What's With the French?
Seems it has always been that way. Not that the French are all that much different from other nationalities after all, particularly within Europe, the Continent. Somehow one expects the French might be perhaps more accepting, but such, apparently, is not to be, never was, despite everything. France, official France now agonizes over the Dreyfus affair, proclaiming that he was, after all, a patriotic Frenchman? Really, now really! French Jews, despite living in their beloved country from time immemorial (well, almost) will never be recognized as true "French", and will always live there in fear, despite the government's avowed dedication to their safety as true French citizens.Talk is cheap, and France does a lot of it. As for Jacques Chirac it has been said of him that he never met a Middle East dictator that he didn't like. France's patience in putting up with its immigrant-and-citizen Algerian population, marginalized within France, and their occasional destructive rebellions against their dismal living conditions is cautionary. Its lack of zeal in protecting its Jewish population from hate-filled activities visited upon them by an ever-growing Arab-French population does it no credit. There remains an undying subliminal state of anti-Semitism within France and that truly is a pity. Official France is so conflicted about its emotions with respect to Jews it takes great umbrage at former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's invitation to embattled French Jews to emigrate to Israel, yet it takes no real steps to protect its Jewish population.
A love for the Middle East and for Arab nations seems to be bred in the bones of Frenchmen. Who can blame them? Who, really, can resist the lure of the Arab world? The history, geography and culture of Arab countries is compelling, from ancient Egypt and its historical gifts to the world, to the fabled Babylon. The Arab world, both ancient and current is multifaceted, exciting, romantic and singularly beautiful. Its art, music, poetry and dance, the dark beauty of its people, their history throughout time, their architecture and ancient writings.
Absent the current misery, the various struggles ongoing within the many countries making up that modern world of Arabism and Islam, the proud tradition is still there, the cultural heritage, the literary arts, music, and so much more. But then while one can "escape" history into the future, one cannot escape the future, it is here and now.
So, what is it with the French? Jacques Chirac expresses his outrage with the Israeli government for its "disproportionate" response to Hezbollah's deadly invitation to all-out war. What is proportionate? To tsk-tsk, warn that Israel is becoming sick and tired of the constant bombardments and incursions and sit back and wait for more? Failing that, to complain to the United Nations? It's been done, time and again, has it not? The United Nations has done its duty, informed Lebanon it must take charge of its borders, and it is incumbent upon it to remove Hezbollah, incapacitate it, disband it, take it out of business.
Disproportionate is bombing the hell out of the country, and in so doing causing the deaths of thousands of innocents, that's disproportionate. How would France and Jacques Chirac respond to such provocation? Presumably by targeting the launch sites of the various rockets hitting Israeli towns. Oops, the launch sites, the command centres have been placed within dense civilian populations. Well, better go home and forget about it, right?
As a Canadian I take some solace in the fact that polls indicate that two in three Canadians believe Israel's military action in Lebanon is justified. Despite which everyone mourns the loss of innocent civilian lives, the lives of children, the elderly, women and non-combatants. What could possibly be sadder? Perhaps a far greater loss of those innocent lives, that's what. Here's the kicker in the statistics: the Province of Quebec takes a more critical view of the situation with a slight majority of those polled opposed to the actions Israel has taken in Lebanon.
Why am I not surprised? Disappointed, certainly, but surprised: no. The columnist Brigette Pellerin wrote recently in the Ottawa Citizen of Quebec's "unfortunate history of anti-Semitism". She points out that the French-language media's coverage of the crisis in Lebanon is "overwhelmingly one-sided, with countless pictures and stories about anxious Lebanese-Canadians and very little on Israeli civilians deliberately targeted by the terrorists as opposed to being accidently hit by the Israeli military."
Ms. Pellerin also points out that journalists make little-to-no-effort to explain to Quebec readers the reason for this situation, nor do they appear to care whether the information they publish is complete or accurate in nature. In her article she further conveys the information that a number of high profile Quebec politicians made it their business to attend a Montreal rally against "Israel's attacks on Lebanon", where protestors "condemned the Canadian government for backing Israel's acts of war".
Why am I not surprised? Disappointed, yes, but surprised? That old adage about the apple not falling far from the tree - but why?
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, July 25, 2006
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