Que s’est-il passé depuis mon départ de Saint-Étienne, il y a vingt-quatre ans? Un quart de siècle depuis mes dernières palpitations, yeux fixés sur le chronomètre de l’autre côté du stade mythique surnommé « Le Chaudron. » Et pourtant, aux fins fonds de mon esprit, je sais ce qui se passe dans l’enceinte du stade: le temps reste […]
France
Paris Local Elections – Muck, A Duck, And A Schmuck
There’s nothing quite like a French election carried out after a pandemic not caused by a rat, a tasteless online video, and a duck trying to gate crash Cyrano de Bergerac performed at the Comédie Française. The second round of the local elections taking place in Paris, has got that “je ne sais quoi” feeling […]
Macron’s COVID-19 Advisor Underestimated Pandemic
I watched last Wednesday’s French news bulletin with a quiet bewilderment that bordered on incomprehension. The head of the governmental scientific committee, and advisor to president Macron over the COVID-19 pandemic, publicly admitted that he (and others) had underestimated the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. Jean-François Delfraissy, immunologist and chairman of the coronavirus scientific committee, […]
La Vie En Rose – Domestic Violence Figures Shame France
Some national records are enviable, others are shameful. The official figures concerning domestic violence in France make for grim reading – a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner every three days. France’s dismal record on domestic violence is certainly nothing to be proud of, but what is even more worrying is that the […]
A Big Mac, French Fries And A Coke. Anything Else, Minister?
It is sad really, when ministers who run out of ideas are being persecuted for something else by the country they are trying to govern. It is as if we all have suddenly had an attack of divine morality concerning the fact that they are otherwise engaged. The latest victim of the democratic inquisition into […]
Running After The Hijab – Why Decathlon And The Washington Post Got It Wrong
For some it is hard to believe that France, of all countries, is having yet another heated debate concerning a dress code. The country that is renowned for its mode and haute-couture, is getting all worked up about a piece of cloth covering a woman’s hair – yet again, again. After having nearly drowned under […]
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Air France-KLM: French Arrogance Is Still Flying High
It’s a trait that you either love or hate, but either way you have to put up with it. I’m referring to that particular annoying gallic habit of thinking that you can act selfishly and that nobody else has the right to do the same. You defend your culture because you think that it’s exceptional. […]
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Is France Facing An Anti-Semitic Insurrection?
The escalating violence associated with the yellow vest demonstrations, coupled with the ever-increasing incoherence of their political and social demands raises the question of whether France is facing insurrection. What is more worrying however, is that this popular rebellion is being used as a pretext for violence and, more dangerously, for antisemitism. Both have nothing […]
Domestic Violence – Because It Was Her, Because It Was Me…
A 31-year-old French woman, known as “ Aïda,” has been found partially responsible for her paraplegia, after having returned home to her companion, whilst knowing that he was violent – having been victim to domestic violence in the past – and despite police advice not to do so. The couple had no home of their […]
It’s So Moronic, It’s Gotta Be A Joke!!
The latest cartoon to be published by Charlie Hebdo follows the arrest of Peter Cherif, who is suspected of being behind the attack on the journal, in January 2015. The cartoon is one of the best Christmas presents that you could wish for. For all those who value freedom of speech and the right to […]