France: well, maybe not EVERYONE was in the Resistance

[lasalle]

PARIS -- French President François Hollande on Sunday made an emotional mea culpa on behalf of his country for its part in the World War II roundup and deportation of more than 13,000 Jews from Paris.

At the 70th anniversary of what is known as the Vel d'Hiv Raids, Hollande admitted the operation carried out by Paris police in 1942 was a "crime committed in France, by France."

Hollande also praised former president and political rival Jacques Chirac who in 1995 became the first French leader to admit the roundup had been "France's fault."

Until then, French presidents including Hollande's Socialist mentor François Mitterrand had contended that the wartime collaborationist Vichy government led by Marshall Philippe Petain did not represent the French Republic.

On July 16 and 17, 1942, French police rounded up 13,152 Jews from Paris and its suburbs as part of what they code-named Operation Spring Breeze. It was the first case in which women and children were included in the French arrests.

http://mobile.latimes.com/p.p?m=b&a=rp& ... %26DPL%3D3

[Kenny X]

I'm not surprised at all. I'd wager that many leaders were hedging their bets and felt that cooperation with Germany was a far better option than the alternative. Offering an apology for it is mighty white of them, but Genocide still happens today, the situation in Darfur being an example. There's a lot of folks out there who STILL have yet to learn anything.

[tough old man]

PARIS -- French President François Hollande on Sunday made an emotional mea culpa on behalf of his country for its part in the World War II roundup and deportation of more than 13,000 Jews from Paris.

At the 70th anniversary of what is known as the Vel d'Hiv Raids, Hollande admitted the operation carried out by Paris police in 1942 was a "crime committed in France, by France."

Hollande also praised former president and political rival Jacques Chirac who in 1995 became the first French leader to admit the roundup had been "France's fault."

Played both sides against the middle.
However...if it were to happen today we would gladly send them all of the muslims. Actually you would have a hard time stopping them from doing that any day of the year.

[Andy83]

I recall vividly prior to WW2 that everybody hated Jews as an entity. And that Jews hated everybody inclusively.

[Fat Cat]

Precisely what Andy said. You don't become French because you can speak French or live in France. You are French because you share the ideals of their society. For centuries Jews sought to set themselves apart. Then, when they finally were set apart, they regretted it.

[lasalle]

Precisely what Andy said. You don't become French because you can speak French or live in France. You are French because you share the ideals of their society. For centuries Jews sought to set themselves apart. Then, when they finally were set apart, they regretted it.

What an interesting thing to focus on in this story. There's no doubt that their refusal to assimilate made it easy for people to justify their centuries old prejudices and look the other way, if not actively assist in their slaughter. Does that make it right?

What I enjoyed in the "apology" is that it finally officially calls as bullshit most Frenchmen's claims that "my uncle was in the resistance".

[tough old man]

it finally officially calls as bullshit most Frenchmen's claims that "my uncle was in the resistance".

My great uncle was in the resistance.

[Fat Cat]

What an interesting thing to focus on in this story. There's no doubt that their refusal to assimilate made it easy for people to justify their centuries old prejudices and look the other way, if not actively assist in their slaughter. Does that make it right?

Does it make it right? No. It does make it predictable.

[Fat Cat]

The ones that helped the Nazis cart them off were wrong because they were collaborating with the enemy, not because there is something unique or precious about that group of people, who by their own behavior had made the process all the more achievable.

[lasalle]

Are the Amish the next in line if the shit ever goes down here?

[Turdacious]

Are the Amish the next in line if the shit ever goes down here?

Does anybody anywhere see the Amish as a threat?

[baffled]

[Fat Cat]

Are the Amish the next in line if the shit ever goes down here?

I hope not, just as I hope Jews are not targeted again. But that said, yes, they marginalize themselves and so it would be more likely that they would be easy targets and if one looks at this history of the Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, etc. I believe that is why they ended up here in the USA.

[lasalle]

Are the Amish the next in line if the shit ever goes down here?

I hope not, just as I hope Jews are not targeted again. But that said, yes, they marginalize themselves and so it would be more likely that they would be easy targets and if one looks at this history of the Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, etc. I believe that is why they ended up here in the USA.

Good points.

[Fat Cat]

Plus they're short and they even look like dwarves.

[Fat Cat]

What would have been far more rewards would be if Hollande would acknowledge the role that le socialisme played in the deportation of Jews.

[Foul-Mouthed Ignoramus]

Plus they're short and they even look like dwarves.

one wonders why they are all so fucking short if they are living a wholesome agrarian lifestyle...

[Yes, I'm drunk]

Plus they're short and they even look like dwarves.

one wonders why they are all so fucking short if they are living a wholesome agrarian lifestyle...

Founder effect?

In humans, founder effects can arise from cultural isolation, and inevitably, endogamy. For example, the Amish populations in the United States exhibit founder effects. This is because they have grown from a very few founders, have not recruited newcomers, and tend to marry within the community. Though still rare, phenomena such as polydactyly (extra fingers and toes, a symptom of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome) are more common in Amish communities than in the American population at large.

[odin]

dunno if you can lump the Quakers in with those groups. They were quite industrious over here, and particpated fully in politics and society. Just a side note but thought I'd mention it...

[TerryB]

In humans, founder effects can arise from cultural isolation, and inevitably, endogamy.

I call bullshit.

How the hell can the Japanese art of folding paper make people short?

[buckethead]

[Andy83]

In humans, founder effects can arise from cultural isolation, and inevitably, endogamy.

I call bullshit.

How the hell can the Japanese art of folding paper make people short?

That's easy. They fuck paper.