France General

[rye1 21]

Footage of the other raid for those who haven't seen it: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ei5o7_retour-sur-l-intervention-du-gign-a-dammartin-et-du-raid-a-paris_news?start=75

[Tonci87 163]

Ahh Fox news and their "experts"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=28b_1421201170

[ProfTournesol 956]

Ahh Fox news and their "experts"

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=28b_1421201170

Lol yes, those famous "no go zones" in Paris...and those famous riots footage from.... 2005... Wounderful proof of "no go outside of my office" journalism.

BTW :

(BBC) Fox apology for Birmingham 'Muslim-only city' claim

US Broadcaster Fox News has issued an on-air apology for televising a claim that Birmingham is a "Muslim-only city" where non-Muslims "don't go".

Steven Emerson, an American terrorism commentator, made the claims as he spoke to the channel about the terror attacks in France last week.

Mr Emerson retracted his claims after being contacted by media outlets.

On Saturday Fox said it "deeply regrets" the errors and apologised to the people of Birmingham.

Issuing the apology presenter Jeanine Pirro, who was interviewing Mr Emerson when he made the claims, said a guest had made "a series of factual errors that we wrongly let stand unchallenged and uncorrected."

"The guest asserted that the city of Birmingham, England, is totally Muslim and that it is a place where non-Muslims don't go," she said.

Edited January 20, 2015 by ProfTournesol

[Rydygier 1309]

Now I would like to exploit the fact, thread is named "France General", rest a bit from current affairs analysis and at side note propose as quite rapid change of course some synthesis instead. So:

I'm sometimes thinking about such matters regarding Poland, how they shape our everyday and mentality, but also regarding international differencies, and thought, why not to ask at source? Thus bunch of questions, mainly to French, but also to any feeling confident enough in such topic, as comparison material out of curiosity:

1. What picture of the history of France youth is learning in French schools/homes today? What is highlighted, what's marginalized, what and why is dictated as key aspects and moments of history of France, on what is built "national pride/identity"? I don't need year by year timeline, just few sentences gathering together overall picture.

2. In the light of that history, what and why today means to be a Frenchman carrying national legacy of passed centuries? I do not expect a single right answer there, rather how each of French citizens feel about this.

3. Anything in such matters, you want to add?

Thanks in advance. :)

Edited January 20, 2015 by Rydygier

[Tonci87 163]

1: I think it is safe to say that the french revolution is highlighted together with the constitutional principles Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

[Rydygier 1309]

Yeah, heard about that. Wondering, if that's all - it's not, I suppose? Would be weird otherwise - France is much, much older after all.

Meanwhile, no surprises, one of Polish catholic organization is already protesting about mentioned selling CH in Poland.

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/10,1172881-Charlie-Hebdo-w-Polsce--Protest-srodowisk-katolickich.html

And some wider background around CH from Polish press/point of view:

"Charlie" was attacking weak

Caricature of John Paul II was so strong that it could not appear in any Polish, even the most anti-clerical writing - says former correspondent in France Jerzy Szygiel in conversation with Michael Płociński

You collaborated with the weekly "Charlie Hebdo", known cartoonists, recently contacted the editor in chief Stephan "Charbem" Charbonnier, who was killed in a terrorist attack in the editorial of the satirical magazine. Have they always been so viciously attacked Islam?

This is mainly anti-Catholic magazine, then a long, long time nothing - and then anti-Muslim. Historically, however, religious issues were only the background of their satire. "Charlie ..." is a continuation of the magazine "Hara-Kiri '60s, for which anti-religious element was a natural part of the left-wing journalism. And France has a very long tradition. Anticlerical approach stems from a time after the Enlightenment and Voltaire, and always in a certain part of the French press and literature were many anti-religious elements. It was the same with "Hara-Kiri" weekly, but it was only a part of their wide interests. The letter has also been twice disciplinary closed. The second time was reborn as the "Charlie Hebdo".

For many years, it was strictly left-wing, then slowly began to move to the right, along with his longtime chief Philippe Val, who became a friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy, so that later he was promoted to the head of a large, public radio "France Inter". "Charlie ... "and the letter is liberal, but this is no longer the left-wing magazine.

In the mid-90s has changed something else. John Paul II came to Paris, and I do not know exactly what the editors so upset, but they got obsessed with Polish Pope. It lasted until his death, and even after it was anti-Catholic element in the writing very clear. "Charlie ..." became clearly anti-religious writing. Weekly dealt with social issues, of course, still, commenting on current national and international politics, but more often let go of the cover, which offended the Catholic Church, the Pope, believers.

Note two cover pictures at left. Second one is subtitled as fake.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Rydygier

[orcinus 121]

Some good news: Lassana Bathily, the Malian immigrant who hid people in the basement freezer of the Jewish store in Paris, has been granted French citizenship. Ceremony set for January 20. Partly as a result of a change.org campaign that has gathered over 400 k signatures already. Still ongoing as it's also calling for him to be given the Legion of Honor.

Anyone wants to sign, it's here:

https://www.change.org/p/elysee-fhollande-after-the-french-citizenship-legion-of-honor-for-lassanabathily

[mistyronin 1181]

France is much, much older after all.

It all depends what do you understand as France. The Frankish Empire, The Carolingian Empire, the absolutist Kingdom of France or The Republic?

Nowadays AFAIK the values of France are the constitutional principles Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité ( already mentioned by Tonci ) and the Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen).

[Rydygier 1309]

It all depends what do you understand as France.

Well, that would be most interesting difference for sure - to not perceive own country as being of historical continuity as far as she goes, but instead to think of it as about something new, created after something separate. Quite opposite than in Poland - such mental cutting off own roots. Would that be possibly factual though?

Edited January 20, 2015 by Rydygier

[Rydygier 1309]

CH in Poland continuation:

http://www.polskatimes.pl/artykul/3722210,charlie-hebdo-mozna-juz-kupic-w-warszawie-chetnych-nie-ma-jednak-zbyt-wielu-zdjeciavideo,id,t.html

I asked a Warsaw taxi driver about the opinion - It is a strange idea - Marcus told me - I do not know for what the Poles, French-speaking magazine - did not hide his surprise.

- The question of whether they are fighting for freedom of speech, or is it just preying on death - wonders of the hotel kiosk saleswoman, Mrs. Kasia.

Foreign newspapers are not sold here is best, but a title such as "Charlie Hebdo" is sure to attract the attention of customers. Only it can scare their price. 3000 copies of which went to the Polish cost after 39,90 zł per unit. What can thus induce the reader to buy the Polish weekly for such a high price? - People will probably buy as a souvenir, but the question, souvenir after what? Mrs. Kasia adds.

[mistyronin 1181]

( Defense One ) France Publishes ‘How To Spot a Jihadist’ Citizen’s Guide

How do you spot a radical jihadist? According to the French government, several signs should alert people that “a process of radicalization is underway.†“They†(meaning radicalized individuals):

mistrust old friends, whom they now consider ‘impure’… abruptly change their eating habits … no longer watch television or go to the movies because [these may show] images that are forbidden to them … change their attire, especially women, with clothes that conceal the body … [and] stop listening to music because it distracts them from their ‘mission.’

[Sgt.Spoetnik 10]

Nice,so we all fall in that group now ,cause we like guns and look at war/combat footage, and we dont watch tv/movies (cause they suck) so nice we are now extremist in their(france gov) eyes,but it will spread soon all over the EU,same here in Belgium,they go nuts and try to push crazy laws to keep us silent and to obey or else its fines and/or jailtime. since when we live in a crazy world? its the nutcases calling others nuts,love it and hope ppl will soon see it and realize this and stand up agains it,cause looks like we are free so long we dont say anything and agree with every thing our beloved leaders tell us to do and act all in the name of safety(enjoy your police state lol)

[oxmox 73]

( Defense One ) France Publishes ‘How To Spot a Jihadist’ Citizen’s Guide

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2015/01/radicalisation/abb7ac50c.png

Some of the "signs" could also fit to religious muslime, doesnt mean they are jihadists.

Edited February 2, 2015 by oxmox

[ProfTournesol 956]

Some of the "signs" could also fit to religious muslime, doesnt mean they are jihadists.

True, that's what is written at the bottom of the guide (in the "blue" part).

[mistyronin 1181]

Some of the "signs" could also fit to religious muslime, doesnt mean they are jihadists.

What ProfTournesol said.

- - -

I found the pic of this article interesting:

( Al Jazeera ) Muslims of France

What challenges have generations of immigrants faced in a country torn between secularism and religious diversity?

[ProfTournesol 956]

(BBC News) French soldiers wounded in Nice Jewish centre attack

A man wielding a knife has attacked three soldiers patrolling outside a Jewish community centre in Nice, in the south of France.

The soldiers were wounded and police said the assailant was captured.

---------- Post added at 19:59 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

(VICE NEWS) Interview of a survivor cartoonist of Charlie Hebdo, who made the last Charlie's cover :

ebL1oCy6tgY

Edited February 3, 2015 by ProfTournesol

[vilas 477]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/03/soldiers-attacked-nice-france

[ProfTournesol 956]

(BBC) Yemen al-Qaeda militant al-Nadhari killed by US drone

Harith al-Nadhari described the Charlie Hebdo attacks as a 'blessed invasion' of Paris

[Tonci87 163]

[mistyronin 1181]

All of those fans of the Fox "France Muslim no-go zones":

( The Guardian ) Paris moves to sue Fox News for false reporting on Muslim 'no-go zones'

City council approves lawsuit against ‘bloopers factory’ Fox News for incorrectly reporting in wake of Charlie Hebdo attack that some city areas ban non-Muslims

[wolf359 19]

what do you think of the recent Paris Drone sightings ?

For the second night in a row several drones have been reported over central Paris. What I find interesting is the number and/ or endurance of these things. There were reports that it might be a single vehicle but I have not heard from a quadcopter that has an endurance of 6 hours. Not even the Darter can fly for that long...

The typical personal UAV can fly from 20-50 minutes as far as I know. So there must be several people taking care of these birds in order to be active from midnight to 6 AM.

Any thoughts ? Are there videos or photos of the UAV´s ?

A "Drone-Interceptor" is being designed and tested in France.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2948062/The-drone-catcher-France-reveals-flying-net-stop-terrorists-flying-bomb-laden-gadgets-nuclear-power-stations-following-spate-sightings.html

Information on the sightings:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11433746/Unidentified-drones-reappear-over-Paris-for-second-night.html

http://www.thelocal.fr/20150224/at-least-five-drones-fly-over-paris-during-night

http://www.thelocal.fr/20150225/more-drones-paris-second-night

[ProfTournesol 956]

(BBC) Paris police arrest Al-Jazeera journalists over drone

Three Al-Jazeera journalists have been arrested for the alleged illegal flying of a drone in Paris after being spotted by police in the Bois de Boulogne area.

A spokesman for prosecutors said there was "no relationship for the moment" between the arrests and mysterious drone flights over the city at night.

Al-Jazeera said the journalists had been "filming a report on the city's recent mystery drones".

Drones were spotted over city landmarks for a second night running on Tuesday.

Flying drones over Paris without a license is banned by law.

The offense carries a maximum one-year prison sentence and a €75,000 (£55,000; $85,000) fine.

A judicial source told AFP news agency of the three people arrested: "The first was piloting the drone, the second was filming and the third was watching."

:lookaround:

[ProfTournesol 956]

(BBC News) Stunned France probes deadly Argentina helicopter crash

Prosecutors in France have opened a manslaughter investigation after two helicopters crashed in Argentina, killing eight French nationals.

Three well-known French sports personalities were among those killed in the collision, which also claimed the lives of the two Argentine pilots.

French President Francois Hollande said it was "a cause of immense sadness".

Both helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show Dropped, which airs on French channel TF1.

On the show, celebrities are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter.

Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were the show's celebrities on board at the time of the crash. They all died.

Bad Karma these days for France.

[ProfTournesol 956]

(BBC News) France wins Waterloo coin battle as Belgium drops design

Belgium has pulled a design for a €2 coin commemorating the Battle of Waterloo, heading off a potential spat with its French neighbour.

France objected to the design showing the Lion Hill memorial, which marks the June 1815 battle near Brussels.

The French government said it contained a "negative symbol" for some Europeans.

Belgium's finance ministry said that 175,000 coins had already been minted with the new design and would not now be brought into circulation.

Napoleon's dream of a united Europe under French rule finally came to an end at Waterloo, where he was defeated by an allied force commanded by the Duke of Wellington and Prussia's Field Marshal Bluecher.

A letter of objection to the coin submitted by France argued that the battle was an event with particular resonance in the European collective memory and went beyond being merely an instance of military conflict.

Isn't that ridiculous ? France is unable to commemorate its own Napoleonic past, may it be glorious or not. So let Belgium do it.

And Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt said he was a little surprised by the fuss, pointing out that Europe had plenty of other challenges "without wasting time and energy on this".

Couldn't have said it better :icon_ohmygod:

[Tonci87 163]

How does the general population in france view the Napoleonic era?