Originally Posted by
mundame
Good thread topic, Tyr!
I think I understand why France is able to take this sort of political stance, because I've been studying the French Revolution.
From about 1789 to at least 1794 Paris and all France was inundated with thousands of pamphlets and many hundreds of regular "newspapers," most of which competed to spread the most murderous incitement to violence toward pretty much everyone on every side. They did not mince words, nope ---- a la lanternes! was a mild incitement, and many people WERE hanged on the lampposts. Heads on pikes were big, too.
All this incitement resulted in the total breakdown of all society into civil war and the anarchy in Paris known as the Terror in 1793--94, in which they had to weave extra-large two-man wicker baskets to carry all the heads cut off by Madame Guillotine. Tens of thousands were guillotined: people now don't realize the scale of the Terror.
But France remembers, and they don't want these Muslims inciting this same sort of violence; so many of the same sort of mob from the Terror now live in the Muslim banlieus outside Paris, and the government realizes it could happen again.
As to your question, a huge amount of the same kind of inciting to violence is going on on our Internet; can you imagine the things people say now being said in the '50s or '60s? Didn't happen.
But we have to go through a violent revolution before we'll realize how bad it is and how important to avoid, as the French realize.
As you say the French have had a rich history of violence and people losing their heads over trivial acts. What they are trying to do now is to nip it in the bud despite the fact that it has gotten well past that stage! Perhaps they are seeing where it goes by carefully watching what is happening in Britain now with the Islamists taking over and shafting the native Brits all to hell and back.
I think it's the right course but the French will have to escalate and HARDEN THEIR ACTIONS MORE TO STOP THE COMING STORM IMHO. -Tyr
18 U.S. Code § 2381-Treason Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.