sabaidee
From: France
4/22/2002 08:35 EST
Today my heart is bleeding.
I shame for my country and my fellow citizens. I had always thought that the Vichy era was a forgotten thing and that no one could destroy our willingness to live together in peace.
Today, I am afraid. Those who want to divide our nation and isolate it from the rest of the world got more than 20 % of the ballots.
Our fatherland is in great danger and I shame for those who died in 1789 (the Revolution), in 1848 (the end of slavery, democracy and the ideal of brotherhood), in 1870 (the fight for equality) and in 1940 (the résistants against nazism).
I am also sure that France will overpass those difficult times, but everyone has to be aware of the danger and has to be prepared to fight if it is needed.
Now the best thing to do is to be united and to support those with foreign origins (more than 25% of the French have at least one grand-parents originating from a foreign country) to face barbary together.
One should not forget our national motto "Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood".
I hope that all the foreign people living in France, will support their French neighbours on that dangerous path.
"No pasaran"
Vive la France, Vive la République !!!
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DianaMorales
From: France
4/22/2002 09:36 EST
I was just about to leave a posting about the same topic, but you beat me to it. To be honest, I am a little afraid to say to much for fear that I will anger someone.
I find this Le Pen victory as frightening as any french people do - maybe even more so as an immigrant and as a woman. But I was one of the first people to say there was little difference between Jospin and Chirac because it seemed to me that both were afraid to make a real change here. Though I don't like Le Pen either, I think the government, particularly Chirac (as I assume he will win the run-off) needs to listen to the people and to WHY they felt so desperate as to vote the National Front.
I think people are scared of what it happening here. I personally have said for a long time that crime is getting worse and worse and something needs to be done. I don't agree with Le Pen's tactics at all, but he is the only candidate out there who has taken the crime issue seriously, and I think people are getting fed up.
As a former Poli Sci major though, I have to admit this is a lot of fun to "watch". And maybe now people will stop asking me "how did you people let a guy like George Bush get in the White House?".
I'd love to hear other people's opinions.
Diana
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alpesh
From: France
4/22/2002 09:53 EST
This is a sad day….this move to the right which is happening all across Europe should make us unite…
They (the extreme right) are profiting on the aftermath of Sept. 11th, we have to tackle the insecurity that Europe and the World faces as a result. As scary as Sept. 11th was, making Le Pen the French president is not the answer…..
Also we have to realize that our society is no longer based on one country, sorry to use Sept 11th again as an example, but many of my friends here in France, lost their jobs as a result. Our society’s boarders go way beyond the boundaries of our countries.
Why did 28 % percent of voters stay at home? It is up to us to encourage everyone to vote and let the real voice of France to be heard!
Are you a non French person that could have the right to vote as you are married to a French person……DID YOU VOTE? If not, why not…
I am European, British and also colored, apart from complaining about service, I am very happy to live in France and recognize it as the real land of the free (France is the home of human rights), I live in the Maritime Alps (06) and it is sad that Le Pen finished top of the list in my department.
The wealth of the 06 is built on tourism (foreign people coming here and spending money), IT in Sophia Antipolis (French and mostly foreign companies), Perfume (which is sold to foreign people all over the world), can the local people see that Le Pen will endanger all this.
If you are a EU national you have the right to vote in Local and EU elections. In the Maritime Alps (06), more than 1 in 10 person is a non French national, most of the ‘1’ come from other EU countries, most of us are of voting age….sadly most of us do not vote... We have could have a real political voice...
peace, alpesh
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alpesh
From: France
4/22/2002 09:53 EST
This is a sad day….this move to the right which is happening all across Europe should make us unite…
They (the extreme right) are profiting on the aftermath of Sept. 11th, we have to tackle the insecurity that Europe and the World faces as a result. As scary as Sept. 11th was, making Le Pen the French president is not the answer…..
Also we have to realize that our society is no longer based on one country, sorry to use Sept 11th again as an example, but many of my friends here in France, lost their jobs as a result. Our society’s boarders go way beyond the boundaries of our countries.
Why did 28 % percent of voters stay at home? It is up to us to encourage everyone to vote and let the real voice of France to be heard!
Are you a non French person that could have the right to vote as you are married to a French person……DID YOU VOTE? If not, why not…
I am European, British and also colored, apart from complaining about service, I am very happy to live in France and recognize it as the real land of the free (France is the home of human rights), I live in the Maritime Alps (06) and it is sad that Le Pen finished top of the list in my department.
The wealth of the 06 is built on tourism (foreign people coming here and spending money), IT in Sophia Antipolis (French and mostly foreign companies), Perfume (which is sold to foreign people all over the world), can the local people see that Le Pen will endanger all this.
If you are a EU national you have the right to vote in Local and EU elections. In the Maritime Alps (06), more than 1 in 10 person is a non French national, most of the ‘1’ come from other EU countries, most of us are of voting age….sadly most of us do not vote... We could have a real political voice...
peace, alpesh
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sabaidee
From: France
4/22/2002 10:02 EST
I'm also a "sciences-po" graduate, but I don't feel any fun with that situation.
The fact is that Le Pen has constantly tried to minimize the acts of the Vichy regime, he is deeply antisemitic and racist.
He has always had simple answers to difficult questions.
It is for sure that crime rate is raising, but I am not sure anyone has an answer to it.
To me, Chirac played with fire using the insecure feeling as the only goal of that election. He could not be tougher than Le Pen, because at least he won't harm our human rights and democratical heritage.
But for sure, the soccer match at Stade de France, when French-Algerian mocked the national anthem played a great role, as well as the burning of synagogues.
I'm really afraid, because I you might know there is a strong French tradition of civil wars and revolutions and I am really afraid when 25% of the population wants that the 4 millions French-Arab people leave our soil...
I'm deeply concerned cause my wife is laotian and she wanted to become French soon and now it's obvious it will be harder...
But anyway, we won't give up. And there are still general elections coming soon...
Just to remind you that during 1995's FN party, some skin heads drowned a French-Algerian guy, some of them also shot a French-Comorian teenager in Marseilles.
Le Pen also esteems that the 1939-1945's German army was made out of "brave" soldiers, that Vichy "was evilized, though it was not that bad", that "Gaz chambers are only a piece of detail of World War II", that Jewish journalists must own "two citizenships"...etc.
He is dangerous, but most of the people who wanted him are fed up of the political system in France, made of old people, where the ideology is nothing compared to management...
I hope I'm pessimistic and that my people will always fight for freedom and Human rights.
"Inch' Allah" ("If only God wants it").
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sabaidee
From: France
4/22/2002 10:04 EST
I'm also a "sciences-po" graduate, but I don't feel any fun with that situation.
The fact is that Le Pen has constantly tried to minimize the acts of the Vichy regime, he is deeply antisemitic and racist.
He has always had simple answers to difficult questions.
It is for sure that crime rate is raising, but I am not sure anyone has an answer to it.
To me, Chirac played with fire using the insecure feeling as the only goal of that election. He could not be tougher than Le Pen, because at least he won't harm our human rights and democratical heritage.
But for sure, the soccer match at Stade de France, when French-Algerian mocked the national anthem played a great role, as well as the burning of synagogues.
I'm really afraid, because I you might know there is a strong French tradition of civil wars and revolutions and I am really afraid when 25% of the population wants that the 4 millions French-Arab people leave our soil...
I'm deeply concerned cause my wife is laotian and she wanted to become French soon and now it's obvious it will be harder...
But anyway, we won't give up. And there are still general elections coming soon...
Just to remind you that during 1995's FN party, some skin heads drowned a French-Algerian guy, some of them also shot a French-Comorian teenager in Marseilles.
Le Pen also esteems that the 1939-1945's German army was made out of "brave" soldiers, that Vichy "was evilized, though it was not that bad", that "Gaz chambers are only a piece of detail of World War II", that Jewish journalists must own "two citizenships", that fathers should be able to vote two times, that French family should get money whereas French families with foreign origins shouldn't...etc.
He is dangerous, but most of the people who wanted him are fed up of the political system in France, made of always the same old people, where the ideology is nothing compared to management...
I hope I'm pessimistic and that my people will always fight for freedom and Human rights.
"Inch' Allah" ("If only God wants it").
PS : I quite understand your statement on George Dubelya... ; )
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DianaMorales
From: France
4/22/2002 10:22 EST
Apologies if i offended with the word "fun". It was not meant to be offensive. I just find this very interesting sociologically speaking, to watch it. But I can't say I am watching from the outside because I live and work here and my children will be raised here as French citizens. Though, I should add, I have not yet obtained citizenship so I sadly cannot vote.
I am very excited though to see everyone talking about this election today. The problem recently has been apathy and it's sad to see so many people who did not vote. I am someone who is very adamant about people exercising their right to vote. People fought long and hard for all of us to have that right and it's sad to see others throwing it away - and then complaining about the results! But maybe this will wake people up?
I have every confidence that Chirac will win the final round, but I wish the French could just once see the picture of Truman holding up the paper that says "Dewey Wins Election". People need to get out there and vote in this next round!
Diana
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Suttu
From: France
5/5/2002 15:45 EST
i am happy that our stand has been vidicated and the guy has been given what he deserved. RIP le pen
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Suttu
From: France
5/5/2002 15:45 EST
i am happy that our stand has been vidicated and the guy has been given what he deserved. RIP le pen
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