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    French parliament erupts over minister's comments

    Associated Press – Tue, Feb 7, 2012

    PARIS (AP) — The French parliament erupted in an uproar Tuesday after a lawmaker accused the interior minister of flirting with Nazi ideology.

    Socialist lawmaker Serge Letchimy from Martinique questioned Interior Minister Claude Gueant about his comments that some civilizations — notably France's — are worth more than others.

    Gueant's remarks, which have caused a firestorm, had been widely seen as a putdown of Muslims. Opposition Socialists have called the comments an attempt by President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservatives to woo far-right votes ahead of the two-round presidential election in April and May.

    Tuesday's session of government questions had to be suspended after lawmakers from Sarkozy's conservative UMP party began walking out in a noisy protest.

    Letchimy said Gueant is "day by day leading us back to these European ideologies that gave birth to concentration camps."

    After a loud protests interrupted him, he added: "Mr. Gueant, the Nazi regime, which was so concerned about purity, was that a civilization?"

    Speaking to reporters later, Letchimy said "as the son of a slave, I cannot accept this kind of phrase" like the one used by Gueant.

    Letchimy said he wanted to "sound an alarm" over this kind of "negation."

    Conservative Prime Minister Francois Fillon, in a statement, called Letchimy's comment "an indecent provocation" that "brings shame on those who make it." Fillon, a member of Sarkozy's UMP party, urged the leaders of the Socialist opposition party to condemn Letchimy's statement.

    Gueant himself is no stranger to controversy, having once said that French people "sometimes have the feeling of no longer being in their own home" in a discussion about immigration.

    Gueant insisted Monday that his weekend comments to a right-wing youth organization on the hierarchy of civilizations were merely "good sense."

    Critics saw the comments as at best, misguided and cynical and, at worst, xenophobic.

    Sarkozy defended Gueant in a televised interview Monday, brushing aside the outrage as "a ridiculous argument."

    Socialist Francois Hollande is the leading candidate in polls about the presidential race. Sarkozy has not yet confirmed he is running, but is widely expected to.

     

    18 comments

    • terry booth
      terry booth  •  3 mths ago
      Not every civilization is equal: Ideas are not equal. Beauty is not equal. IQ's are not equal. Athletic prowess is not equal. Squatting in the dirt in a filthy hut is not equal to living in a modern home. Arrows are not equal to guns. Ships are not equal to canoes. Telephones are not equal to jungle drums. Cars are not equal to carts. Religions that encourage beating your wife, killing your daughters to preserve your honor, murdering and lying to unbelievers for your god, and cutting off heads is not equal to loving your neighbor as yourself, giving to the poor, turning the other cheek, gentleness, and kindness to all.
      • Rufus
        Rufus 3 mths ago
        dam,n straight Terry
      • rick
        rick 3 mths ago
        Terry Booth, most of what you say is true but the cutting off of a head or any other appendage is OK if it's for a just punishment.
      • terry booth
        terry booth 3 mths ago
        Ouch! There are other punishments that don't require an unmendable solution. What if you've made a mistake Rick? How can you make right the loss of a hand or a head?
    • Jim B
      Jim B  •  3 mths ago
      The Multiculturalism Movement works on the premise that all cultures are valid and equal. Observation shows us that the quality of life in a country is a direct outcome of culture and religious foundation. Judeo-Christian values, including the freedom to chose or reject God, is the Foundation of Western Civilization. Muslims will always have a complex because they are taught that Arab culture is supreme and that everyone must submit to the moon god.
      • rick
        rick 3 mths ago
        Moon God?
      • preppylilkitten
        preppylilkitten 3 mths ago
        LOL, #$%$ is the moon god, they aren't pagans
      • Distant cousin
        Distant cousin 3 mths ago
        JIM B - Learn before you open your gab. Muslim never put Arab culture over others, that's why it grew so fast, Christianity on the other hand was spread thru colonies & forced conversion. Ask any African American with some education.
    • Kevin
      Kevin  •  Waterford, Connecticut  •  3 mths ago
      Islamic countries will not tolorate Christians, But Christians must tolorate Islam? Something dosen't feel right here.
      • Nigel
        Nigel 3 mths ago
        SECULAR countries tolerate EVERY RELIGION. THAT is the part religious zealots can't seem to comprehend.
      • Baal
        Baal 3 mths ago
        because christians are stupid. surah 47::4
      • Let's Be Rational
        Let's Be Rational 3 mths ago
        praises to THE CREATOR of all.
        which countries are the so-called christians by the way, pls let me know, a heads up however, "no muslim wud even think of stepping inside that country to even spit."
    • marie
      marie  •  Torrington, Connecticut  •  3 mths ago
      France has the law of separation of church and state. If all polititians and citizens stick to this law France should be fine and those who cannot obey this law should get out... this law is to prevent extremist of any kind to get out of hand, let it be the right as well as the left. Unfortunately Mr Sarkozy's team seems the one most likely not to respect this law. He should not better.
    • Rufus
      Rufus  •  Cavan-Monaghan, Canada  •  3 mths ago
      screw Muslims
      • ZubairS
        ZubairS 3 mths ago
        I could say something foul, but I'm nice enough to give some advice: get an education.
      • rick
        rick 3 mths ago
        Bad attitude Rufus. Remember those same people keep youn warm in winter and provide fuel for transportation. Rethink, you have big problem.
      • Ana Mary
        Ana Mary 3 mths ago
        Screw muslims.
    • Tax the church
      Tax the church  •  3 mths ago
      France will be an Islamic Republic in 20 years
      • Nigel
        Nigel 3 mths ago
        So, you're saying France will go from a 9% Muslim population to over 50% in 20 years? LOL...wow, you're nuts.
      • Tax the church
        Tax the church 3 mths ago
        Between immigration and breeding it is a real possibility. Did you think the Hispanic population would be what it is today from 20 years ago?
      • FredF
        FredF 3 mths ago
        The birthrates of Blacks and Muslims are almost 3 times that of Whites. They will act in blocks... Yep the French don't have a chance. England, Netherlands, Germany and a lot of other European countries are in for some rough rides also.
    • Let's Be Rational
      Let's Be Rational  •  3 mths ago
      praises to THE CREATOR of all.
      So french civilization is better than the muslim civilization.
      Although it's like saying night is brighter than day, but let's compare the west/french with muslims.

      French/West civilization allows them to get drunk, drunk drive, die and kill others.
      Muslim civilization doesn't allow alcohol.

      French/West civilization in the past treated women as property, where husband had the right to kill his wife and not get accountable for it.
      French/West civilization in the present treats women as tissue paper, where the man she had relationship with leaves her as a single mom, she now has to earn and provide support for her and the kids. The same kids send her to mental hospital or old houses, once they become self-dependant.
      Muslim civilization in the past and present treated women with 'justice,' she earns respect as a wife, sister, daughter, and earns more rights than a man, when she reaches the old age as a mother, kids don't throw their parents away and they enjoy time with the grand children.

      French/West civilization built an army so that their men can fight for the freedoom of their daughter, mother, sister and wife to take their clothes off in strip clubs.
      Muslim civilization fights so their women cover and are treated respectfully.
    • neverquit
      neverquit  •  3 mths ago
      It never ceases to amaze at how outraged Muslims get when one hates them back......
    • Michael Stone
      Michael Stone  •  Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts  •  3 mths ago
      Think they are having second thoughts about having made Northern African colonies “Citizens of the Republic”?
    • butch dam
      butch dam  •  Gardner, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      i see even in france, trying to keep the countries culture, a crime. to side with a group of people, who what all christians and jews and every other relegion dead. seen as a curse.
    • TTown
      TTown  •  3 mths ago
      French politics are always good for a lot of laughs... I have dealt with French professionals in the past and some, not all, some do have the attitude there are French people and there are knuckle dragging barbarians...
    • rick
      rick  •  Saugerties, New York  •  3 mths ago
      Claude Gueant is so cool and honest. Congradulations to an honest politican.
    • Solution
      Solution  •  3 mths ago
      If Martinique would'nt be part of France, it would be like Haiti, just stinky hole!
    • Kristi
      Kristi  •  3 mths ago
      They are dealing with heavy illegal immigration, I think they are frustrated that their country is going down...
    • Beck
      Beck  •  Encino, California  •  3 mths ago
      "had been widely seen as a putdown of Muslims", O nooooo, really, France !! How can it be. They would never do that!
    • Chazwinners
      Chazwinners  •  3 mths ago
      I've often wondered why Muslims bath so infrequently.
    • 1
      1  •  3 mths ago
      Until Muslims learn to treat people as people and bathe....they are sub prime! Lol Except the take abth part! Why do you smell????
    • qqzz
      qqzz  •  3 mths ago
      All black and white French, like all blacks and whites of the US., are rubbish dogs whose worth is really less than a real dog's.
     Post a comment
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