Omigod!!!

October 19, 2001 8:16 PM

Omigod!!! Now it's time to give the French a hard time (please note the sarcasm).
posted by HoldenCaulfield (12 comments total)

As much as what this kid did was stupid, hate speech laws are even stupider. How free is speech in country where "justifying acts of terrorism" can be punished with five years in the slammer?

Kids should be allowed to be a bit impulsive and stupid.

I did like the fact that they burned underwear though.
posted by phatboy at 8:46 PM on October 19, 2001

I personaly don't agree with his stance, but why the hell should he be arrested for it. I'm pretty sure France is down with that whole free speach thing (I guess as long as the majority agrees with it).
posted by SweetJesus at 8:47 PM on October 19, 2001

We should invade that country and convert its leader to Christianity. ;-)
posted by ethmar at 9:02 PM on October 19, 2001

This is, of course, the same law (or class of law) that was used in the attempt to preent Yahoo from selling Nazi memorabilia. There is cruel irony, since it was the French constitution of 1789 which encoded impassionately The Rights of Man, in particular Article 11:

11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.

Something similar remains in the 1958 constitution of the Fifth Republic.

I realize the ongoing trends here, but could we please have contentful front page posts?
posted by dhartung at 9:31 PM on October 19, 2001

ah. dhartung provides the obligatory meficop whine.
posted by quonsar at 9:43 PM on October 19, 2001

Bleh, france sucks. I can't belive you can be arrested "Justifying" something. Really creepy. Otoh

11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.

That's kind of a meaningless statement. you're 'allowed' to speak, write, and print whatever you want, but we can arrest you for 'abuses', 'abuses' are whatever we say are 'abuses' so basicaly you can't do shit without government approval. It's really more of a 'suggestion' not to infringe freedom of speach then any kind of writ.
posted by delmoi at 11:18 PM on October 19, 2001

> ah. dhartung provides the obligatory meficop whine.

Which is nicely followed by the quonsarian meta-meficop complaint.

Seriously though: who will police the police that police the police?
posted by sylloge at 2:52 AM on October 20, 2001

The French they are a funny race ...
posted by darren at 4:38 AM on October 20, 2001

We do the police in different voices.
posted by holgate at 6:31 AM on October 20, 2001

Dickens, Our Mutual Friend.

Do I get a prize?
posted by Grangousier at 7:08 AM on October 20, 2001

Only if you tell me which poem used that quotation for its original title. Bwahaha.
posted by holgate at 7:37 AM on October 20, 2001

It's Larkin
posted by matteo at 12:53 PM on October 20, 2001