What the Charlie Hebdo Bombing Makes Clear The terrorist bombing of the offices of the satirical news rag, Charlie Hebdo, for demeaning cartoon depictions of Muhammad (and every one else as well) killed a dozen and has stirred up varying sentiments in France. It has the fanned anti-Muslim prejudices and the Muslims, of course, have stirred up much antisemitism. The French join in animus toward both, and key questions the French now ask each other is Are you really French? Where did you come from? Has your family been here long? Frenchness is perceived as being threatened by Jewish and Muslim immigrants in particular. Free speech is only an ostensible concern. The fractured French social fabric is the heart of the matter. There is no doubt Islamic law forbids satirical and demeaning depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. Islam is squarely at odds with freedom of speech on that and many related issues. Muslims also chaff under veiling and covering limitations in public buildings and elsewhere imposed by French law. Efforts to Frenchify Jews and Muslims has failed broadly as both groups cling to their conflicting cultural identities. The French government does too little, beyond rhetoric, to curb Muslim and French antisemitism and Jews are leaving France for Israel in hoards. The indigenous French dont mind that and simply wish the Muslims would follow suit. Freedom of speech is not the issue. French identity is Little is as it used to be or as we want it. Immigration roils many but continues. All feel disturbed and threatened, at least in their ways and customs. The world, like the US, is no melting pot, except at the very top ends of IQ and higher education. Everyone else stews.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 04:54:39 +0000