For those who despair at the state of Franco-American relations, I have three words for you: Walker, Texas Ranger.

Yes, flip on the tube in France and you might find yourself watching the exploits of Texas Ranger Cordell Walker — “one of the last old-fashioned heroes of the West” — played by martial artist Chuck Norris. (This is French network TV, mind you — I don’t have cable here in Paris.) You can also catch the X-Files, watch the French version of The Bachelor, and see Andie MacDowell hawking makeup and speaking perfect (dubbed) French. From my scientific analysis of two weeks of French TV, I’d say that — oh — 26.7 percent of their shows and televised movies are French-dubbed American programming.

France and America have had a love/hate relationship for centuries, with highs during the Revolutionary War (French save Americans) and World War II (Americans save French), and lows … at all other times. Things got particularly bad in the run-up to the Iraq War, when French politicians declared their vehement opposition to an American invasion and U.S. lawmakers retaliated in kind, replacing “French fries” with “Freedom fries” in government cafeterias. (Did any of their aides point out that French fries originated in Belgium?) Since then, relations have remained sour. For the documentary Does Europe Hate Us?, which recently aired on the Discovery Channel, Thomas Friedman toured France and other European countries and found plenty of reasons for dislike, ranging from mere disgust with George and Dick’s Not-So-Excellent Adventures Abroad (“We miss the America that made us dream,” one woman put it) to professed admiration for Osama bin Laden. I didn’t see the documentary — did I mention I don’t have cable? — but here’s a nice summary by The Link:

In it you will see young Germans comparing the current state of America to 1930s Germany, French political science students sitting around a large table in McDonald’s intelligently asserting their positions, anti-war activists calling Iraqi police “collaborators” (and implying justification for insurgents targeting them) and French Muslim youth extolling the virtues of Osama bin Laden. While most of those interviewed were critical of the U.S., they also exhibited a hopeful tone. They seemed to really want to like America.

I’ve only just arrived in France, but I’ll let you know if I spot any America-Haters (which, I’m told, can be distinguished from Blame-America-Firsters with a trained eye). In the meantime, I am encouraged by the knowledge that American and French viewers enjoy the same TV garbage. If anyone can bring together these two cultures, it is Cordell Walker.

In a time when legends are scarce, Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris) is one of the last old-fashioned heroes of the West. Drawing on the customs of his Native American ancestors and the rugged traditions of the Old West, Walker is on a relentless crusade for truth and honor …

Bon courage, Walker!

Victor Tan Chen Victor Tan Chen is In The Fray's editor in chief and the author of Cut Loose: Jobless and Hopeless in an Unfair Economy. Site: victortanchen.com | Facebook | Twitter: @victortanchen