The Best To All In 2007

I had written some words on French-American relations but I think the best thing to do now is relax and enjoy the few moments of peace we have left in 2006.

Bonne Année!



Poster from Art.com.

Answering French-Bashing

One of my readers, of whom I've spoken - Jovan-Marya Weismiller, who has pledged fealty to the King of France, recently received a letter from one of his own readers who clearly gets a kick out of bashing France and the French. Jovan answered him point by point in a display of commitment to traditional France, and impatience with the facile tendency some have to denigrate a country for which they have no affinity. Since the letter is quite long I'm presenting here some excerpts. The anti-French comments are in italics, Jovan's in parentheses:

"France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes." - Mark Twain

(Actually, I like this one. It's basically true since the last Most Christian King fell in 1830!)

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." - General George S. Patton

(I notice neither he, nor any other Allied commander, turned down the services of the Free French.)

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." - Norman Schwartzkopf

(I used to like "Stormin' Norman"! He should ask General Washington or General Pershing their opinion!)

"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." - Jacques Chirac, President of France

"As far as France is concerned, you're right." - Rush Limbaugh

(Of course, Rush is an idiot, not that Red Jacques is any brighter! All wars are failures according to Catholic moral teaching. Failures to achieve the desired ends by peaceful means. This is not to condemn defensive war outright because the best intentions of the "good" side may be thwarted by the intransigence of the "bad" side.)

"You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940's who was still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it." - John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona

(I hate to agree with McCain on anything, because of his anti-Catholic stances, but I do agree that ever since de Gaulle, the Republic has tried to be a bigger world presence than reality allows.)

"War without France would be like ... World War II." -Unknown

(Had it not been for the French tying down the Germans in the six weeks of the Battle of France, the BEF would have been destroyed, Hitler would have conquered Britain and (if we were able to win at all) the war would have lasted much longer.)

"It is important to remember that the French have always been there when they needed us." - Alan Kent

(The historical ignorance displayed is amazing! Why did the portraits of Their Most Christian Majesties hang in both Houses of Congress until they were martyred by the Revolution? Because France was there when the US needed her!)

"Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on EBay the other day - the description was, 'Never shot. Dropped once." - Rep. Roy Blunt, MO (Missouri)

(This man is an embarrassment to many Missourians. The jackass knows no history, and isn't interested in learning-see below.)

"The French will only agree to go to war when we've proven we've found truffles in Iraq." - Dennis Miller

(I have to admit, Miller might be right!)

Q. What did the mayor of Paris say to the German Army as they entered the city in WWII?

A. Table for 100,000 m'sieur?

(Actually, sort of amusing, but exactly what was he supposed to say? The Army was defeated in the field, with massive casualties, and the Germans were a fact of life in Paris.)

"Do you know how many Frenchmen it takes to defend Paris? It's not known, it's never been tried." - Rep. R. Blunt, MO

(This one pisses me off so much! I wrote Blunt when he first said it. There are over 100,000 Frenchmen buried at Verdun, who died defending Paris!)

"Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining." - John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv

(A comedian, right? It took from 10 May until 25 June for the French [and their British ally] to fall to the overwhelming superiority of the Wehrmacht, with 90,000 French killed and 200,000 wounded [British casualties were 68,111] defending Paris [re: Blunt's stupid remark, above]).

The AP and UPI reported that the French Government announced after the London bombings that it has raised its terror alert level from Run to Hide. The only two higher levels in France are Surrender and Collaborate. The rise in the alert level was precipitated by a recent fire which destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively disabling their military.

The French Government announced today that it is imposing a ban on the use of fireworks at Euro Disney. The decision comes the day after a nightly fireworks display at the park, located just 30 miles outside of Paris, caused the soldiers at a nearby French garrison to surrender to a group of Czech tourists.

(I won't even dignify these last two pieces of juvenile idiocy with a comment.)

I thank Jovan for his defense. It's very easy in America to look down on anyone who doesn't do things "our way". The problem is that France has become something of an anathema to our conservatives and a model of socialist virtues for our liberals. And both are wrong.

Photo of the cemetery at Verdun from Fotosearch.

Is France A Land Of Islam?

This article from a contributor named GolaniWarrior at Instinct De Survie reminds us of what we already know but must never forget - that once Islam has been implanted somewhere, that land becomes part of "Dar Al-Islam" no matter what happens in the aftermath:

Yes! Perhaps you didn't know it, but France belongs to the Arabs (at least as far as Poitiers). Charles Martel stole it!

The fact is that when a land has belonged to a Muslim, it cannot subsequently belong to an infidel. In this case, it is considered a theft that must be re-conquered at any cost. In this case, Jihad enters the picture.

Islam, like Christianity, is defined as a universal religion. But the big difference is that the expansion of Islam cannot be accomplished except by territorial conquest, whereas the expansion of Christianity is ideological.

For Islam the world is divided in two: Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb. The first designates all the territories where Islam has political power, even if it is in the minority and even if all the autochthones are not Muslims.

Dar al-Harb is the rest of the world that Islam has the duty to conquer through perpetual war called Jihad.

To take two concrete examples: Israel is Dar al-Harb (land of war) and France is Dar al-Islam (land of Islam).

In the Land of War, the idolatrous peoples have no choice - it's conversion or extermination (cf. the remarks by the Iranian president that Israel must be eradicated from the map). But be careful: this refers only to the men! The women become slaves. As for Jews and Christians, they are dhimmis. They are not obligated to convert (hurrah!), however they must submit to paying the tax called jizia. They have the right to live side by side with Muslims and to practice their faith so long as they do it quietly and without ostentation.

The dhimmi of course must not rebel against his master, nor must he involve himself in politics.

A Muslim man can marry a Jew or a Christian because the children will be Muslims. But a Muslim woman cannot marry a Jew or a Christian, because a Muslim woman must be submissive. It would be an abomination to see a Muslim woman submit to a dhimmi.

And now let's take a look at what is happening today in France. Who is submitting to whom?

If the churches are covered with Muslim flags (as part of the campaign to assist illegals), no problem. If the synagogues are burned, no problem. However, try covering a mosque with the French flag and what's the reaction?

Try setting fire to a mosque and watch what happens: last year, when the police hurled smoke bombs at a mosque, it set the "banlieues" on fire...

In Tours, there was music in the streets last Christmas and various Christmas carols could be heard. They stopped that because our Muslim friends were shocked by it. They pulled the "laïcité" card on us: since France is a "laic" country, we are not permitted to hear Christmas carols at Christmas!

Is this normal?

Yes, it is: France is Land of Islam and we do not have the right to rebel or to keep our culture. Islamist culture is the priority. Dhimmitude has begun.

Note: Some of you may be interested in an "educational group" called Dar al-Islam headquartered in New Mexico. Click here. I wonder if by choosing that name for their group they are trying to tell us something?

To honor France's Christian tradition I've posted a photograph of the stained glass windows in the St. Eustache Church in Paris. Click here for a direct link to the photo or here for a link to the complete list of photo albums by the photographer Lynxette79. She has some wonderful scenes of Paris and a separate album devoted to stained glass windows, many in France.

America's Muslims Speak

While it's true that polls don't mean very much, everyone should take a look at this article sent to me by a reader. The results of the poll are not surprising, yet you can't help but feel the earth shake a little beneath your feet when you think ahead to what life will be like as their numbers increase. And this will be in addition to the uncountable millions of Mexicans. The French have been hit with the full force of Islamic tyranny and violence. Here in America people often mock the French, as if somehow America is exempt from such a calamity. But as long as the government pursues a nation-destroying open-borders policy, the end result is not only predictable, but inevitable.

The poll is followed by a long discussion that reveals that even some Americans are still learning the basics of Muslim philosophy.

The image is from American Muslims, a branch of CAIR.

The Alliance Of Doom

Much ink has been spilled over Jean-Marie Le Pen's attempts to win the Muslim vote and much speculation has been engendered over the real motives of the leader of the Front National party. But according to Le Conservateur, the Muslim vote will be overwhelmingly socialist, increasing greatly the chances for Ségolène Royal to become president. This stands to reason, since the socialists have been the most vociferous immigrationists and have been in the business of "importing voters" for a long time:

According to a study by the IFOP (French Institute of Public Opinion), as reported by Valeurs Actuelles, the proportion of French Muslims who claim to be leftists is...83%! A score worthy of the "Arab democracies." IFOP explains that this is due in part to the overrepresentation of young people and workers in this segment of the voting public.

After the Netherlands and Belgium, it is in France that we are witnessing the emergence of a formidable danger for democracy: the ethnic vote. One more element in the creation of a catastrophic scenario where ethnic communities are pitted against each other.

Incidentally, these figures are a disavowal of Nicolas Sarkozy's policy of reaching out (creation of the CFCM [French Confederation of the Muslim Cult], advocacy of affirmative action, suppression of the double penalty, increase in visas for Algerians, etc...). The proportion of partisans of the Left increased after the riots, according to the IFOP. Mr. Sarkozy would be well-advised to work harder to win over ethnic Frenchmen.

Finally, let's point out that these figures are one more reminder as to why the Left has been so committed to immigrationism: it allows them to get re-elected despite their poor record, by importing voters. A veritable rape of democracy.

Le Conservateur made similar comments in a post of October 9 just after the Belgian election. Back then he said that even though Vlaams Belang, the anti-immigrationist right-wing party, had not won overwhelmingly, they had increased their voting base. The media labeled the party leader as a "racist and xenophobe" in order to cover up the fact that the huge win by the Left was due entirely to the immigrant vote:

So it was thanks to the immigrant vote, a new element since the last election, that the Socialist Party was able to conquer Antwerp. It's hardly surprising in such circumstances that the socialist mayor of Antwerp blares it out that the Vlaams Belang is "racist", since he himself owes his position only to his ethnic-group strategy. (But he who sleeps with his dog wakes up with fleas).

A reminder that the latest Dutch elections witnessed the same phenomenon where the Left wins thanks to the immigrant vote. It's understandable for the Left, while it screams racism every five minutes, to continue to bring in more and more immigrants...In short, the parties that import voters illegally in order to stay in power (commit) a veritable rape of democracy. It's not just playing with matches but having the gas open as well. Antwerp prefigures the future of Europe...the end of democracy and the road to civil war, in some way....

Both articles elicited interesting comments from readers. One reader spoke of his hope:

- I firmly believe that just when we feel all is lost, a leader will emerge who will lead a victorious struggle so that Europe can remain what it has been for 12 centuries.

Another reader agreed:

- I arrived at the same conclusions: we are making progress among "our own kind", but this effect is nullified by the impact of the immigrant vote...I also believe that nothing is completely lost: yes, a leader will arise, and I also think that Christ will not let us fall definitively. But what else is certain, is that many of us will lose our lives. Yet that is the fate of free men. Courage! They have not yet won!!!

Snow Has Arrived

I am still addicted to providing fine art at a very low cost to my readers. I hear that Colorado is submerged in the "white stuff" as we call it. For drivers, sick people in need of transportation, construction workers, etc...it can be a calamity. For others it's a beauty unmatched. But eventually it turns to ice and slush and becomes very dangerous.

Most of the wintry landscapes I came upon are by Dutch and German painters. Does anyone know of a French artist who painted winter landscapes - the Alps perhaps?

This oil on panel, by Joos De Momper (1564-1635), dates from 1620, and comes from ArtRenewal.

Crime Figures Higher

Last November I posted an article on crime statistics using a report from the Interior Ministry as one of my major sources of data. In my post I remarked that crimes are often underreported. It appears from a blog entry of December 20 by Philippe de Villiers that the actual figures are three times, sometimes ten times, higher:

The ratio could be one to ten: out of ten acts of violence, insults, threats or aggression, only one becomes the object of complaint. This is what an inquiry led by INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) and the National Observatory of Crime revealed when the results were made public on December 19: in 2005, every day, 500 victims of aggression preferred to remain silent, the fear of reprisals often being greater than the trust in the judicial system. Even as the Minister of the Interior congratulates himself on his record, the inquiry also reveals that in 2005, criminal acts were three times higher than the official figures quoted by the police: more than 9 million thefts of personal belongings (biens) were committed and almost 4 million people declared they were victims of at least one aggression. The official statistics only admit to 3,775,000 crimes and offenses for the same period.

The Story Of Karl

Many websites have been angered over the death of Karl (also written "Carl"), a middle-school student from the Collège Albert Camus who died a week ago after being beaten at school by two other students, one African, one Carribean. The reason for the outrage, besides the obvious tragedy, is the manner in which the newspapers have underplayed the event and portrayed the death as purely accidental, since Karl had a serious heart condition. This is what Yahoo says, citing AFP (Agence France Press):

"According to the autopsy Karl was not the victim of a brutal attack or an ambush. His death was due entirely to the emotional stress that triggered a sudden heart attack. He suffered from a serious cardiac malformation with one coronary artery 'wide as a hair' according to the court physicians," said René Pech, prosecuting attorney.

"There was no trace of any of the blows...and the the blows were not the cause of death...This changes considerably the relative responsibility of the two children...It was not a murder," Mr. Pech pointed out.

"It was a fight like many that occur between 11-year old pupils in the schoolyard that caused the death of Karl...He was struck by a boy. He fell to the ground. It's not clear whether he was pushed or lost his balance. Lying there on his stomach, he received one or two kicks from a boy and a girl..."

The judge must decide if he will honor the request of the counsel for the State (parquet) and place the two youngsters in a special school, considering that "they have been threatened...and to help them become aware of the act that they committed, an act that has traumatized them considerably..."

Without being able to provide the exact motive for the fight, Mr. Pech denied there was any racial connotation, as some rumors have been implying...

The story also appeared in Libération and elicited this comment from a reader (who must be a friend of Attorney Pech).

I am stunned. The people involved are crazy. It's only a fight among 11-year old kids, the type that happens every day. This one ended tragically, but it's not because of monsters. Pull yourselves together, you're indulging in excessive reactions to the media madness that seizes everybody before the exact facts are known.

Another comment is rather typical of teachers who believe this type of uncontrollable situation can be managed by more efforts from the teachers themselves. He recognizes the child's dilemma, but not the root cause - unassimilable immigrants. For him the cause is "foolishness". So his comments would also please Attorney Pech:

Violence is everywhere. Every day children fight in the schoolyards and yet they are merely wounded. Here, at the end of a Phys. Ed. class, after 4 months of school, it's the saddest Christmas for this child to die of fear because of the stupidity and foolishness of others. The teachers (of whom I am one) absolutely must help the educators - those who are in charge of these kids - to prevent, avoid and channel this endemic violence without arguing. I salute the family of this child and present my sincere condolences. And I ask the journalists not to trivialize the event. This 12-year old died of fear, even if he did have a cardiac malformation.

Note: Isn't a "procureur" a prosecutor? I can't tell whom he's prosecuting, the perpetrators or the dead boy. He talks more like a defense attorney. But of course he represents the State, so that explains it.

Also I don't know if the parents were aware their son had such a serious condition. There's no indication that the school knew.

Photo from NouvelObs.

Joyeux Noël

If I've done anything this week I've amassed a collection of art websites that have absorbed more of my time than originally intended. Start browsing and the hours fly. Therefore I'll be taking a few days off from posting to catch up.

This vivid Madonna of the Rosebush (tempera on wood, 1473) by Martin Schongauer is in the Dominican Church (not Saint-Martin as I originally posted) in Colmar, France. The Web Gallery provided the image.

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année à tous.

Dispute Over A "Santon"

Another post at Frogsmoke caught my eye. This one about a "santon". In the unlikely event you don't know what that is, here is an explanation from Santons Didier:

Santons are clay figurines that depict the colorful people, traditional trades, activities and costumes of Provence, France. They are made from the fine native clay in the regions of Marseille and Aubagne. Two-piece plaster molds made from the original carvings are filled with the clay for the molding. The hand painting is done with incredible care for detail, consisting of bright colors. In 1789, at the time of the French Revolution, the French government prohibited the display of the Nativity. Jean-Louis Lagnel of Marseille (1764-1822), who made the molded figurines for the church 'crèches', created the santon for the general population at a price they could afford, for display in place of the 'crèche'. Santons for the public became an instant success, and an industry; and a tradition was born. Established in 1989, Santons Didier maintains the traditional methods in creating the santon doll, while preserving the tradition of delivering quality workmanship at an affordable price. Didier proud to be recognized by santon collector's as a santonnier that is distinguished for his creativity and for santons that are first-rate in detail.

The controversial santon in Frogsmoke's article concerns the Virgin Mary portrayed as obviously pregnant. The Church apparently gave its approval, but not unanimously. This is something I've never thought about till now - it seems to me I have seen images of Mary with a full robe hiding a large belly, but now I'm not sure. I may be thinking of other paintings.

Frogsmoke has the photo of the santon, as does the French-language article he links to.

For me the question is one of intent - was there an intent to be provocative? Or is it completely innocent? I doubt we can prove it one way or another. There used to be strict rules and prescriptions about religious art in the Middle Ages. I have no idea how that has changed. I know it was considered perfectly OK and legitimate to show a Madonna covered with dung, and another horror they called "pisschrist". The Churches did object to those pieces of trash, but a good deal of the public and media were all for it. A little clay doll with a pregnant Mary hardly seems controversial compared to those obvious desecrations.

The exquisite illustrations show an old merchant, the Virgin Mary, post-natal, in your choice of red or yellow dress (she looks a bit like a typical woman of Provence here), both from Escoffier. To the left is one of the Magi from Santons Richard.

It is interesting to remember that the santon (little saint) has a religious origin and represents a rebellion against the dictates of the French Revolution. French artisanship expanded its original meaning and created something uniquely "Provençal".

If you want to buy them, they are not expensive, but I would be afraid of breakage.

Dummer and Dummerer

The fall of the American education system from an efficient and liberalizing (in the best sense of the word) network of institutions where academic standards were set by intelligent human beings versed in the Western tradition and where students had a fighting chance to have a rewarding experience, into a propaganda-driven, demoralizing and depraved network of brothels is made evident by this post at Covenant Zone. Charles Henry provides numerous links, such as the one to Duke University where a course sets out to destroy myths:

This course examines the role of such myths as “success, agrarian, “city on the hill”, “frontier” and the “foreign devil” in defining the American character and determining the hopes, fears, dreams and actions throughout American History. Attention will be given to the surface consistency of these myths as accepted by each immigrant group versus the shifting content of the myths as they reflect the hopes and values of each of these groups.

It is normal to question the validity of myths, so long as the purpose is not to tear down the country in which you live, but to restore a feeling of confidence in its accomplishments - with your eyes open. I feel certain, from what I've heard about Duke in recent years, that the purpose of this course is to prove how these myths did not apply equally to everybody - as if THAT destroys the myth - and to discourage loyalty to the United States. Kids come out of courses like this determined to "reform" the system, when they haven't even learned the basic virtues that helped build the country in the first place.

Lest you doubt my integrity on this topic, just read the Occidental College's requirements for education majors. Here is a sample:


320. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FOR CULTURALLY DIVERSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

An introduction to curriculum and instruction in the elementary grades. The course is organizaed to cultivate the ability for students to: 1) design lesson and activity plans; 2) create long-term unit plans; 3) explore curriculum (scope and sequence), as it pertains to: mathematics, science, social studies, health, P.E., and the arts; 4) use California Subject Frameworks and Standards critically. Throughout the semester students will teach lessons and plan units using various methods, theories, and activities that reflect the current understandings of curriculum design in diverse school settings. The course provides students with techniques for instructional design across the curriculum that is specifically targeted at differentiating instruction for diverse, and multilingual children. Includes a 40-hour fieldwork component

DID YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? ISN'T IT INSPIRING? HERE'S ONE MORE:

590. SPECIAL TOPICS IN EDUCATION: GENDER.

This course focuses on the social construction of gender in educational contexts. We will consider performances of gender from early elementary education through high school and into college. We will attend to multiple masculinities and femininities as they are constructed across various school settings. As such, we will analyze and critique hegemonic gender theories, as well as more textured theories intersecting with sexuality, ethnicity, socioeconomics, and race. Our focus will be on how students enact gender as academic and social beings. We will critiques and examine the “gender gap” and the “gender regimes” that are constructed in schools. The goal will be to explore issues of social justice and equity through a “gender” lens. College students will be required to make on-going qualitative observations of gender enactment in school contexts and will write a research paper analyzing their data.

This is how teachers are trained in America, folks. And the mindless, mind-deadening, coma-inducing nature of education courses has not changed in 40 years, only the topics are different. They no longer stress the art of placing the wastebasket in the correct spot or the art of lowering window-shades, but rather the needs of a trans-gendered-racially-oppressed-deprived-disoriented teenage-ninja-mutant-turtle in the multi-omni-pluralistically-diverse world of genetically-modified-humanoids.

BTW, I did not follow the education program at the university. Most of us, back then, avoided education courses like I avoid poisoned mushrooms, but you were allowed to start teaching with only a B.A. degree provided you took a certain number of ed. courses within a prescribed time limit. In college I had taken only 2 education courses, and after I started teaching, I took 4 more and that was it. Never again.

Tantrum At The Opera

Being an opera fan (one of very few nowadays) I was interested in an article posted at Frogsmoke - a new website full of choice morsels of information about France. Its administrator, originally Dutch, now resides in Roussillon and fills his pages on a daily basis with cultural and political news. Being there,"on location" as it were, gives his concise posts an immediacy that is refreshing.

The article in question is about France's leading tenor Roberto Alagna whose tantrum at La Scala Opera House in Milan constitutes a first in the annals of opera, at least as far as I know.

I have never heard of anyone suing an opera house because he was booed, but that seems to be the case. I should mention that La Scala is notorious for its bad-tempered public that boos and hisses, throws garbage at singers they don't like and creates untold misery for singers and administrators. This is part of a "tradition" held dear by this public that considers itself connoisseurs of the art form and entitled to destroy careers or at least reduce singers to tears.

But the other side of the story is that singers know this in advance and have to put up with it. The prestige of La Scala is still great, though tarnished by many scandals over the years. Here is what Expatica says:

MILAN, Dec 13, 2006 (AFP) - French tenor Roberto Alagna is going to sue Italy's top opera house, La Scala, for damages after it replaced him with his understudy when he stormed off the stage in the middle of a performance of 'Aida' amid whistling and boos.

Alagna's lawyer Marco Rocchini told AFP Wednesday the singer had a "medical certificate that showed the 'maestro' was ill when he left the stage, partly because of the shock due to the whistling and booing."

"I told the theater about his illness but they refused to acknowledge it," Rocchini said, adding that Alagna would now ask for financial "compensation for the damage".

Alagna, 43, playing the role of the Egyptian general Radames, had exited the Milan stage after singing the aria 'Celeste Aida' during which a handful of the public was unhappy with his performance and his rejection of previous criticism.

Note: In the world of opera it is considered bad form to criticize the critics. Most singers say very little about bad criticism they receive. Alagna, known for his hot temper, broke a rule. The opening-night critics had been unkind. Alagna should have held his tongue until the run was over. Decades ago the great Maria Callas was booed for her performance in the Barber of Seville at La Scala by a public that threw radishes at her. She picked up the radishes, turned to her fellow-singers and bowed to them, in a show of humility (what must have been going on inside of her!).

After Sunday's incident his place was taken by Milan opera singer Antonello Palombi who walked on stage in black jeans without having warmed up his voice...

We see that he is actually suing for damages because the contract was broken but the claim that he became "ill" from the boos is laughable, even if one sympathizes with him. The day after the event, he granted an interview published in Le Monde in which he makes the following statements:

"I was in a state of shock...I have never been booed in my life. I felt the earth move beneath my feet...I walked off, intending to come back, but the replacement went on stage giving me a shove and the orchestra didn't stop for one second...On Sunday when I arrived at the theater 3 individuals were waiting for me at the entrance, making a sign with their hands that 'they're going to kill you.'

"...before I opened my mouth there was a boo. I sang remembering the critics' comments from the night before. They had said my tempo was too slow, so I took a more rapid tempo; that my style was too romantic so I made it more warlike; the high b-flat at the end of the aria I sang forcefully as they wished even though it's written 'piano' (soft)...and all hell broke loose..."

When asked if his statement made just after the opening-night that he would not be returning to La Scala could have turned the audience against him he responded:

"I was not taught diplomacy. I was taught how to sing...I don't see why a singer cannot dispute what is written about him..."

He then talks about his general health which is not good - he suffers from hypoglycemic attacks. And he claims all of this might have been a conspiracy against Stéphane Lissner, the Frenchman who now runs La Scala, because not everybody is happy that the great opera house is in the hands of a foreigner.

When asked if his fame and that of his wife, the beautiful and temperamental Rumanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu had gone to his head he says:

"I love my art and I'm proud to defend it and to teach it to others any way I can...I am not someone who looks down on people but I have a quick temper because of my Sicilian origins. And I'm an artist, otherwise I wouldn't sing as I do."

Note: If La Scala's public has a reputation for bad manners, it must be added that Alagna and his wife have also acquired a reputation for canceling performances, breaking commitments, being fired and drawing much media attention to themselves. I don't agree with the behavior of La Scala's audience, but the Alagnas, who are both very good (not great) singers seem to make a fetish of being the temperamental artist.

His recordings of French arias and Berlioz arias are both excellent. He may not be suited for the part of Radamès in Aida.

Schongauer and Leonardo

Drawings, engravings, wood-cuts and paintings on wood are every bit as inspiring as paintings on canvas. About a year ago I saw an exhibit of French drawings that completely captivated me. Not only were they beautiful but they brought the viewer closer to the inner workings of the artist, his personality and his technique. Often, a set of sketches reveals the struggle and the decision-making process that the artist must go through before the final product emerges. And often I prefer the sketch to the painting that results from it.

Above is an engraving of the Nativity from 1470 by Martin Schongauer (1430(?)-1491). It comes from Art Renewal, a website packed with beautiful images, recommended by a reader.

The top masterpiece glows with the ineffable beauty of Leonardo, who spent his last years in France, at the invitation of King François I. This painting on wood of the Adoration of the Magi is in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. I must have seen it years ago when I visited Florence, but I have no specific recollection. This is because there is too much to see in Florence, and a brief stay is ridiculously inadequate. After a while the eye and the brain become deadened. One could spend a long lifetime in that city and never fully comprehend the creative explosion that took place there, not so long ago. Five-hundred years is hardly a blip on the radar screen of the universe.

The Merry-Christmas website provided the image.

The Light Of Chanukah

In high school we used to give Christmas concerts for our parents and the public. Most of the music we sang was traditional for Christmas but our choral director always included a work in honor of Chanukah, a word that means "dedication".

In keeping with that tradtion, I would like to present one post dedicated to the Jewish holiday that often falls so close to Christmas. This year it began on December 15 and ends tomorrow December 23. It begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev and continues for 8 days. It honors the memory of the re-dedication of the temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, following the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus.

Regarding the photo:

Rachel Posner, wife of Rabbi Dr.Akiva Posner, took this photo from inside the family home on Chanukah 1932. Rabbi Posner was the last Rabbi of the community in Kiel, Germany. The Posner family left Germany in 1933 and arrived in Palestine in 1934. On the back of the photograph, Rachel Posner wrote:

"Juda verrecke"
die Fahne spricht
"Juda lebt ewig"
erwidert das Licht"

"Death to Judah"
So the flag says
"Judah will live forever"
So the light answers

Both the photograph and the menorah are featured in the new Holocaust History Museum at Yad Vashem

Credits: Posner Family Estate, courtesy of Shulamit Mansbach, Haifa, Israel
Photographer: Rachel Posner

Click here for the Yad Vashem website.

France Deals With Bioethics

During the first week in December I noticed a large number of posts at the Catholic website Le Salon Beige commenting on a telethon. It took a while before I realized it was a fund-raiser for Neuromuscular ailments, similar to our Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy telethon. The issue was not the telethon but the revelation that some of the money collected was being used for research on human embryos. In America we have had the same debate which arouses unappeasable emotions on the part of those who want medical research done at any cost and those who perceive the unethical nature of the research.

But more than that, the Catholic websites were incensed over the way the media put down any objection made by the Church. Le Conservateur had this to say, in one of several articles:

It's a difficult debate, considering how dangerous it is for the Church to appear to be opposed to medical progress, an untenable position which could be harmful. Sooner or later every family has to face illness, and the Church finds itself in a position that is morally just and ethically responsible, but media-wise very difficult. Our enemies take advantage of us, and some, like professor Didier Sicard, do not hesitate to summon the Church to be silent using dishonesty that is in no way ethical, and hardly scientific:

"The intervention of the Catholic Church seems to me to be both unfortunate and extraordinarily unwarranted. Obviously it has a right to make a judgment. However it's mission is not to impose itself in the public arena ("espace"), which is what it is doing today...It isn't right for scientists to claim or imply that human embryos are nothing more than simple manufacturers of stem-cells. But it isn't right for the Catholic Church to interfere in this debate either.

"The Church is fully entitled to regard an embryo as sacred, but it doesn't have the right to air this view in public, causing unhappy memories to be revived. I'm thinking of the worst moments in the fight against abortion."

The role of the Church is clearly not to remain silent, and no human authority can force it to do so, or else may the French army kidnap the Pope and lock him up in Avignon! The Church, on the topic of medical research, as in the fight against AIDS, is not there to serve as a spokesman for the whims of ministers, who change their minds and their slogans every ten years.

...In short, what professor Sicard is saying is that it is up to the "grown-ups", the members of the international scientific elite to decide these issues, and they must not be disturbed. It seems to me, however, that if those "in charge of ethics" in our country are not able to explain and argue their opinions other than by using insults and ad hominem (or "ad ecclesiam") attacks, they are not performing their proper function.

A poll...shows that 54% of the French favor a moratorium...on destructive research performed on the embryo. The message of the Church has been heard, and it's not against the mood of the times.

But public opinion is fickle, and I think, in the long run, this matter is dangerous for the Church. It must develop a united stand and concrete proposals for reform, if it doesn't want to paint itself into a corner.

Everyone today knows that in a world dominated by television, no argument is more powerful than the sight of imiges of sick and suffering children. The Islamists understand this; so do the telethon's lobby groups.

Note: I haven't followed every word of the debate in the United States, but I would be surprised if anyone has said on public television that the Church has no right to interfere in such matters. Has anyone heard such remarks? His rejection of the Church indicates that the professor does not recognize separation of Church and State, but only recognizes the State. This notion of "freedom FROM religion" as opposed to "freedom OF religion" is one of the hallmarks of our current moral dilemma.

As we become more and more liberal regarding personal morals and scientific ethics, the religious opposition will probably not be asked for its opinion publicly or, in some cases, it may cave in on these issues. We aren't there yet though.

Another horrible problem is euthanasia. I have been close to this, since a member of my family recently fell gravely ill. The family, including myself, refused to end her life, because it was impossible to live with such a decision. Over a period of several weeks, her conditioned worsened and we were debating what to do when, mercifully, she died. The hospital's protocol for euthanasia was grim - you actually have to make an appointment, since certain days are set aside for such things, and certain physicians have to be assigned the task. Then there's the question of whether or not we should look while it's being done. The ritualistic aspect - similar to an execution - was unnerving.

Philippe de Villiers had this to say about euthanasia and gay marriage in a blog entry from December 14, 2006:

Philippe de Villiers rejects euthanasia and advocates the development of palliative care centers. He is determined to defend the "family as opposed to gay marriage" and proposes in his presidential platform that "marriage be defined in the Constitution as the union between a man and a woman."

I'm not familiar with the points of view of the other candidates on bioethics, and I'm not even sure what de Villiers has to say about abortion. I think Le Pen has waffled both on abortion and gay marriage. Marine Le Pen has said she favors a civil union for gays.

The candidates are intimidated by these issues because they don't want to lose votes and the public is afraid of losing what it hopes will be some "magic bullet" from medical research that will cure cancer or increase longevity. The fears and delusions of the public are a potent factor, unfortunately.

For The Season - Matthias Grünewald

This is part of the altarpiece by German painter Matthias Grünewald (1475-1528) in the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France. To the left, the Concert of Angels the meaning of which, some say, is not clear, and to the right, the Nativity.

From the Merry-Christmas website.

Subsidizing Polygamy

In this season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, an article in France-Echos exposes the French State's subsidies to fathers whose children are born in a polygamous marriage. But more than that, the official webpage with the information is no longer accessible. The article begins with a fragment from an old Charles Aznavour song, La Bohème:

It was a time that those under 20 cannot remember, long ago, very long ago when polygamy was illegal in France, so it seems.

Happily, those days are gone.

Today in France, polygamy is not only perfectly legal, it is even encouraged thanks to many different and varied measures that insure the proper functioning of an ideal multicultural society that offers prosperity, wealth, security, liberty, active equality (I presume this is preferable to passive equality?), affirmative action, fraternity, health, happiness and good humor.

One of these logical and humane measures that does honor to the hospitality of the pluri-ethnic, tolerant, peaceful, and laic citizens' French Republic is that "paternity leave is granted to the polygamous father on the occasion of the birth of each child recognized as his..." (Note: this line is highlighted in green above.)

France-Echos then points out the disappearance of the webpage pictured above but links to a cached version of the page. Another link to a website called cbezanson has similar information - scroll down to #3:

Paternity leave is accorded to the father whatever the family situation: marriage, single fatherhood ("vie maritale"), civil union, divorce, separation, polygamy...

France-Echos closes on a note of triumph:

Those in charge of health insurance can always have fun trying to cover up information, but it's too late: it was duplicated, automatically, everywhere and not only at Google...

Taking a closer look at the document pictured above, we learn that paternity leave is granted if the new-born dies after birth or during the paternity leave, provided there is a birth certificate, but not if the baby is still-born.

Paternity leave is granted wherever the child is born, in France or in a foreign country provided the father recognizes the child as his.

Paternity leave is subordinate to the recognition by the father of the child, not to the marital status of the father or the family situation.

Besides the issue of polygamy, the French laws seem much more liberal than ours. I found this at Dr. Greene:

In short the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) stipulates that companies which have over 50 employees must offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child; acquiring a foster child; the serious illness of a child, spouse, or parent; and the serious illness of the employee. If the employee is in the top 10% of salaried employees, the leave may be denied on the basis that it would cause undue hardship on the company. The leave can be taken anytime in the first twelve months following the event and may be taken intermittently. This law is enforceable through civil actions. Initial complaints should first be filed with the Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration. Inquiries should be directed to local offices of the Wage and Hour Division. The Family and Medical Leave Act does not make any provision for paid leave of absence, nor does it make any provision for workers in small companies.

On the topic of polygamy in the United States, this webpage has good information:

In 1862, the United States Congress passed the Morril Act, which prohibited polygamy in the territories, disincorporated the Mormon church, and restricted the church's ownership of property. In Reynolds v. United States, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Morril Act, stating that polygamy has always been "odious" among the Northern and Western nations of Europe, and from "the earliest history of England polygamy has been treated as an offense against society."

The Supreme Court has ruled that a juror who has a conscientious belief that polygamy is right may be challenged for cause in a trial for polygamy. Anyone who practices polygamy is ineligible to immigrate to the United States.

Are we to understand that polygamy is officially legal in France by virtue of Sécurité Sociale subsidies?

Petition For The Louvre

It's always interesting to follow through on stories I have posted about. One of the most interesting dealt with the disclosure of the French government's plan to slowly export a portion of the Louvre collections to museums far and wide, including a lucrative deal with an Arab Emirate, Abu Dhabi.

I was originally led to the story via a post from Le Conservateur. Today he has published an update informing us that all is not yet lost thanks to a petition sponsored by La Tribune de l'Art, one of the first websites to expose the hushed-up scheme:

Recently I discussed here the scandalous plan to send away a part of the Louvre collections to Abu Dhabi, a political and diplomatic decision imposed against the will of the museum's curators. An article in Le Monde from December 13, co-signed by several leading figures of our national heritage, publicly denounces these plans, and reveals that France has supposedly received one billion euros from the oil-rich dictatorship on the Persian Gulf in exchange for this "gift". They question also the exportation of works from the Louvre to Atlanta, again in exchange for money, and outside the traditional framework of exchanges between museums.

I hereby make myself the humble messenger of a petition being launched by La Tribune de l'Art demanding that "the museums of France, particularly the Louvre, stop being regarded as reservoirs of art that can be used for political, diplomatic or financial reasons."

Regulars of Galliawatch are already familiar with the Louvre posts. If you are new, the first one, based on an article in La Tribune de l'Art was entitled "Scorched Earth" and the second, from Libération, was "Art - A New WMD".

When I posted them back in October one reader spoke of his desire to form a resistance to the government's policy. If he is still with me, the news of the petition should be welcome.

My French-speaking readers can go to this web page and scroll down to the e-mail address for the petition:

If you read French, the article in Le Monde cited above is worthwhile.

The lovely work of art is The Adoration of the Shepherds by French artist Georges de la Tour (1640). It is currently in the Louvre and God willing will stay there. I found the photo at the Rouen Diocese website.

For The Season - Bethlehem

The photo shows the surroundings of Bethlehem, a town now controlled by Palestinians. Since 2000, thousands of Christians have left Bethlehem which now has a Muslim majority.

Oath To The King Of France

Jovan-Marya Weismiller, a reader of Galliawatch has taken the following oath. When I learned this, it so intrigued me that I felt I had to post about it. I wonder if Prince Louis knows all the names of those who have pledged fealty to him. I would think he does. Jovan-Marya told me that it's a small group which is not surprising. But it signifies recognition of the failures of the Republic and of the necessity to turn to traditional values for salvation. Visit Jovan-Marya at his website.

"I, Jovan-Marya of the Immaculate Conception Weismiller, T.O.Carm., with the entire Court of Heaven as my witness, promise on my faith that I will in the future be faithful to Monseigneur le prince Louis, duc d'Anjou, de jure His Most Christian Majesty, Louis XX, by God's grace, King of France and Navarre and to his heirs under the fundamental laws of France, never cause him harm and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit and I will do all in my power, by all legitimate means to restore him to the Throne of his forefathers. So help me God and the Saints and Martyrs of France."

"I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight..."

I mentioned in a previous post that I have a reader who has pledged his loyalty to Prince Louis de Bourbon, Louis XX, heir to the throne of France. I became interested in the topic and even though it cannot be anything other than wishful thinking at this time, I'm not sure we should discount completely a return of the monarchy at some future date. The French Republic, at least the Fifth Republic seems to be breathing its last and any major turnaround would involve, if not a return to the monarchy, certainly a new constitution, hence a new Republic.

The young Spanish-born prince is pictured above with his pretty Venezuelan wife. To look at them one would say a Hollywood couple, not a potential French world leader bearing the burdens attendant upon such a position.

According to the offical House of Bourbon website, Louis Alphonse de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou was born in Madrid on April 25, 1974, 760 years to the day after Saint Louis (Louis IX). He is the successor of the 10th generation from Louis XIV and the great-grandson of the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII. His great-grandmother was Dona Carmen Franco de Polo, the wife of Generalissimo Franco.

His parents' marriage was annulled in 1986, after 14 years, but this does not disqualify him as heir to the throne. He was invested with his titles by his father, Monseigneur Duke of Anjou and Cadiz. Among those titles are Duke of Touraine, Duke of Bourbon (this followed the accidental death of his older brother François, age 12), and finally head of the House of Bourbon following the death (also accidental) of his father in 1989.

Perfectly trilingual (Spanish, French, English) with considerable knowledge of Italian and German, he obtained his diploma from the French high school in Madrid and studied economy and finance at the university. Like all Bourbons he is athletic and excels at riding, ice hockey and swimming.

Currently he works in a large international bank (owned by his father-in-law) and makes frequent visits to France where he has presided over sporting, historical and cultural events in Paris, Versailles, Metz, Marseille, Brest and Vendée.

In November 2004, he married 21-year-old Marie-Marguerite Vargas, a young Venezuelan descended from the Spanish conquistadors, whom he met while a student in Madrid. They make their home in Caracas.

Obviously the above information is carefully controlled, but he granted an interview to "Tiempo", a Spanish magazine, in April 2005, that gives us just a little more personal information. We learn that the Spanish Royal family was not present at his wedding in the Dominican Republic, though they were invited. He insists that relations are cordial, but admits there has been no contact with them since his marriage.

When asked about the objections to his bearing the titles Duke of Anjou and Royal Highness, he responds:

"I am Royal Highness both in France and in Spain. In France it was the result of a court decision following the death of my father. Not only do I have the right to bear the title Duke of Anjou...but also Royal Highness. On my birth certificate is the title royal highness, because my father was royal highness, and my brother who died also. It is also on my ID and my diplomatic passport...Article 3 of the Royal Decree of 1987 authorizes those who are born with the honors, titles and dignities of the Royal Family to keep them for life, but it suppressed the hereditary feature, so my children will not have the title royal highness..."

When asked if he intends to continue his activities in France as Duke of Anjou, now that he is married, he answers:

"Of course, I will continue my task as before. The fact is, as a result of my marriage, my honeymoon and my current residence, I took some time to reflect and to adapt to my new life in Venezuela. From my father I inherited the hereditary right to the throne of France. It is an historic and cultural heritage that I consider very important with obligations that I must fulfill. It is obvious that my wife Marie-Marguerite will be at my side."

When asked if she is conscious of what it means to be a princess, he said:

"She is conscious of it, but she will understand better in the course of our trips and when she becomes better acquainted with French culture and the French people."

In the rest of the interview he justifies the lavishness of his wedding, for which he was criticized, he explains his belonging to the Order of Malta, and he insists that his mother and father-in-law are not enemies as has been reported. He also describes his daily life:

"Everyday I go to work, we lunch at home or, if I have a meeting, in a restaurant, then I go back to work. Usually we have dinner at home and sometimes in the evening we go to the movies. Week-ends we spend in Florida, in the house that Marie-Marguerite's parents own there...We live in a rather large apartment in the center of Caracas, near the business district...

"(In Venezuela) nobody knows me, I'm an ordinary citizen. That makes me feel completely calm. Of course, in Spain, I try not to pay attention when people look at me...but it's much more agreeable to live incognito."

My own thoughts as I read this material are that he is a dutiful young man, aware of his heritage, but still far removed from the France that I read about everyday. His wife is a foreigner - remember what they did to Marie-Antoinette, another foreigner. He is clearly more at home in a Spanish environment. But we don't really know him, and never will, for only as King would he be given an opportunity to show his mettle and his ability to restore a sense of identity to his country. For now, he is an attractive "royal" out of a job, a little like Constantine of Greece (although Louis may have better claims than Constantine).

However, another page of the same website, this one packed with information (and interesting illustrations) about legitimacy, the internal dispute between the Houses of Orleans and Bourbon over the rightful heir to the throne, and the need to take seriously the role of the monarchy, answers this question: Does the monarchy have a future in France?:

Yes. It contains everything that is lacking today: longevity, the possibility to foresee and to act for the long term; its independence allows it to be an arbiter, a conciliator...because it's a family, the dynasty reenforces family values in people's minds; it restores the notion of the sacred, expressed or not in a confession. It is the bearer of the future; having learned, through the centuries, to adapt to the demands of every era, there is no reason why it cannot regain its capacity for adaptation, its mobility.

A few last words from Prince Louis de Bourbon:

"I am the eldest of the Bourbons, that's all...We are, that's all and by virtue of this we assume fully our heritage...Grandeur is not in me, but in the moral heritage that falls to me." (December 1996)

...Sovereignty. That is the highest social function and no State can be without a sovereign. The choice of sovereign determines what the society will be and gives meaning to the State. You can be sure that for tomorrow and for the young who will have to build the new century and give it its values, I will know how to take my responsibilities and assume the heritage of tradition." (September, 1999)

"The future will be what we make of it...History is there to remind us that there are no irreversible situations."

For The Season

Being weary of politicians and in view of the fact that Christmas is one week away, I will be posting as many beautiful and comforting images as I can find during the course of the next several days.

This nativity scene is by French painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665).

Campaign Uproar

The new approach taken by Jean-Marie Le Pen's presidential campaign has aroused great controversy in the media and among his followers. The uproar is discussed in several articles at Vox Galliae, a pro-Le Pen Catholic website that defends the new posters, the "new look" and his motivations for the change which some are insisting is consistent with his previous actions, therefore not really a change at all.

One Vox Galliae article quotes Yves Daoudal a Catholic writer who took the side of Lebanon in the recent war, and has no fondness for either Jews or Americans, but seems to accept without question the presence of Muslims in the Front National. Daoudal blames Libération, a daily that is going out of business:

"Libération started the whole thing. According to the moribund newspaper...one of the new posters in Le Pen's campaign has triggered agitation among the 'old guard' of the Front National particularly among the 'last vestiges of the traditionalist Catholic wing that are still onboard the narrow confines of the ship.' The poster in question is the one of the young girl who may be a North African or a French girl from the Antilles with the slogan: 'Nationality, Assimilation, Social Mobility, Laïcité...Right, Left, they have broken everything'.

"The press seized upon the issue after a press conference with Marine Le Pen who was questioned at length about the poster.

"But this is incredibly stupid. When he was elected deputy in 1956, Jean-Marie Le Pen had as adjunct a black man from the Antilles. He was the first politician to help elect a Frenchwoman of Algerian origin in a regional council after having had Sid Ahmed Yayaoui elected. For many years his meetings opened with a pledge delivered by a female Malagasy singer. Need I remind everyone of the elected members of the Front National named Stéphane Durbec, Farid Smahi, Huguette Fatna...

Note: Durbec is Black, Smahi is Algerian, Fatna is from Martinique.

"How can anyone be surprised that a young woman from North Africa or the Caribbean or Reunion Island should be a spokesperson for the Front National for the purpose of denouncing the failure of the current integration policy?

"No doubt that the adversaries of the Front National are spiteful when they see that the massive lie they have told about Le Pen's "racism" is being blown to bits, this time for good. And they have obviously not digested the fact that Dieudonné went to the FN convention and denounced the demonization of which Le Pen is a victim."

Vox Galliae goes on:

...Centered on the social problems of the French people, the posters are trying to show that the Front National is really a national, social and popular party. Regarding the poster (of the girl), the real issue is one of "assimilation". It would be interesting to discuss the real possibility of implementing a policy of assimilation that would replace the one that has totally failed. Is a "republican contract" capable of successfully integrating several million immigrants and at the same time insuring the survival of the French identity? That is the real question.

This post elicited dozens of comments. It's hard to choose. Many of them are signed "Anonymous" and I can't determine if it's one person:

- Conclusion: Philippe de Villiers has failed. Sarko, Villepin, Bayrou...and all the others are taken by surprise. Once again the FN propaganda machine and its good PR agents have trumped the rumor mongers. I think that the tidal wave is already starting. We'll have a great time in 2007 and especially afterwards, when Marine replaces the boss...

- Yes indeed, a great piece of PR. That dark-skinned girl posing for a Front National poster is going to stir up a lot of editors and other "bien-pensants"...Nonetheless, one can no longer have any confidence in any of the candidates. There won't be a man of Providence after all. There is no reason to cast a ballot for the FN, except to create more hatred.

- Why couldn't the poster represent a Christian Arab girl...? In any case if we had 15 million Christian Arabs in France instead of 15 million Muslims, the churches would be full and the mosques wouldn't grow like mushrooms! But it's true that an immigration of Christian Orientals would bother the government...who prefers an immigration-invasion of Muslim origin so as to destabilize our country and all of Europe!...

Note: the figure of 15 million Muslims is the largest I've seen yet.

- The FN is ridiculous. Anything goes!

- In fact, Marine Le Pen said she spotted her during an FN rally. She was there with her parents who, like her, are FN supporters!

- One comment said that PDV has failed. I don't think so. The current polls are doctored up. Le Pen and the FN won't manage to get 50% of the votes...What matters is that de Villiers and Le Pen get the most possible votes so that the national Right can win...

Note: the commenter seems to be relying on a union between Le Pen and Philippe de Villiers, something that I see no evidence of.

- It's the end of the FN and the end of France.

- It's the beginning of the FN and the resurrection of France.

Note: Even Vox Galliae had to relent a bit and ask if such an integration and/or assimilation is possible. Of course it's not possible. But Le Pen is a champion of PR, a polarizing figure, and a person who may radically affect the outcome of the election, one way or another.

Update: October 24, 2007 - As I review this post from last December I'm reminded of the hopes and expectations that were dashed on April 22 and May 6. This poster campaign cost Le Pen a respectable showing in the election, Philippe de Villiers got nowhere and retreated to a neutralized position as part of Sarkozy's coalition, and Vox Galliae itself ceased publication when Sarkozy won. I have come to respect Yves Daoudal more than is indicated by my remarks in this post. I still dislike some of his views, but he provides much information, filling the void left by VG. He stood by Le Pen through thick and thin, even when some criticism of the FN leader would have been welcome and beneficial.

And The Moral Of The Story Is...

With all the talk about Mary Cheney's impending blessed event, another famous daughter, this one French, was photographed in her head scarf. Mazarine Mitterand, the illegitimate daughter of François Mitterand, has apparently converted to Islam. I found this item at Claude Reichman's website:

The photo, published by Le Figaro on January 9, 2006, is of Mazarine Pingeot-Mitterand, standing next to Laurent Fabius, at Jarnac on January 8, 2006, during the ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of François Mitterand. Observers noted that the daughter of the former French president was wearing a head-scarf similar to the Islamic veil. Mazarine Pingeot-Mitterand has been the companion of a Moroccan, Mohammed Ulad-Mohand, a movie director and producer, by whom she has a son, born on July 11, 2005, named Astor.

Mitterand was president of France from 1981 to 1995. During most of that time the public was unaware of his relationship with Anne Pingeot and their daughter Mazarine who had been born in 1974. Presumably even his wife Danielle did not know until much later. Nor was the public aware of the cancer diagnosis that was made about the time of the first election. He did a stellar job of covering up two major happenings in his personal life.

For those interested there is a six-page article in French on the whole story of Mitterand's second family, with some photos of him with Anne Pingeot.

I have also heard that Jacques Chirac's daughter Claude is (or was) seeing a Muslim, but I could not find confirmation. She was married briefly and became a widow (according to one source, her husband died in mysterious circumstances); she then took up with someone named Thierry Rey by whom she has a son.

On a completely different topic, there is an article in English about why the American ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, was removed from his post. It seems he was too moral. I've also heard it was because he was too pro-Israel. At any rate a good man steps down. Thanks to Bafweb for the tip.

So much for tradition.

The FN Becomes A Business

Recently I received an e-mail from someone I don't know, who may be a reader of Galliawatch. There was a link to a Bafweb post about a piece of software called "Second Life" and the presence of Le Pen's Front National in the French version of this software. Since I don't understand exactly what it's all about I refer you to Boz, who also discusses this event and provides links.

Pater Familias

It's the Von Trapp family! It's Mr. Rogers and the whole neighborhood! No. It's Jean-Marie and the six Le Pens, happily walking into your life to bring you all the joys of...just about everything in the world. Yes, the grinch is giving back what he stole and Scrooge is no longer griping "Bah! Humbug!", but rather "Je vous aime tous également et sans discrimination. Votez pour moi!"

According to Boz, Le Pen is down in the polls (Royal is currently leading), so the 6 new posters featured at Le Pen's website constitute either a desperate measure or a groundwork for the future of the Front National in its mawkish inclusiveness - the obverse of the abrasive parochial patriot Le Pen presented himself to be for more than two decades. In the top left corner of each poster is a list of four issues that both Right and Left have failed on, and the words in large yellow print: "They have broken everything!"

The administrator of France-Echos tears into Le Pen, and points out in a note at the end that the poster of the North African girl was originally placed first in the series, but was moved down to 5th position presumably as a result of France-Echos' comments, which I have abridged considerably:

How come the "Fascist-Racist-Catholic-Extreme-Right" Party places this charming dark girl first in its latest poster campaign?

The answer is provided by Alain Soral:

Note: Alain Soral is a writer/sociologist who was known as a Marxist but who began to modify his views in light of the crisis that France was facing. A severe critic of "communautarisme", i.e. the rise of various pressure groups or "communities", including Gay Pride, he is nonetheless most virulent against the Jews whom he considers as having special privileges and who return his hatred in kind. He and his friend Dieudonné made a trip to Lebanon during the recent war where they met the president of Lebanon and Hugo Chavez. After the trip Soral was attacked with acid by persons unknown, though he is said to believe it was the Jewish Defense League. Not long ago Soral announced he was joining the Front National.

"The youth of the banlieues, by virtue of the moral and economic crisis that it incarnates, exposes all the lies of our social-democracy, in its economic neo-liberalism and its human rights-besotted socialism...a system of lies and hypocrisy that is speeding toward total decomposition, perfectly symbolized by the Socialist Party...

"The awakening of the banlieues, and their emancipation from this perverse neo-colonial overlordship, along with the emancipation of the middles class, will be one of the two conditions of the revolution...a quiet revolution of the structure of society, where politics, guided by a social and national vision, regains control of the economy and changes the work/capital relationship...

Note: Is he not describing Nazism?

"And for this populism to which I aspire to take place...it will be necessary for the banlieues to emancipate themselves from the Socialist Party's neo-colonial human-rights-ism, and for the middle class to emancipate itself from the free-enterprise (libérale) illusion of Big Business...the two humiliating but complementary ideologies that have done them so much harm...

"The youth of the banlieues along with the middle class are the two wellsprings (he uses "mamelles" - breasts, udders) of the national revolution...That is why the hand extended to Le Pen by Dieudonné is a fundamental sign of hope."

France-Echos responds:

If we can read beyond his mixed-up prose, Alain Soral is unveiling the new strategy of the Front National, The ideological contradictions matter little...the essential is to get the most votes possible...

Ségolène, de Villiers and Sarkozy all proceed using the "drop of oil" technique: they start from their current position and attempt to increase their base...

Le Pen realized that you have to proceed differently: by infiltrating the "cardinal points" of the system in order to make them all converge towards the center.

Note: France-Echos provides illustrations of the two dynamics: one where you reach out from where you are to the various factions of the electorate; the other where you send envoys into the various factions themselves and induce them to move centripetally to where you are in the center.

Billancourt (west of Paris) was already conquered, so was Saint-Cloud. Effective relays were needed, hence, Dieudonné in the banlieues and Soral among the Bobos (radical chic middle class, or Bourgeois-Bohemians).

The "cardinal point" method is not new and has been successfully used by Islamists in Morocco, by the FLN in Algeria. The strategy, derived from the Maoist theory of guerilla warfare (today we call it "assymetrical warfare), has proven its efficiency.

It is surprising that Philippe de Villiers did not deem the strategy useful, though militants of his MPF Party (Movement for France) suggested it.

But not everybody can be a Jean-Marie Le Pen. The man whom François Mitterand considered to be the only politician as skillful as himself has a long experience...and knows well how to pull the strings of agit-prop and how to impose himself...

The unavowed affinities between the Left, the immigrationists and the Nazis (neo and paleo) are apparent in this article.

Galliawatch has followed the evolution of Jean-Marie Le Pen for almost a year. When I started this website I was still under the impression he was a fierce patriot,a man of petty hatreds, but nonetheless a spokesman for traditional France. Very soon I became aware that his prejudices were magnets to draw those with similar prejudices and that his goals were far from traditional. He was admired by Mitterand as a fellow manipulator and cynic, and many say he has betrayed those who worked tirelessly to make the Front National a party of patriots.

One of my earliest posts on Le Pen was "Le Pen's Latest Insanity". Two recent posts dealt with his collaboration with Dieudonné and with the banlieue.

Nothing Is Forever...

...except bad ideas. In one of his novels Balzac says that hatred is the iron of human emotions while love is the gold. One could paraphrase Balzac and say that bad ideas wear like iron in the human intellect. They refuse to die. They seem to go away, and then they pop up in a new form ready for action.

Fellow-blogger Charles Henry has created another video where past and present are contrasted to the jarring refrain of a cynical popular song. Some people are surely going to object to the juxtaposition of Ségolène Royal with the horrors of the Communist Party of the twentieth century. She represents a vague dream that plays upon the emotions of people who are either incompetent, afraid of poverty, or hopelessly idealistic. But the ideological fiber of the Socialists of today is not essentialy different from what it always has been, and the past crimes of the Communists and Socialists (is there a difference?) are rarely, if ever, acknowledged.

Once I had a neighbor who told me that he had thought about all this, and had come to the realization that Stalin HAD TO KILL all those people, out of political necessity.

See all of Charles' videos at Youtube, where he uses the nickname FraicheDufour - fresh out of the oven!