France Laïque ??????

[Blaze]

France loves to boast its laïcité, it's tolerance, its secularism, the separation of church and state.
But whatever the French love to claim, they are deep-rooted Roman Catholics who give lip-service to laïcité and tie themselves in knots over it.

Emmanuel Macron has just lit the first candle to start the Jewish festival of lights (Hanukka) and it took place in the Elysée Palace, his official residence.
A video published on social media has produced furious reactions as can be read in this BBC article
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67657837

Would the reaction have been the same had he done something like open a ceremonial advent calendar door ? Of course not.

[Bayleaf]

I think the point is that it happened inside "the secular hallows of the presidency", and it could be seen as openly supporting what Israel is doing in the Gaza Strip and West Bank - basically genocide. Dodgy ground at this moment.

[Blaze]

and it could be seen as openly supporting what Israel is doing in the Gaza Strip and West Bank - basically genocide. Dodgy ground at this moment.

People are always looking to read something deeper into any action Macron makes. I agree that perhaps the timing is bad and wonder if Macron would do something similar if asked by an Imam.

I don't believe Macron condones what Israel is going, but don't forget that Hamas started it with the most appalling killing, mutilating, rape and kidnap of innocent men women and children.

Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map and Israel wants to do the same with Palestine. Any action by any politician will be seen as biased - look how divided the world is about the situation.

[Doug]

Trust the uk and bbc to stir up things in France.

In French media its way down the list and saying that Macron didn't attend a religious ceremony, same as when he met the pope.

[RobertArthur]

What surprised me in France that I was always wrong about the date of my anniversaire: I know better now, it should have been April 30.

Time for a new avatar. It's getting also time to buy such a calendar trying to respect French traditions and culture. Even le météo and le journal, supposed to be laïque, don't escape from these Roman Catholique traditions.

[Polarengineer]

You got it wrong mate…
Your birthday was July 11 1274 in Turnberry Castle
https://www.google.fr/search?q=robert+t ... ent=safari

[RobertArthur]

To be an outlaw hero after all those years is something to be....thx for the suggestion to choose another avatar.

[Blaze]

Even le météo and le journal, supposed to be laïque, don't escape from these Roman Catholique traditions.

Here in Brittany the météo gives us the celebrated name of the day in 2 versions : French and Breton.

This year on our poubelle calendar, we've had
27 march 2023 Habib
5 September Raïssa
25 September Hermann
then we've got Tatiana, Igor, Larissa, Venceslas, Zita .... and Kevin

[RobertArthur]

@ Blaze, must be comforting this last name, never home alone....

[Bayleaf]

Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map and Israel wants to do the same with Palestine.

But not all Palestine is Hamas.