So France is a country where, in 2012, in the country's third largest city, one can shoot at a Jewish school and kill, point blank, children there.
We must hope that the investigation will clarify the circumstances of this tragedy, the identity of the killer, and his motive.
But whatever the possible motive, whatever we may learn about how the shooting that took place before the gates and then, as I understand it, inside the Ozar Hatorah lycée-collège played out, whatever link may be established with the mysterious murders of soldiers, last week, in Toulouse and in Montauban, the fact remains -- and it is monstrous: French children, Jewish and French or, if one prefers, sovereignly French but guilty of having been born Jewish, were coldly gunned down, in broad daylight, on the territory of the Republic.
And then this corollary which is nearly as unbearable: we have returned to the dark times when we must "direct the prefects to reinforce surveillance around all confessional sites in France, and particularly around Jewish schools".... These are the terms of the French Ministry of the Interior's communiqué Claude Guéant released a few minutes after the tragedy. It was inevitable, this communiqué. It was the very least the authorities, dismayed as we all were by the horror of the situation and taking the appropriate emergency measures, could do. But at the same time, these words make our blood run cold. And one trembles with shame and rage at the idea that, once again, we're here, where we were after the attacks in the rue Copernic and in the rue des Rosiers and after the outburst of anti-Semitic acts at the beginning of the 2000s: pray, reflect, die, or simply study, under "reinforced police protection" and in the shelter of reconstituted "perimeters of security" -- what an outrage!
Confronted with this abomination, then, and given the very specific moment at which this catastrophe has occurred, only one reaction is possible.
I mean, while the campaign for presidential elections is in full swing and even, apparently, in its final phase, there is only one response that measures up to the event.
Of course, indignation and fear.
And yes, verbal condemnation, strong words, the symbolic appearances that are being announced this Monday morning, as I write these lines.
Of course, the beau geste of candidate Hollande who, in homage to the victims, decided to unilaterally suspend his campaign and to devote the coming hours to a great moment of collective reflexion and mourning.
Of course, the none less noble reaction of candidate Sarkozy, who speaks of a "national tragedy" and decrees, for his part, a moment of silence in all French schools in memory of these three children, aged 3, 6, and 8, and their teacher, massacred in cold blood by a professional killer.
And of course, if one insists, the usual speculation concerning the political climate, the lifting of taboos, the free expression of vile words that, in return for mediation that should not be neglected in the heated emotion of the moment, are like a sort of a permit to kill -- here for a child murderer, there for a serial killer of soldiers.
But also a common action, or better still, an act of communion in which all republican candidates -- and I do mean republican -- forget for the moment all that opposes them and cry out with one voice (and, if possible, without political ulterior motives), their categorical rejection of anti-Semitism and its always criminal consequences.
A little over twenty years ago, the entire political class, all families together with the exception of the National Front, was capable of marching behind President François Mitterrand to condemn the profanation of 34 Jewish graves at a cemetery in Carpentras.
Today, we need an equivalent of that demonstration, with Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande in the lead, in grieving Toulouse, at the Place Capitole, this landmark of national memory where General De Gaulle came, on September 16, 1945, to preach the unity of the country to the people of the maquis, FFI, FTP, and survivors of the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War. A great, solemn meeting, all political forces attending, to come to say, without nuance, that all of France is being attacked and must take a united stand when its children, whatever they may be and whatever, I repeat, the profile of the killer or his reasons, are massacred like this.
A word of advice to the pyromaniacs of the defense of "national identity," perceived as a closed entity, nervous and jittery, feeding on resentment and hatred: it is the social contract that is the victim of assassination in a bloodbath of this kind; it is the very foundation of our common existence that vacillates and gives way when such madness explodes. There can be no worse blow to French culture, to the soul of our country, its History and, when all is said and done, its grandeur than racism and, today, anti-Semitism.
Mark Juergensmeyer: Cosmic War Comes to Toulouse
I would gladly and very enthusiastically hold hands and prayers with my Jewish (and non-Jewish) brothers and sisters alike in a gesture against Anti-Semitism (and against anti-ism of ANY kind) but I fear that my humanist gesture would be misinterpreted as a gesture of support for hideous and devious policies of the state of Israel.
Can you help? Surely a gentleman of your stature has enough leverage and moral strength and stamina to persuade the Israeli government to stop razing the Palestinian homes and towns, stop bombing Gaza civilians and terminate the inhumane and medieval treatment of indigenous Palestinian population (Moslem and Christian alike). This would go a long way towards persuading the world that it is now the kumba-ya time of love and brotherhood worldwide.
Needless to say, my condolences to the victims of this French terrorist, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
Then start your comment. I somehow doubt the article would even vaguely resemble this one.
Regardless of nation or religion, people are the same everywhere. There are killers among the Jews, as there are killers among Christians and Muslims. Jews are not the only victims here, but somehow they're the most outraged if what happens to everyone (and what they inflict on others) happens to them, also.
Some of us are tired of hypocrisy and the victim card. Everyone has victim cards, they just don't use them this often.
For a moment I thought your deep seated hatred and ignorance led me to believe that was what you meant.
Please cure my ignorance :)
I'm really looking forward to your justification.
So you condone the killing of children then?
When we mourn our dead soldiers - DEAD, mind you... never coming back - that is Antisemitism.
Who's the bigot here?
In all, he murdered seven citizens of France. Seven; not four.
Wednesday, March 21 2012 by Yossi Gurvitz
No surprise:
"Israeli universities becoming Hasbara mills"
EXCERPT:
"Two universities, Tel Aviv and Haifa, now offer programs in Hasbara. Both feature Neal Lazarus, the man behind the fake 'gay flotilla' video."
"Two Israeli universities, Haifa University and Tel Aviv University, now offer programs in Hasbara. The Haifa course is meant for Israeli students, the Tel Aviv one for foreign students. Both are supported by Israeli ministries: the Haifa one by the Ministry of Propaganda and Diaspora (Ministry of Hasbara, in Hebrew) and the Tel Aviv program by the Foreign Ministry."
"There are several points worth pondering. First of all, Neil Lazarus. Along with Col. Eizen, he appears in both programs. He is described as an 'external advisor to the Foreign Ministry.' You may remember him from that botched pinkwashing episode, 'Gay Mark is kicked off the flotilla.' Lazarus was the guy who released that video. So, when Tel Aviv University speaks of 'ambassadors' and Hasbara, what it actually means is teaching students how to lie for the government of Israel."
st upid is as st upid does I suppose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3h7QIUluYQ can one not be both at the same time?
While she's busy defending the lives of her citizens, that is.
"A word of advice to the pyromaniacs of the defense of "national identity," perceived as a closed entity, nervous and jittery, feeding on resentment and hatred:"
Yes, if you're a Muslim.
" French children, Jewish and French or, if one prefers, sovereignly French but guilty of having been born Jewish, were coldly gunned down, in broad daylight, on the territory of the Republic."
By a Muslim.
"A word of advice to the pyromaniacs of the defense of 'national identity,' perceived as a closed entity, nervous and jittery, feeding on resentment and hatred"
Maybe instead of offering them "advice", you should be offering them an apology. If people had listened to them a long time ago, this would never have happened.
Amnesty International, July 2/09: “During Operation ‘Cast Lead’ Israeli forces made extensive use of white phosphorus, often launched from 155mm artillery shells, in residential areas, causing death and injuries to civilians. Homes, schools, medical facilities and UN buildings – all civilian objects – took direct hits.”
In the village of Zeytoun, Israel’s invasion force killed 26 members of the Samouni family, including 10 children and seven women.
Among the approximately 1,400 Palestinians killed during Operation Cast Lead were 255 civil police officers, i.e., traffic police and the like (240 perished in airstrikes during their graduation ceremony on the first day of the assaults).
http://revoltoftheplebs.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/yes-virginia-israel-does-kill-palestinian-children/
If this were a true statement, there would be no more wars in the Middle East, the Palestinians would finally achieve justice, and no one would try to convince us that Sarah Jessica Parker is beautiful ever again.
It doesn’t matter what faith you follow, what your nationality is, what your political view point is. I believe all should be given freedom to believe whatever you wish. BUT,
As a woman, nurture, a giver of life on this planet, I strongly object to the killing of all souls, especially newly sparked souls within children. No one has a right to take life, no matter what their faith, age, color of their skin, religious beliefs are, their nationality.
WE ARE ALL HUMANITY. It’s time the world awake and realize we are all children of G_D. We are all ONE. One species of human beings.
I believe I speak for all people who want to live in peace. I'am a woman, and we women, mothers, daughters, wives and givers of life to all mankind, want nothing to do with wars, violence, people who hurt anyone. We gave life to see our flesh of flesh grow and to be strong and good examples of humanity. EACH SOUL ON OUR PLANET HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE, AND LIVE IN PEACE.
NO SOUL HAS A RIGHT TO TAKE LIFE AWAY BY ANY MEANS.
Don't starve a person, isolate, suppress, control another person, AND MOST OF ALL, NOT TO KILL ANOTHER PERSON MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL MANKIND, ALL HUMANITY.
PURGE HATRED OUT OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL.
untill France like other countries are doing War in Afghan Territory there will be terrorist attack anywhere !!
Je pense que les pouvoirs publics, tous les profs, instituteurs, maîtres, les autorités religieuses de tous bords, devraient s'atteler sérieusement à un travail de pédagogie !!! Mais hélas en France, a été nourri un travail de dénigrement de l'autre, ça, n'a jamais été la volonté de Marianne !!!!