Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Jan 11th 2015, 9:11 pm
#362
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,386
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Cheers Hotscot, my new best pal!!
Lots of french people were there (200 or so), lots of kissing Bonne Annee and passing bugs around...
The jewish community were well representated but when I asked about the muslim community I was told they were hanging back, not sure whether to show their faces. In fact, I didn't see any muslims. Everyone very shocked at the attack on "liberte" something the french people are very proud of - everybody having the same right of freedom of expression "How dare these people attack the heart of france like that"
Outside the City hall ,we did the minute silence then a couple of people talked a bit about how we must all stand together against this terror..and were obviously upset.
Then the Jewish leader talked about unity as well but didn't mention muslims. Then we sang the marseillaise ( I didn't and neither did my friend, we don't agree with the words) and afterwards the Jewish leader got almost everyone singing Shalom, shalom. Which I thought was a step too far considering the muslims weren't getting a look in.
Very few non-french,non jewish people there -although loads of people beeped horns to show support - which I thought was a shame.
What surprised me though was the almost unanimous agreement about closing the French/EU borders more tightly and using the PNR for flights. When I asked the french journalist present if anyone thought that the reason young muslim kids become jihadists might be due to the way Muslims are treated in France, she actually just walked away from me!! France is very proud of the "egalite" (equality) it serves up, but let's just say some people get more equality than others
Lots of french people were there (200 or so), lots of kissing Bonne Annee and passing bugs around...
The jewish community were well representated but when I asked about the muslim community I was told they were hanging back, not sure whether to show their faces. In fact, I didn't see any muslims. Everyone very shocked at the attack on "liberte" something the french people are very proud of - everybody having the same right of freedom of expression "How dare these people attack the heart of france like that"
Outside the City hall ,we did the minute silence then a couple of people talked a bit about how we must all stand together against this terror..and were obviously upset.
Then the Jewish leader talked about unity as well but didn't mention muslims. Then we sang the marseillaise ( I didn't and neither did my friend, we don't agree with the words) and afterwards the Jewish leader got almost everyone singing Shalom, shalom. Which I thought was a step too far considering the muslims weren't getting a look in.
Very few non-french,non jewish people there -although loads of people beeped horns to show support - which I thought was a shame.
What surprised me though was the almost unanimous agreement about closing the French/EU borders more tightly and using the PNR for flights. When I asked the french journalist present if anyone thought that the reason young muslim kids become jihadists might be due to the way Muslims are treated in France, she actually just walked away from me!! France is very proud of the "egalite" (equality) it serves up, but let's just say some people get more equality than others
I can appreciate your last paragraph. It's a lot like when 9-11 happened and Bill Maher was basically run out of town for suggesting that America had behaved in a cowardly manner and perhaps brought some of this on themselves. Interesting because now he's the biggest Muslim basher on American TV. Anyway, I think it's difficult for people to admit that they may have done anything wrong under the best of circumstances ... almost impossible when they're hurting.
Jan 11th 2015, 9:47 pm
#363
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Thanks for the account.
I can appreciate your last paragraph. It's a lot like when 9-11 happened and Bill Maher was basically run out of town for suggesting that America had behaved in a cowardly manner and perhaps brought some of this on themselves. Interesting because now he's the biggest Muslim basher on American TV. Anyway, I think it's difficult for people to admit that they may have done anything wrong under the best of circumstances ... almost impossible when they're hurting.
I can appreciate your last paragraph. It's a lot like when 9-11 happened and Bill Maher was basically run out of town for suggesting that America had behaved in a cowardly manner and perhaps brought some of this on themselves. Interesting because now he's the biggest Muslim basher on American TV. Anyway, I think it's difficult for people to admit that they may have done anything wrong under the best of circumstances ... almost impossible when they're hurting.
Jan 11th 2015, 9:55 pm
#365
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
I agree, the Old Testament is disgraceful in many ways; how anyone can 'revere' such a document is truly beyond me. But I believe one key difference that has to be noted is that there is no 'Christian' religious leader in a position of power / influence in recent times that advocates Old Testament behavior. In contrast, the Ayatollah in Iran - the supreme head of the religious order there
Perhaps this is one of the problems here: There is this insistent and inaccurate belief that Islam is some kind of top-down religion where everyone is part of the same clique. But they aren't. Depicting Muslims as some broad coherent club of 1.7 billion believers may be emotionally satisfying, but it is factually deficient.
Jan 11th 2015, 9:56 pm
#367
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 2,554
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Seriously, how does Fox News even get a license to broadcast!!!!!
Jan 11th 2015, 9:59 pm
#368
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,625
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
OMG . I can't believe I just heard that.
Wait 'til I show MrBEVS .
Wait 'til I show MrBEVS .
Jan 11th 2015, 10:01 pm
#369
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Seriously, how does Fox News even get a license to broadcast!!!!!
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Jan 11th 2015, 10:04 pm
#370
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
I recall being attacked by a balti when I was in Birmingham.
Jan 11th 2015, 10:04 pm
#371
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,386
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Seriously, how does Fox News even get a license to broadcast!!!!!
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Jan 11th 2015, 10:05 pm
#372
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,013
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Seriously, how does Fox News even get a license to broadcast!!!!!
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Jan 11th 2015, 10:50 pm
#374
He/him
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 18,866
Re: Charlie Hebdo shooting in France
Seriously, how does Fox News even get a license to broadcast!!!!!
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Fox News suggests Birmingham, UK is a place non Muslims 'do - YouTube
Jan 11th 2015, 10:55 pm
#375
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
