Actress Brigitte Bardot on Trial in France for Offending Islam

[Wotan]

Free speech or not Brigitte Bardot is very much a racist. The man she is married to is Bernard d'Ormal. He worked with Jean-Marie Le Pen's Front National Party.

As Moot pointed out Jean-Marie Le Pen has been accused of being a 'Holocaust Denier' and is quoted as saying things like in regards to the Holocaust:

I ask myself several questions. I'm not saying the gas chambers didn't exist. I haven't seen them myself. I haven't particularly studied the question. But I believe it's just a detail in the history of World War II.

Bardot has been prosecuted and found guilty of multiple instances of 'inciting racial hatred'. This isn't a case of poor Brigitte speaking her mind and and ending up in court - she is a repeat offender. Whether or not she should be prosecuted or not aside. To most Americans the idea of prosecuting some one for speaking their mind is ridiculous. However, most European countries have similar laws, so does Canada, and there are many people who are prosecuted, found guilty, fined and some given significant prison terms, based on what they have said or written.

In many cases most of these folks would be dismissed as 'kooks' but they end up as 'martyrs' of 'free speech'. IMHO it's much better to have an open dialog where by 'kooks' are shown to be 'kooks'. Instead of dismissing poor Brigitte as just another 'kook' the discussion moves toward the merits of 'Free Speech'. This is where these types of laws fail.

Wotan

[straffo]

Don't get me started on BB she's a ***** and a *****

[storch]

Don't get me started on BB she's a ***** and a *****

why would you post such an awful statement regarding that french national treasure?

[LTARGlok]

why would you post such an awful statement regarding that french national treasure?

Well, she is 69 years old now.

In fact, she has not even made any court appearances recently, saying that she is not in good health.

Here is the most current photo of her that I could find, from a few years ago:

[Gunthr]

In many cases most of these folks would be dismissed as 'kooks' but they end up as 'martyrs' of 'free speech'. IMHO it's much better to have an open dialog where by 'kooks' are shown to be 'kooks'. Instead of dismissing poor Brigitte as just another 'kook' the discussion moves toward the merits of 'Free Speech'. This is where these types of laws fail.

Wotan

This is brilliant.  Suppression of speech by "Government" is ultimately impossible.  It only creates an underground.  I see this French law as a sign of desperation.  The sex kitten might be a racist, or she might be astute.  But who cares as long as every French person is entitled to their own opinions, including Muslims?

Again, I think there is a real fear of Muslim violence...

and why should France tolerate that threat hanging over their head?

One other thing:  Who decides what speech is incitefull in France?  The Muslims?

[CptTrips]

I agree with the French goverment's actions.  Freedom of speech should only apply to stuff we all like.

Wab

[Bingolong]

Well, she is 69 years old now.

In fact, she has not even made any court appearances recently, saying that she is not in good health.

Here is the most current photo of her that I could find, from a few years ago:

(Image removed from quote.)

Nope 74

[moot]

You guys are arguing this like France was the US.  It's not, and it means free speech law can't be made the same, any more than the 2nd amendment could be added to any random country's legislation.
I don't really agree with the way their laws work, but they aren't as bad as some of you would like to think, based on this one rather extreme example.

Here's another:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2002%2F09%2F18%2Fwislam18.xml
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/10-22-2002-28686.asp

"charges of provoking racial hatred" = much like "disturbing the peace" in rallies, to the point of getting tazed etc.

[bj229r]

You guys are arguing this like France was the US.  It's not, and it means free speech law can't be made the same, any more than the 2nd amendment could be added to any random country's legislation.
I don't really agree with the way their laws work, but they aren't as bad as some of you would like to think, based on this one rather extreme example.

Here's another:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2002%2F09%2F18%2Fwislam18.xml
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/10-22-2002-28686.asp

"charges of provoking racial hatred" = much like "disturbing the peace" in rallies, to the point of getting tazed etc.

True enough, but had she said same about Christians or Jews I submit she'd have no legal problems whatsoever--Many folks world-wide bend over backwards for Muslims, far more than they are owed--they made their original countries a pile of excrement, then they move to nice places like France or the UK and deMAND the local populations change their ways to accept the new immigrants, and of course, they do

[Gunthr]

You guys are arguing this like France was the US.  It's not, and it means free speech law can't be made the same, any more than the 2nd amendment could be added to any random country's legislation.
I don't really agree with the way their laws work, but they aren't as bad as some of you would like to think, based on this one rather extreme example. - Moot

Maybe you are so close to the culture that you can't see the forest for the trees.  Maybe you are afraid of Muslims...

[moot]

LOL
Carry on...

[Mr No Name]

i am gonna get a copy of her book... from the things that people here are saying, it sounds like France is being torn apart by the same things the US is being torn apart - only people are afraid to say it.  Political Correctness should be called Political "Cleansing"

[moot]

Sheesh.. Talk about a total lack of context.  Why not grab a copy of Mein Kampf back then, to see why germany is being torn apart by multi-ethnicity? 
Seriously, if you want an authenticaly french perspective that's on the anti-islam side of impartial, get Elementary Particles or Platform, or The possibility of an island, by Michel Houellebecq.  I'd recommend Particles first, but it's probably a toss-up between either of those three if the actual novel is superfluous to what you want to know about the culture.  Particles' foreign narrative p.o.v. is probably (IIRC) the easiest to understand, though.

[Gunthr]

Moot, put another way, why would you have a problem with an old actress complaining that Muslims are destroying France and that they abuse animals by sacrificing them in a Muslim feast day?

Why would you minimize the government's prosecution of this old person for her statement of her beliefs, whether you agree with them or not?  Even a small sanction from the "Government" is an outrage in my opinion.

Maybe Muslims ARE changing the culture of France.  Maybe there IS a disproportionate number of Muslims on welfare.  It doesn't matter.  She should be free to express her opinion...

... but the fear is allowed to rule.

[Mr No Name]

quite frankly when you have huge numbers of immigrants who have no desire to assimilate into your society, you weaken the fabric of the country.  we are facing the same thing here where the flood gates were left open, primarily on our southern border and it has weakened our nation financially, morally, physically (most have never has immunizations of any sort) and about any other way it can be corrupted.

We allow 2 million - yes, 2 million in LEGALLY per year... that's far more than reasonable.  We now have roughly 15% of the population of mexico living here ILLEGALLY and with them, they bring crime, poverty and disease.  We have had an administration refuse to enforce our own laws, and those running for the white house in november have been right in line with this lawlessness.  We have a few of our border patrol agents who are now political prisoners who are in jail for enforcing our laws and shooting an armed drug smuggler in the rear-end!

Unregulated immigration cannot work - ever - particularly when the immigrants do not wish to assimilate or wish to do harm to your country and government.