[The Sunday Times, South Africa]

 

 

Le Figaro, France

Obama's Lesson to the French

 

"The country of human rights, so proud of itself and its past, notes that the United States is teaching France a historic lesson. We reproached 'Sarkozy the American' for loving the country, its values and its way of life, but today we have realized that this wasn't such a terrible lack of good taste."

 

Editorial By Paul-Henri du Limbert

 

Translated By Molly Smith

 

November 6, 2008

 

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

Senator Barack Obama holds his first post-election press conference, Nov. 7.   BBC NEWS AUDIO: Why has the world invested so much faith in the character of Barack Obama? Sir David Manning, former British ambassador to Washington and historian Alastair Horne, discuss whether the world yearns for a different style of U.S. leadership, Nov. 7, 00:07:45

The detestable country has again become the admirable country. It took just a few hours for the French to entirely change their perceptions of the United States. If they judged the America of George W. Bush as arrogant and brutal, they are disposed to believe that Barack Obama's America is generous and altruistic. We'll just have to see what will be.

 

For the moment, both right and left are enchanted by the story of a biracial middle class man, who became president of the United States by virtue of the country he lives in - something we had forgotten - which allows for such exceptional circumstances. And we seek in vain, at least for the moment, a future French Obama.

 

The country of human rights, so proud of itself and its past, notes that the United States is teaching France a historic lesson. We reproached “Sarkozy the American” for loving the country, its values and its way of life, but today we have realized that this wasn't such a terrible lack of good taste.

 

When the-then future presidential candidate, who identified himself as “a Frenchman of mixed blood,” spoke in 2003 of the famous “Muslim prefect [see below],” the expression provoked great controversy. Why you ask? Because affirmative action, as was put in place in the United States during the 1960's, is a foreign concept to the spirit of the French Republic. The latter, in preamble of its Constitution , assures equality before the law for all citizens, without reference to origin, race or religion. This objective is entirely laudable, but how can one fail to question the limits of this ambitious assertion when one notes that for nearly a quarter century, that elevator of upward mobility has been stuck on the same floor? 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

[Editor's note: In 2004, President Jacques Chirac appointed a Muslim "prefect" - a departmental governor - rejecting rumors that he opposed the move because it smacked of affirmative action. Le Monde reported earlier that Chirac had blocked the proposal made the previos year by the-then interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy. France has about 200 prefects and 500 sub-prefects, nearly all of whom graduated from the elite National Administration School. Created in 1800 by Napoleon, their task is to represent the state in the country's 100 departments].

 

Nicolas Sarkozy had pointed his finger at this French paradox, which made both right and left-wing governments uncomfortable - and those on the left more so than on the right. And what about our 'Representatives of diversity?" They were offered modest posts as State secretaries, while George W. Bush himself entrusted Colin Powell and then Condoleezza Rice with the foreign policy of the most powerful nation on the planet. By appointing Rachida Dati  as Minister of Justice, the chief of state struck a major blow. These ministerial posts are no longer reserved for pure French, and it's unimaginable that his successor would free himself of this precedent.

 

The other lesson dispensed to the French by the Americans is that there's no rule against feeling pride and love for one's country. A Black American is first and foremost an American who believes in his country and sings the national anthem with his hand over his heart. This example is one to think about, specifically when Brice Hortefeux suggests teaching our immigrants The Song of Marseille [La Marseillaise, the French national anthem LISTEN ] and the values it represents. Not long ago such a suggestion would have seemed “reactionary.” Now we ask ourselves if it isn't perhaps eminently progressive.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US November 9, 3:00am]