You Could Have Heard a Pin Drop
JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when
DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.
Rusk responded,"Does that include the American servicemen and women who are buried in France?"
DeGaulle did not respond.
You could have heard a pin drop!
Speaking a certain language!
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from
the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail
reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that
included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in
English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained
that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He
then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences
rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop!
And this story fits right in with the above....
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French
Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his bag.
"You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!"
The American gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a Frenchmen to show a passport to."
You could have heard a pin drop!