Beth Swanson's "Big culture gap exists between France, U.S." (SN 3/28) appeared to be the observations of a young and naive child rather than a college-educated journalist.

Surely a thinking adult would be aware that Paris is a major metropolitan area and that would likely be an influence on the behavior of its inhabitants. Swanson was comparing the behavior of people in Paris and East Lansing while forcing them to represent their respective countries.

Perhaps she might take a trip to New York City and see that one doesn't get many "how do you dos" on the street there either.

When I was in Paris I was thrilled with just how friendly and outgoing nearly everyone I came across was. As for the difference in customer service between Paris and East Lansing, I'm sure she is quite right.

The United States does have the best customer service in the world because of our relatively strong capitalist society. By far the most disturbing part of this column was the sentence, "Unlike Americans, French people never acknowledge strangers."

What a bold statement from someone who I'm quite sure has not met nearly every French or American person to seek his or her opinion on the matter. It is vast generalizations like these that cause strife between races, cultures and even nations.

So please, Swanson, before you present us with anymore shallow and mindless observations, try to think and learn a little first!

Josh Khabir
psychology sophomore