Alain Finkielkraut. "When an Arab torches a school, it's rebellion. When a white guy does it, it's fascism. I'm 'color blind.' Evil is evil, no matter what color it is. And this evil, for the Jew that I am, is completely intolerable." (Hannah/Opale)
Posted on 11/19/2005 12:54:43 PM PST by SmithL
PARIS - The first thing the French-Jewish philosopher Alain Finkielkraut said to us when we met one evening at Paris' elegant Le Rostand cafe, where the interior is decorated with Oriental-style pictures and the terrace faces the Luxembourg Gardens, was "I heard that even Haaretz published an article identifying with the riots."
This remark, uttered with some vehemence, pretty much sums up the feelings of Finkielkraut - one of the most prominent philosophers in France in the past 30 years - ever since the violent riots began on October 27 in the impoverished neighborhoods that surround Paris and spread with surprising speed to similar suburbs throughout the country. He has been following the events through the media, keeping up with all the news reports and commentary, and has been appalled at every article that shows understanding for or identification with "the rebels" (and in the French press, there are plenty). He has a lot to say, but it appears that France isn't ready to listen - that his France has already surrendered to a blinding, "false discourse" that conceals the stark truth of its situation. The things he is saying to us in the course of our conversation, he repeatedly emphasizes, are not things he can say in France anymore. It's impossible, perhaps even dangerous, to say these things in France now.
Indeed, in the lively intellectual debate that has been taking place on the pages of the French newspapers ever since the rioting started, a debate in which France's most illustrious minds are taking part, Finkielkraut's is a deviant, even very deviant, voice. Primarily because it is not emanating from the throat of a member of Jean Marie Le Pen's National Front, but from that of a philosopher formerly considered to be one of the most eminent spokesmen of
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Alain Finkielkraut. "When an Arab torches a school, it's rebellion. When a white guy does it, it's fascism. I'm 'color blind.' Evil is evil, no matter what color it is. And this evil, for the Jew that I am, is completely intolerable." (Hannah/Opale)
interesting
"It's impossible, perhaps even dangerous, to say these things in France now."
People never believe they can live in a fascist state without knowing about it and rejecting it openly.
They think they will know when they live in a fascist state because life will be somehow lose its color and everything will become black and white, or dulkl shades of gray.
They think fascism means that large men in black uniforms will be goosestepping up and down streets asking for "papers please".
They think we will start using words like "comrade" or "fuhrer", and that all laughter will stop.
When fascism comes it will use the common language; it will be spoken by familiar trusted faces; people will still laugh and play. The sun will still shine brightly and no haze will descend.
"Political correctness" is fascism.
Confiscation of property for financial gain is fascism.
"Hate Crimes" laws are fascist laws that punish thought, not just action.
100% control of the government by two private associations is fascism.
Fascism is never 100%. It is always incremental. It is insidious. It saves the most cherished freedoms while eliminating every other less popular freedom...until the last.
Never fear, France. You've got Johnny Depp on your side, and if there's ever a good man in a tight corner, its Johnny Depp.
He looks like Bill Maher, but he sounds like he has much more common sense.
May this "something" he speaks about not take over in America.
This is a very ingteresting article, and there is much in it that is instructive for the U.S.
Thank you for posting this. b.
And prohibition of smoking is fascism.
ever since the violent riots began on October 27
My Birthday is oct 27th, I cant think of a better present than to watch the scumbag French leaders try to explain why the City of Lights is being lit up by Car fires.
Now that's one MO FO sentence. Are these guys journalists?
French rioters were mostly black?
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1061670.php/Walker`s_World_France`s_black_anger?page=1
I don't think so. My clear impression was that the majority was north african arabs, but that a healhty chunck also consisted of blacks....
I took a look at a few of the earlier wire stories from the riots and they basically said the same as this guy:
Mostly muslim black and arab africans.....
As others have said, thanks for posting this. It is a very serious, thoughtful, and interesting article. I found it oddly encouraging to read the gloomy reflections of M. Finkielkraut. As bad as things are, at least there are a few Frenchmen who get it.
This little nugget bears a closer look.
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