses in the Chicago area say they have yet to suffer noticeable sales declines, but that they worry that a stronger backlash could develop if war with Iraq erupts and France remains on the sidelines. But the business owners have been heartened by some patrons' calls for an "anti-boycott"-- encouraging Americans who oppose the Bush administration's Iraq policy to make a political statement by buying more French products. "It has been encouraging to see that it's not all negative," said Chantal Glass, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Still, waves of ridicule of France have rippled, from the late-night talk shows to congressional talk of trade sanctions to the Internet, where a proposal is being floated to make French-bashing an Olympic sport. A Gallup survey in February found that the percentage of Americans who hold favorable views of France fell 20 points from a year ago. Now, 59 percent of those surveyed hold a favorable view, while 33 percent have an unfavorable view. The shift has left some local business owners in a quandary. Vodka ban George Schaefer stopped selling Stolichnaya Russian vodka during the Cold War and banned South African wines from his store during that country's apartheid rule. But the owner of Schaefer's Wines, Foods & Spirits in Skokie has not taken a political stand on French opposition to war with Iraq. Schaefer's store remains stocked with French wines and cheeses, which account for about one-quarter of his sales. "I think if I were just a customer that I would not buy French wines myself," Schaefer said. "But from a practical point of view, I'm not sure how to handle it." Eva Sorock and other members of the Women's Republican Club of New Trier Township think Schaefer should clear his shelves of French imports. About 50 members of the group passed a resolution a couple of weeks ago to boycott products from France, Germany and other countries that oppose America's push to forcibly disarm Iraq. "The appeasement approach has never worked very well," Sorock said. "We don't need any of this stuff anyway. It's probably better for us not to eat any of the cheese at all." The Republican group's stand prompted a flood of letters to the Wilmette Life newspaper. One writer pushed for a boycott of all products made in Texas, President Bush's home state. Maria Kurt, owner of the French Institute of the North Shore, said some people taking French lessons at her Winnetka school have received phone calls asking them to drop out and join the boycott. But none of her customers have heeded the advice, she said. "The people are very international who come to our school and see that boycotting French lessons is not the answer and could only be detrimental to our country in the long run," said Kurt, whose business is adorned by American and French flags. "Communication needs to be expanding, and speaking the same language would help." While other countries have joined the call to give United Nations inspectors more time to comb Iraq for banned weapons, France has become the primary target of scorn from some Americans. U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is preparing legislation that would require bright orange warning labels on French red wine bottled before 1998. The labels would warn that the wine could contain cow's blood, which winemakers formerly used as a clarifying agent. The European Union banned the practice in 1998 because of concerns about mad cow disease. Local sellers of French wine say they are not concerned about the issue. "I think it's been many, many years since anyone has done that--at least 15 years," said Scot Cohen, vice president of Heritage Wine Sellers Ltd., in Niles. Little impact For now, though, the anti-French push doesn't seem to be having much impact on local businesses. The French Institute, which plans to start a French-language immersion program this fall for children ages 3 to 6, is sorting through a few dozen applications to fill the first classes. And school owner Kurt said she again plans to pull out the institute's 8- foot Eiffel Tower replica for Winnetka's Fourth of July parade. "In the past, everybody from the side of the streets has shouted, `Bonjour, bonjour,'" Kurt said. "We were always so well received. I will be curious to see how we will be received this year." Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune Improved archives! Searching Chicagotribune.com archives back to 1985 is cheaper and easier than ever. New prices for multiple articles can bring your cost as low as 30 cents an article: http://chicagotribune.com/archives Forwarded for your information. 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