Lots of folks here seem to be congratulating "France" or the "French". This is nothing of the kind. It is ONE NEWSPAPER.. one courageous and enlightened newspaper... but ONE NEWSPAPER ONLY.
It is not "France" the government, nor France the mass of citizenry. There may be a superstrong anti-clerical and secularist tone to French society (the head scarf ban), but there is an even stronger appeasement mentality there.
How soon before Monsieur Chirac offers his heartfelt apologies to Muslims for upsetting them with these cartoons? How soon before French Muslims start torching whole neighborhoods again? How soon before the white-flag French back down and make kissy-pooh with the Muslim blackmailers?
If the government and mainstream French media stand up and support the newspaper in question, and stand up for free speech and a free press in the face of Muslim threats, THEN I will start to be impressed.
But it is one more major newspaper than has published the same in America. Le Pen has more support than the Minutemen in America. Where is political correctness stronger than here Uncle?
Yes, I congratulate France.