February 09, 2006
Mais non ! No anti-Semitism!
If this confirms to be true, well... actually I'm speechless.
An anti-Semitic incident took place in a Catholic high school in Paris, according to a watchdog group. The National Office of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism reported that a Jewish student was reprimanded in late January for talking in class and as punishment was sent to wait outside the school building in the cold, referred to in French slang as “the fridge.”According to witnesses, after the student went outside, the teacher said to the class, “If there’s not room in the fridge there’s always room in the oven.” When the student returned to the classroom, the teacher repeated his statement, saying this time, “If you’re cold, go into the oven.”
In French.
Posted by Carine at February 9, 2006 09:56 PMI said I'd leave but...
Forget who I am, and just answer this question honestly (without making any implications that I'm anti-Semitic or whatever)
Would you react the same way if it was a Muslim student and a similar situation? (and post a blog entry on it).
If no, why not?
A completely honest question and I have no follow-up whatever the answer.
Posted by: Marcus at February 10, 2006 12:12 AMMarcus, Carine might be as concerned about both instances, but I'm afraid that the Islamic community by its muted response to this outpouring of hate has turned itself into a pariah in my eyes.
Posted by: Mike H. at February 10, 2006 01:38 AMWell, Mr. Dane, since you are asking a hypothetical question here, lets blast you with one.
Suppose that, after this incident happened, hundreds of thousands of Jews took to the streets, starting burning government buildings and burning the French flag and marched through the streets with signs calling for the death of “non believers”…..would you support the Jews with as much support as you are giving the muslims?
Be honest now....
Well, so much for the concern of sensitivities. I guess freedom of speech is reserved only for teachers and not for the press now. What's a fiduciary relationship among friends anyway?
Sure I live in the US, but this area was once part of France and I feel as if I am French. I certainly like their food and instinctively am drawn to a fresh bagette. So I won't let a trivial thing such as not knowing the language at all deter me. Anyway, some official committee would change the words if they did. And you can't blame me for that.
But back to the issue of freedom of speech. Wasn't the start of all this was the student was talking in class? I wonder what he said.
Posted by: Charles at February 10, 2006 05:16 PMMarcus,
I would if the problem was as serious as it is regarding anti-Semitism and if the authorities kept on pretending it didn't exist. But the opposite is closer to reality.
The fact is that verbal and physical violence against the Jewish community is much more important than violence against Muslims in France. In case you didn't know, the best insult one can yell in the suburbs is "sale juif", not "sale arabe" or "sale musulman".
And I agree with Mike H., too.
Posted by: Carine at February 10, 2006 10:38 PMAnd those pinheads actually think they can say and act the way their whims dictate and not have to deal with the real world, "knowing" the US will pull their asses out of the fire when it comes to that.
Well, MY ass. I've never participated in a protest in my life but if anything ever got me to carry a sign, it'd be a govt decision to once again waste lives for france.
Posted by: Jay at February 12, 2006 12:18 PMIt´s kinda weird : a jewish student in a catholic school ? He wasn´t really jewish so.
Posted by: Antonella at February 14, 2006 12:11 AMMy mother, a protestant, attended catholic school in US with another protestant and a jew. Better education than public schools. During catechism, the three would go sit on the school porch. But, perhaps, french schools are different.
Posted by: interventor at February 14, 2006 08:14 PMAntonella,
Some Catholic schools accept you regardless of your religion. They're not that sectarian.
Posted by: Carine at February 15, 2006 10:43 PM
