coolraoul

I of course am proud of France, but not very patriotic.

The past, the history of France is just fabulous, its culture was amongst the best in the world. We did, build, wrote so many wonderful and eternal things...We had some fabulous personalities like Louis XVI "King-Sun"...

However...I feel we lost a lot...

Our economy is still strong, but not really in a good form. And we have too high taxes.. We are at approximatively 9-10% workless people...This is the biggest problem here

Our culture is still highly-regarded, especially luxus, gastronomy and wine. We still make excellent movies, some good music, but overall our culture is Americanized. Too bad.

Our politic...We just have nobody interesting actually, and our new President Nicolas Sarkosy, well...Not really my cup of tea, unfortunately.

We French are quite pessimistic people, we love saying that everything was better before and that France is dead now...... I disagree, but I think we lost a great part of our influence in the world.

I am proud of the "exception culturelle", the refusal of the Iraqi War, and somehow I feel France is still perceived as "apart", with a real personality, not a US dog like lots of other country.

We are unfortunately a bit antiamericans.

I however am proud to be European, too. The European Union is an example, a really interesting achievment.

I would say that I love the history and past of France, but not really what it is now...

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E280-24

I`m from Norway,proud? Well,i`m happy and that is all that matters too me.

A few facts,maby boring too most but anyway,here it goes

Norway, is a constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is bordered by Sweden, Finland, and Russia, while the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands lies to its west across the North Sea. The country's extensive coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean is home to its famous fjords.

The Kingdom of Norway also includes the Arctic island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Norwegian sovereignty over Svalbard is based upon the Svalbard Treaty, but that treaty does not apply to Jan Mayen. Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean and Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land in Antarctica are external dependencies, but those three entities do not form part of the kingdom.


Since World War II, Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world with a Scandinavian welfare system. Norway is the world's third largest oil exporter after Russia and Saudi Arabia and the petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of GDP. It has also rich resources of gas fields, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway was the second largest exporter of seafood (in value, after China) in 2006.Other main industries include food processing, shipbuilding, metals, chemicals, mining, fishing and pulp and paper products. Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2006, and came second in 2007 (to fellow Nordic country Iceland). It also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index. It is a founding member of NATO.



Norway took this opportunity to declare independence, adopted a constitution based on American and French models, and elected the Danish crown prince Christian Fredrik as king on May 17, 1814. This caused the Norwegian-Swedish War to break out between Sweden and Norway but as Sweden's military was not strong enough to defeat the Norwegian forces outright, Norway agreed to enter a personal union with Sweden. Under this arrangement, Norway kept its liberal constitution and independent institutions, except for the foreign service.
Christian Michelsen, a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman, Prime Minister of Norway from 1905 to 1907 played a central role in the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden on June 7, 1905. After a national referendum confirmed the people's preference for a monarchy over a republic, the Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to the Danish Prince Carl and Parliament unanimously elected him king. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the medieval kings of independent Norway. In 1898, all men were granted universal suffrage, followed by all women in 1913.




During both World wars Norway claimed neutrality but during World War II it was invaded by German forces on April 9, 1940 while the allies also had plans in mind for an invasion of the country. In April 1940, the British fleet mined Norwegian territorial waters. Norway was unprepared for the German surprise attack, but military resistance continued for two months. During the Norwegian Campaign, the Kriegsmarine lost many ships including the cruiser Blücher. The battles of Vinjesvingen and Hegra eventually became the last strongholds of Norwegian resistance in southern Norway in May, while the armed forces in the north launched an offensive against the German forces in the Battles of Narvik, until they were forced to surrender on June 10. On the day of the invasion, the collaborative leader of the small National-Socialist party Nasjonal Samling — Vidkun Quisling — tried to seize power, but was forced by the German occupiers to step aside. Real power was wielded by the leader of the German occupation authority, Reichskommissar Josef Terboven. Quisling, as minister president, later formed a collaborationist government under German control.[17] At the time of the invasion, Norway had the fourth largest merchant marine in the world led by the shipping company Nortraship, which under the Allies took part in every war operation from the evacuation of Dunkirk to the Normandy landings.

Following the war, the Social Democrats came to power and ruled the country for much of the cold war. Norway joined NATO in 1949, and became a close ally of the United States. Two plebiscites to join the European Union failed by narrow margins in 1972 and 1994. Large reserves of petroleum and natural gas were discovered in the 1960s, which led to a continuing boom in the economy.


Well that`s a little about my country.

shonguiz

Alfie

Norway is a great country!

But the best part is the language, you can be yelled at and you will still laugh because the language is so jolly And Norway and Sweden have the hottest women in the world. So as said, great country!

E280-24

It`s not a easy language,just as well

Alfie

Nah, but it's still jolly.
Check out this clip of Björn Gustavsson imitating the Norwegian Mafia, very funny for a Swede at least

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