November 7, 2005
CAN YOU MAKE A PILLAR OF NIHILISM?
What's Wrong with Europe? (Rüdiger Falksohn, Thomas Hüetlin, Romain Leick, Alexander Smoltczyk and Gerald Traufetter, 11/07/05, Der Spiegel)
The strict separation of church and state, a sacrosanct pillar of French government, has become an illusion. Jihad may not be what's inspiring the rioters, but Islam is undeniably an inseparable component of their self-identity. Islam strengthens their sense of solidarity, gives them the appearance of legitimacy and draws an unmistakable line between them and the others, the "French."Suddenly "big brothers" -- devout bearded men from the mosques who wear long traditional robes -- are positioning themselves between the authorities and the rioters in Clichy-sous-Bois, calling for order in the name of Allah. As thousands of voices shout "Allahu Akbar" from the windows of high-rise apartment buildings, shivers run down the spines of television viewers in their seemingly safe living rooms.
As welcome as these self-appointed keepers of the peace may be, worried authorities think they have detected something akin to a Muslim law enforcement group -- perhaps even the beginnings of an Islamic militia. "The logic behind this unrest," says one police officer, "is secession." If he's right, it would be a nightmare scenario of entire neighborhoods and communities separating themselves from the state and essentially declaring their independence, creating zones with their own laws, areas to which the authorities no longer have access unless they wish to be perceived as hostile intruders.
If the French state has no religious/moral end, but exists only to create "equality," and you not only aren't equal in economic terms but aren't even considered French, why shouldn't you hate the state? Posted by Orrin Judd at November 7, 2005 10:45 AM
Clearly it is incumbent upon all nations to refuse to recognize Paris as the capitol of "France" given the long-standing claim to the city by the emerging Arab state.
Posted by: b at November 7, 2005 11:02 AMIt's all that warmonger Charles Martel's fault.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at November 7, 2005 5:33 PMCharles "The Hammer" would take offense at the modern nation of France using the name. Just start calling it something like "Islame".
Charles is magnificent. I love him on Bret Hume's "most interesting/fascinating/whatever two minutes in television" panel. It's particularly amusing when the info babe from NPR, who's used to making statements that are never questioned, says something, then rolls her eyes toward the Hammer whose steely demeanor reveals nothing.
When it's his turn to speak, he quietly nails the answer without so much as glancing in her direction. As Rush says, more fun than a grown up is supposed to have.