She has a dream: the Marseillaise in Arabic

Khaleej Times Online AFP ^ | November 6, 2005

[syriacus]

PARIS - Farida Verhaeghe-Amiri believes, with missionary zeal, that the Arabic version she has penned and recorded of France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise, will be a salve on the open wounds of French society.

With dozens of ghetto-like enclaves in Paris’ suburbs — inhabited mainly by immigrants from Muslim north Africa — literally aflame with ethnic and class tension, the impulse to promote unifying civic values is surely welcome.

If for no other reason, the improbable fact that her Algerian grandfather carried to safety a wounded soldier in World War I named Charles de Gaulle — founder of France’s Fifth Republic — should earn her a hearing.

But Verhaeghe-Amiri’s dogged efforts to get an Arabic rendition of France’s Republican rallying cry officially recognized by various state ministries, while endorsed in some quarters, is seen in others as sheer provocation.

Born in the Algeria town of Setif, Verhaeghe-Amiri, 50, has first-hand knowledge of the frustrations felt by many of France’s six million residents who trace their origins to the Muslim, Arabic-speaking countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

“Many young north Africans feel left out in France,” she said. ”They grow up hating their lives here.”

Whatever barriers they may face in French society, however, does not justify the rampaging violence that has wracked Parisian suburbs for 10 nights and counting, she said.

“I want them to learn to respect the values of peace and friendship, and, of course, liberty, equality and fraternity,” the cornerstone values of French republicanism, she said. “So I wrote La Marseillaise in Arabic.”

The idea was born in a moment of outright disgust.

Along with tens of millions of French television viewers, Verhaeghe-Amiri watched hundreds of Franco-Arab youths boo the French national anthem and then riot on the pitch at a 2001 football match between France and Algeria.

“I was ashamed to see the lack of respect the kids showed France,” she said.

“These kids have had no education in civic pride. The failure is at school, and especially at home.”

The event, and the controversy it provoked, inspired Verhaeghe-Amiri, a former public high-school teacher, to rewrite a loose translation of the 18th-century revolutionary anthem. She then enlisted two professional pop singers to make a recording in her native Arabic, available today as a CD.

So now “Allons enfants de la Patrie” (“Arise, children of the fatherland”) sounds like this: “hiya ab’na el wa’atan.” The background music is typical of Algerian pop music.

Not surprisingly, a lot of French people don’t like the idea of meddling with the national anthem.

French politicians raised a chorus of protest this summer during a debate in the national assembly as to whether La Marseillaise’s arguably racist and bloodthirsty lyrics should be revised.

When enfant-terrible pop singer Serge Gainsbourg recorded a reggae-style adaptation in 1979, it was deemed scandalous.

But none of this has discouraged Verhaeghe-Amiri, who has contacted various French administrations in her quest for an official stamp of legitimacy.

The response has always been polite, sometimes even encouraging.

France’s beleaguered minister for equal opportunity Azouz Begag — on the front line this week of the government’s efforts to calm rioting suburban youth — wrote to Verhaeghe-Amiri earlier this year, for example, endorsing her efforts.

“Your approach fits perfectly with the government policy of equal opportunity and I thank you for your citizen’s engagement,” he wrote.

But her efforts to have the Arabic anthem used in French schools, for example, have so far led to naught. No one dares say no — one senior education ministry official praised her initiative as ”encouraging tolerance and fraternity.”

But then he passed the buck to another office which will decide if the CD will be listed as authorized teaching material.

Verhaeghe-Amiri is not seeking to supplant the original. “The official anthem must always be played in French,” she said. “But sports clubs could play the Arabic version as an educational tool. And it could be played in foreign, Arabic-speaking countries as a message of peace from France.”

“Many North African youths here do have an identity crisis, and maybe this can help,” said Karim Chayeb, an official in the Muslim Scouts of France organization. “This might do good for France’s image outside the country even more than inside.”

But the idea is not universally welcomed. “I am of Guinean origin, but I do not need to hear La Marseillaise sung in Sou-sou to strengthen my respect of French values,” commented Lynda Morrel, a youth center official in a Paris suburb.

Pascal Chollet, owner of a small toy store in Paris, agrees. “I think it must be sung in French, not in any other language, whether it be Arabic, Spanish or Chinese. Would you sing “God Save the Queen’ in French?”

[clee1]

Dingbat alert!

[Luke21]

This gets stupider by the minute.

[Dan(9698)]

... her Algerian grandfather carried to safety a wounded soldier in World War I named Charles de Gaulle

That seems reasonable --- her Grandfather inflicted de Gaulle on France, and her other relatives have come to finish the job.

[acapesket]

We Americans, also have a dream... it is to rid the world of parasites who acknowledge the "CULT" known as islam, and give it recognition.
We will never be Dhimmi's, we own guns and know our rights as a Militia.
Take your sand turds somewhere else.

[ncountylee]

Deport her.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Double whammy against humanity.

The women is walking death.

[syriacus]

Would you sing “God Save the Queen’ in French?

Well the tune has used for an anthem or two in other countries.

Joseph Haydn was impressed by the use of "God Save the King" as a national anthem during his visit to London in 1794 and on his return to Austria wrote a national anthem, the God Save Emperor Franz ('Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser'), for the birthday of the Emperor Franz of Austria. The tune of God Save the King was later adopted for the Prussian national anthem "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz".[snip]

[God Save the Queen's] tune was either used as or officially adopted as the national anthem for several other countries, including those of Denmark, Germany (unofficial), Russia (until 1833), Sweden and Switzerland.

It is also the melody to the popular United States song My Country, 'Tis of Thee. The tune is also used as Norway's Royal anthem entitled Kongesangen. [snip] The tune is still used as the national anthem of Liechtenstein.

[HangnJudge]

Many North African youths here do have an identity crisis, and maybe this can help,” said Karim Chayeb, an official in the Muslim Scouts of France organization. “This might do good for France’s image outside the country even more than inside.

Horse shit

Islam has no respect for any belief but it's own
Islam has no respect for any writings but those derived from Mohammad
Islam will kill those who renounce Mohammad
Their world view is frozen into the 7th century

Identify those who propagate hate speech in Islam
Arrest, Deport, or Imprison
Do not reinforce violent behavior, ever

[garyhope]

"Many young north Africans feel left out in France."

Then why are they THERE?

[Lancer_N3502A]

Someone should shoot her as a mercy killing.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I bet their are a bunch of leftist french politicians right now saying, "Hey, if we give them this, we'll get lots of votes".

[VeniVidiVici]

Along with tens of millions of French television viewers, Verhaeghe-Amiri watched hundreds of Franco-Arab youths boo the French national anthem and then riot on the pitch at a 2001 football match between France and Algeria.

This happens with our soccer matches with Mehico too. Must be a connection.

[Uncle Vlad]

Deport the bastards!

[JRios1968]

Why not? It's just the next step in the Dhimming of France.

[TheCrusader]

"“Many young north Africans feel left out in France,” she said. ”They grow up hating their lives here.”

Apparently they like France better than north Africa though.

[pepsionice]

They all show up...from Africa, the middle east, Russia, etc...in various European countries. And its hog heaven on day one. Your income is five to ten times what it was in the old country. The electricity runs 24 hours a day. The market is always full of fresh food. The cops aren't corrupt. The apartments are a big step up from previous digs. Everything is modern and actually works. Employment is easy (only because you accept the $7 an hour job which is better than anything in the old country).

But after a year or two...you realize you are second-rate on most things in life. You don't really integrate into the country. You stay in your slum neighborhood because all of the other Morroccans live there. You hang out with your old country buddies because you really don't fit into mainstream society. You watch tv from the old country via a satellite...and rarely watch the news from your new country. You allow your kids to attend school but continue to harp on tradional values of the old country. You refuse further education because you don't think you need it. And you begin to see drug dealers in your neighborhood, but never question it or call the cops (because they are your homeboys).

When the jews became the TARGET in the mid-1930s...they were isolating themselves to a degree. They had their neighborhoods, their stores, and their schools. But the Nazi's noticed that almost all of the big money lenders in Germany...were Jews. All of the universities were run by Jews and primarily staffed by Jews. The major banks in Germany...run by Jews. The top stores of Germany...run by Jews.

Never once did the Jews ever threaten the country itself or pose a violent threat to Germany. Here in 2005...the Muslims are posing a threat. They are destroying private property, and these episodes...even if they end this week...will be remembered for years to come. The Muslims are inviting the European private citizen to evaluate just how far they will go into this mess. If these riots are calmed within the next three or four days...you will begin to see armed French gangs walking throughout the country at night...with weapons or bats...looking for trouble. Little teenage Muhammid will meet a group of French soccer fans...who will act upon revenge. Nothing good of this whole affair will come. There are only dark days ahead in Paris.

[metmom]

“Many young north Africans feel left out in France,” she said. ”They grow up hating their lives here.”

They could just leave.

[backhoe]

Is Paris Burning? ( Religion of Peace® Alert )
Click the picture:

Islam, The Alleged Religion of Peace® ( TARP™ )? Click this picture:

No, I am not exaggerating. Click the pic, go to "last," and read backwards.
If you are not informed about this stuff, you will be made sick. If you are informed, you will be made mad, all over again.

---

Kindly note tagline...

Is Paris Burning? ( Religion of Peace® Alert )
Click the picture:

Islam, The Alleged Religion of Peace® ( TARP™ )? Click this picture:

No, I am not exaggerating. Click the pic, go to "last," and read backwards.
If you are not informed about this stuff, you will be made sick. If you are informed, you will be made mad, all over again.

---

Kindly note tagline...