Something Is Rotten In The Republic Of France
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 14th, 2012
Good morning!
I found this write on the HuffPo and thought it deserved a second posting here:
After the Drama of Villeurbanne
The Minister of the Interior, Manuel Valls, found the right words. The authorities of the Republic, national and regional, reacted as one would expect. And from one side of the political spectrum nearly to the other, disapproval was unanimous. However, this affair (three young Jews assaulted with blows from hammers and iron bars last Saturday in Villeurbanne) remains eminently troubling.
The simple fact that it is possible, that there are neighborhoods in France where three teenagers, if they are wearing kippas, cannot go for a walk without the risk of being beaten up, is clearly tragic. And to add to it, when one reads that this is not the first time, when one learns that the same kind of incident took place in the same area just months ago but was not reported in the press, when the National Bureau of Vigilance against Antisemitism tells us that acts of aggressions of this kind have become increasingly frequent since the killings at Toulouse and Montauban but that the system is getting used to them, that sometimes it barely bothers to register them and that nearly all, when they do not involve fatalities, fade into the background and appear insignificant, one can only think, “Clearly, something is rotten in the Republic of France; there is, in this very habituation, in this banalization, in this slow but sure metastasis of the poison of anti-Semitism, something fetid that we must not let pass.”
I know that, as I write these lines, we know nothing of the identity of the members of this new gang of barbarians. And I know how perilous it is, in such circumstances, to indulge in games of calculation, incrimination, and other demonic causalities.
Nonetheless.
Is it really by chance that this assault occured on the morrow of a campaign where we have watched a candidate, Madame LePen, systematically encourage boos and catcalls at her meetings when Jewish-sounding names are mentioned? Madonna, from this point of view, was perfectly right to make the connection, in Tel Aviv, with Nazism.
Is it due to a coincidence of dates that we learn, the same week, thanks to a collective of anti-racist organizations that have brought the matter to the courts, that France is one of the rare countries where, when you type in a proper name on a Web search engine, one of the first semi-automatic data entries supposedly “suggested” by the algorithm (but in reality prescribed by the totality of searches by preceding users) is the association of the name with “Jew”?
And what can one say of this strange obsession with Israel that, for the past several years, has tended to become the alpha and the omega, the central pawn, the main beam of an ideological construction that is at once insane and monstrously effective, according to which “the Jews” are accused anew: an abstract Israel, an imaginary Israel, a demonized if not downright Nazified Israel that serves, by association, to demonize and to Nazify Jews in general — an Israel whose function is, in a word, to furnish a brand-new fuel for the old anti-Semitic machine? For there lies the heart of the problem.
It is there among all those who, Muslim or not, imagine they are avenging the “victims of Israel” when they attack someone wearing a kippa.
It exists among the supposed “Palestinian sympathizers” who don’t give a tinker’s dam for the fate of those in the West Bank or Gaza when the Arab “brothers” are the ones keeping them in subjection or massacring them — and then suddenly see them as the salt of the earth when they confront Israel and Israel, in return, fights against them.
It is in this double standard whereby the same “friends of humanity” remain dry-eyed before the fate of the children massacred at Houla, in Syria, and find nothing to say about Bashar al-Assad’s savage pounding of his cities with heavy weapons, even regretting that a dictator like Muammar Gaddafi, who had the deaths of tens of thousands of Arab innocents on his conscience, was stopped from doing further harm — but when it is Israel that strikes (that is to say, precisely, when Israel defends itself and, in a manner more or less proportionate, hence more or less open to criticism, retaliates when it has been fired upon) judge that the ensuing fatalities are so many crimes against humanity, the blood of which will fall upon the heads of all the Jews in the world.
Listen to them! Israel, as they tell it, would be a state that is fundamentally illegitimate. Consequently, its leaders’ policies would be essentially criminal. And its friends and allies, as still another consequence, would be accomplices in this crime of principle. That is, more than ever, the formula for the anti-Semitism of the future. Such is the theorem that is equal to a license to kill or, as it happens, to beat, in the eyes of the descendants of the Nazi Jew bashers of the ’30s, whose argument had become unspeakable. Such is the modern manual of hatred that, having transformed the Jews into just so many potential assassins, has made it possible to condemn them or strike them.
Denounce this manual, deconstruct it, demonstrate that its protocols are no less fearsome than those of ancient times; this is the urgent matter the drama of Villeurbanne compels us to address. And that is the reason why it would be crazy to underestimate its meaning and its influence.
*****
Readers: Anything to say with respect to the above? Or anything else? Blog me.
Social Butterfly: Happy to hear you are good. I have blogged before on rape in the military. It is disgusting. Imagine you are fighting side by side with these men, only to later be raped by one of them. Thanks for the reminder of just how bad it is, and that something still needs to be done. I echo the words you stated about men standing up for women in these horrific circumstances. I am sorry that you experienced rape yourself.
Jt: I am sorry to read your story. I HOPE that your suffering has ended and you are doing well.
Anna of Guam: Of course you may. This blog is yours to freely post what you wish. I’m a beach girl and the beaches are lovely from what I hear. I have a feeling I will be out there sometime soon. Hafa Adai.
IKWYA: I certainly found your comments entertaining. I HOPE you find a love to call your own, who feels just as strongly for you as you do him.
YKWTI: Your Lady is one lucky girl. No doubt any girl would want to claim you as theirs after reading your writes. Can’t blame them. Can’t blame your love for stating what is hers either. Although I suspect being with a man like you, she is very secure in your relationship and felt more amused by IKWYA than threatened.
Hey ZL: I am laughing over here too. Sorry for being remiss in my phone call. I’ll try you soon.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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June 14th, 2012 at 10:07 am
yesterday or today is seems…test
June 14th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Couldn’t resist sharing this wonderful quote of Hilary Clinton’s that was in Curve Magazine:
“Gay people are born and belong to every society in the world. They are all ages, all races, all faiths. They are doctors and teachers, farmers and bankers, soldiers and athletes. And whether we know it, or whether we acknowledge it, they are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. Being gay is not a western invention. It is a human reality.”
Yes, we’re here and we’re queer! Have a lovely day all.
/SB
June 14th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Beautifully said Social Butterfly.
June 14th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
An unthinkable ordeal: Blanca Medina was raped by five different men in El Salvador before she fled to the United States. Terrified and traumatized, she thought she’d at last found a safe haven to raise her 4-year-old daughter Alejandra. But now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants to deport her — potentially back into the hands of her rapists, who were never arrested.
Forced back to certain danger? Blanca fears for her life — and Alejandra’s — if they have to go to El Salvador. None of the men who raped her have been arrested, including her stalker, and she’s terrified of what they’ll do if she’s sent back to El Salvador. But ICE is choosing to ignore this and other evidence.
You can help: Blanca’s lawyer Matthew Muller is appalled at how ICE has treated someone so vulnerable — she’s been refused a female case officer, and intimidated by male agents.
But Matthew knows that public support has saved countless people in the past — and he’s sure that if enough people join him, ICE will be forced to reverse its decision and allow Blanca to stay in the U.S.
More information about Matthew’s petition, in his own words:
Could you imagine suffering torture five different times, only to be told that no protection from your torturers was allowed because you missed a deadline to apply? And what if you missed the deadline because you were still recovering from the last attack?
Blanca Medina doesn’t have to imagine what that would be like. She sought safety in the United States after suffering five rapes. Because of medical complications relating to those rapes, Blanca missed a hearing to apply for protection and was ordered deported. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement team tracked Blanca down and detained her, separating her from her four-year-old daughter Alejandra.
Blanca told ICE that she and Alejandra faced severe harm if deported. She asked for permission to at least explain how she and her daughter could be persecuted. ICE used a strange procedural rule to assert that it simply did not have to listen. Under ICE rules, it is free to ignore even conclusive proof that a person would suffer slow death by torture if deported. This “willful blindness” policy could be ended through simple procedural changes by the Department of Homeland Security.
Until the procedure is fixed, Blanca (and thousands of moms like her) face deportation with no hope of finding protection from persecution or torture.
Join us in asking the U.S. government to end this policy of willful blindness to torture and persecution, and allow reasonable fear interviews for all who face deportation.
June 15th, 2012 at 7:34 am
WHAT IS FRANCE AIMING FOR? A COUNTRY WITH JUST PURE FRENCH…I GUESS THAT IS VERY MUCH OBSELETE TODAY…WITH TONNES OF MIX MARRIAGES…WE HAVE NEW CLANS, AND NEW RACES! WHERE IS THE GOVERMENT GOING TO THROW THEM? PEOPLE STARTING TO SEE EVERY HUMAN AS HUMAN BUT GOVERMENT IS CHANGING THEIR VIEW.
June 15th, 2012 at 7:38 am
There’s a long way to go, before France becomes a racially tolerant country, and for the moment being black or Arab makes your chances of experiencing unpleasantness fairly high.
It usually takes the form of hotels claiming to be booked up and police demanding your papers, though abuse from ordinary people is not unknown.
June 15th, 2012 at 7:43 am
France is a terribly racist country. Whether it be against colors or females.
This video is so educational but you need to hear it. Once you hear this you will truly understand what it means to be a non white male in france.
I am french and I can tell you that it is so true. But if you don’t believe me you can check other sources. I am married to a black person.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPf0aRRkQm0
June 15th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Here is part to on what racism feels like in france.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in1THXd_HvA&feature=relmfu
June 15th, 2012 at 8:09 am
Saline Spray Solution for Snoring
Does your partner complain that your snoring keeps him awake at night…or do his raucous snores rob you of needed rest (as is the case in my house)?
Snorers’ partners really do suffer—for instance, if we wind up sleep-deprived, our risk for accidents rises.
To the rescue: Simple saline.
Sometimes snoring signals sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that should be checked by a doctor. But in many cases, snoring is simply the result of nasal congestion, I heard from otolaryngologist Murray Grossan, MD, author of Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems—Permanently.
Allergies or an infection such as a cold can trigger swelling of the inner lining of the nose, which causes a vibration of the soft palate that creates the snoring sound.
Using a saline nasal spray at bedtime moisturizes the nasal passages and reduces inflammation, in turn helping to quiet the snores.
But commercial saline sprays often contain preservatives that some people are sensitive to, so they can actually increase congestion. That’s why Dr. Grossan recommended using a homemade solution instead.
What to do: You need one-quarter teaspoon of salt—preferably kosher or canning salt, which are free of the anti-drying agents some people are sensitive to.
Stir the salt into one-half cup of water (for safety, use distilled or boiled water) until it dissolves.
Pour the mixture into an empty nasal spray bottle (I found one online for $1.50 plus shipping at http://bit.ly/J1W4TN). Each night at bedtime, spray two or three squirts into each nostril. Use or discard homemade saline within five days.
Option: Take a quick hot shower after using the spray, Dr. Grossan suggested. The steam will further moisturize nasal passages…increasing the odds for blissfully quiet, snore-free slumber.
: Murray Grossan, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon with Tower Ear, Nose & Throat at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and author of Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems—Permanently (Hydro Med). http://www.Grossan.com
June 15th, 2012 at 8:12 am
I checked out your links Lilli. Here is the complete look for those of you that are interested.
4934 Racism in France from the American point of view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b_sGHNilI4&feature=relmfu
Racism in France – Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPf0aRRkQm0&feature=relmfu
=================
Racism in France – Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in1THXd_HvA&feature=relmfu
==================
Racism in France – Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y64hASVjp6g&feature=relmfu
==================
Show Me Your Identity Card
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiELcw6GbWg&feature=relmfu
===================
My Life in France, Introduction, Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SSm4QqiaJo&feature=relmfu
=====================
My Life in France, Introduction, Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2G1iDbfV_w&feature=relmfu
====================
It is definitely worth the listen.
Alycedale
June 15th, 2012 at 8:17 am
Racism for Romney?
Good news: after more than 185,000 dedicated MoveOn members called on the Justice Department to block Florida’s racist voter purge, it decided to sue Florida on Tuesday!1
But Republican Governor Rick Scott hasn’t backed down yet—we have to keep fighting to make sure Republicans don’t steal the 2012 election in Florida like they did in 2000.
So far, Mitt Romney hasn’t said anything about what’s going on in Florida. He was in the state on the day the Justice Department said they’d block the program—we flew a 99airlines banner over his Orlando campaign event on Tuesday that read, “LATINO VOTER PURGE = RACISM FOR ROMNEY.” Still, he said nothing.2 Why won’t Mitt Romney condemn the racist voter purge?
We all know that Mitt Romney really, really wants to be president. But it’s past time for him to publicly denounce any racist tactics that Republicans employ to keep lawful voters from voting. Romney’s silence speaks volumes to the voters targeted by these suppression schemes.
Since Romney refuses to speak out publicly against the purge, we’re challenging him online. The Romney campaign is using Facebook and Twitter to get its messages out and respond to people. If enough of us demand a response online, the media will see it and ask Romney even more questions, and he won’t be able to duck our challenge.
Will you send a message to Mitt Romney? It says: “Mitt Romney, where do you stand on the Florida voter purge?”
Republican presidential candidates have been the beneficiaries of voter suppression efforts. A purge targeting African American voters in Florida helped throw the 2000 election.3 The 2004 election results were stained by ploys to tell voters in Ohio to vote at the wrong place on the wrong day.4
Mitt Romney could benefit from this year’s voter suppression efforts. As the presumptive Republican nominee, he has the opportunity to show real leadership by condemning discriminatory voter purges, impediments to voter registration, and all other suppression tactics currently being carried out by Republican leaders across the country.
Voting rights and election experts are saying that as many as 5 million voters could be disenfranchised.5 That’s a big number—more than enough to swing the election—but we can beat them. There are 7 million MoveOn members, and when we all act together, we’re almost impossible to beat.
We know Romney wants to win at all costs. But MoveOn members—and really, all Americans—believe that elections should be fair, and that every voter should have the right to cast a ballot.
June 15th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Check out the Weinstein french move Intouchables” which is about two men – a quadriplegic aristocrat and a young black man from the projects – who who should never have met.
June 15th, 2012 at 8:46 am
French human rights commission reports the number of racist and anti-Semitic acts has almost doubled in France over a single year. The acts not only target Jews, but also Muslims living in France.