French far-right says pork or nothing for Muslim students

[mojaveman]

School canteens will no longer offer non-pork meal options in towns where France's anti-immigration far-right National Front party won local elections, it's leader Marine Le Pen said Monday.

Good for Ms. Le Pen, and while she's making those Muslims eat pork, maybe she can make them drink some French wine too.

http://news.yahoo.com/french-far-lea...172511398.html

[Trapper John]

Whoda thought?? The French stand up Gives me new found respect for the French.

Viva le France

[Richard]

"Le Pen reignited debate on a sensitive issue about the substitution meals targeting mainly Muslim and Jewish pupils for whom pork is taboo."

In light of all that is going on in the world today and our current discussion on the issue of the separation of church and state in another thread here, I don't see how this can be considered to be a good thing.

We always offered 'substitution' meals for our students for a variety of reasons - religious, dietary preference, health issues. We didn't "have" to do it, but it wasn't difficult and cost us no more in money or time to do so, and the gesture to reasonably support our diverse community was every bit as important (and often more so) as the act itself.

IMO a group with a history like Ms Le Pen's claiming it's "pork or nothing" as being "necessary to save secularism" is akin to a group like David Duke's claiming "separate but equal" doctrine as being necessary to saving states from an erosion of their constitutional authority.

Richard

[Pete]

I'm just surprised that anyone really eats school lunch.

[akv]

Absolutely, for nearly 75 years the French have had steely resolve to defend Europe right down to the last American. Instead of mandating pork, perhaps it's prescient to add borscht and chicken Kiev to the menu?

Respectfully, my $.02 standing up to radical Islam, is the precious blood price American youth have paid in war across the Mid East and Afghanistan since 9/11.

Telling school children there must be pork chops next to their croissants in an attempt to deflect away the real problems of a culture of staggering debt , entitlement, and the failure of multiculturalism, makes about as much sense as banning tomatoes and garlic in New York schools to strike back at the Mafia.

France is free to pick up the torch in Syria or Iran.

[Trapper John]

Originally Posted by Richard

"Le Pen reignited debate on a sensitive issue about the substitution meals targeting mainly Muslim and Jewish pupils for whom pork is taboo."

In light of all that is going on in the world today and our current discussion on the issue of the separation of church and state in another thread here, I don't see how this can be considered to be a good thing.

We always offered 'substitution' meals for our students for a variety of reasons - religious, dietary preference, health issues. We didn't "have" to do it, but it wasn't difficult and cost us no more in money or time to do so, and the gesture to reasonably support our diverse community was every bit as important (and often more so) as the act itself.

IMO a group with a history like Ms Le Pen's claiming it's "pork or nothing" as being "necessary to save secularism" is akin to a group like David Duke's claiming "separate but equal" doctrine as being necessary to saving states from an erosion of their constitutional authority.

Richard

Very good point, not as much fun as a knee-jerk reaction though , but a reasoned position. My POV is that when dealing with bullies (and I view Islamists as just that), capitulation and compromise never works no matter how reasonable and thoughtful the capitulation or compromise might be.

It's like the camel's nose parable (apt allegory in this case) or the give a mouse a cookie parable IMO.

Indeed this is a complicated issue.

[mark46th]

Next thing ya know, immigrant students in France will want to be taught in their native language.. That's worked out real well here in California...

[akv]

And so it goes

PARIS (AP) -- France is cracking down on youth who leave their homes to fight with Islamist radicals in Syria's civil war.

The interior minister announced a series of tough love measures Wednesday that range from allowing suspicious parents to tip off authorities to withdrawing passports and putting potential jihadis' names in a European computer bank.

More youth from France are thought to have embarked on journeys to Syria than from any other European country, but the problem - and the risks of terrorism by those who return - is Europe-wide.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said this week that 500 had gone to Syria from France, double the figure given in January. Children as young as 15 have made their way to jihadi training camps. Some have been fetched by their parents and brought home to be charged.

"It's a global plan with repressive elements aimed at dismantling networks that expose our country to risks" along with preventive measures, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters.

Syria's civil war has left 150,000 dead and forced millions to flee their homes and country since it began in March 2011.

The plan was laid out at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Among preventive measures is an alert system for parents who feel their children are at risk of taking up jihad. Parents would directly contact the Interior Ministry, which would set in motion a local plan mobilizing social services and even the educational system. Cazeneuve did not elaborate and it was not clear whether teachers and parents would, ultimately, be spying on their students and children.

In addition, authorities will withdraw passports from individuals suspected of wanting to travel to Syria. Foreign residents will be "immediately expelled" if authorities have reason to believe they participated in terrorist operations, the minister said.

France, in conjunction with European partners, also plans to increase its monitoring of websites that post videos and other messages inciting jihadi activities. Cazeneuve said he has already traveled to Germany and Austria to coordinate and will shortly be in Britain for talks.

http://www.realclearworld.com/articl...at_110455.html