|
Post by bjd on Jan 11, 2015 17:54:47 GMT
I went to the movies this afternoon (different thread!) but returned and had a look at the Paris march -- 1.5 million people -- that's amazing and wonderful and no incidents of any kind.
Of course, the dignitaries did only a symbolic few hundred meters but they were there. And right now, there is a commemorative ceremony at a big synagogue in the 9th arrondissement for all 17 victims, not just the Jews.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jan 11, 2015 19:45:20 GMT
I am extremely disappointed and embarrassed that the United States government did not send a higher level of representation to Paris for the march today. Representing the U.S. was the ambassador to France, as well as the Attorney General, who was also in the country for a meeting. I commend CNN for questioning what I believe to be an error on the part of my governmental leaders. Yes, John Kerry did give a speech in French (from India?), and yes, President Obama did express his concerns and support, but I expect more.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 20:12:35 GMT
There are a few other "close allies" that can be embarrassed as well, but the important detail is that it is never too late to be embarrassed, and it can be useful for the future if that happens. I would say that tonight in France, people know that the closest friends are the usual ones: Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg. Actually, it's kind of nice to be able to rely on the countries with which you share a border, just as the U.S. has always relied on its relations with Canada and Mexico.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 22:14:44 GMT
Here is a good example of foreign journalists being clueless about other cultures. The BBC News website published this photo about "Where's Charlie?" and was amused by the other signs but clearly did not have the slightest idea that "Charlie" is the name of "Waldo" in the French version of those puzzle books.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 11, 2015 22:28:26 GMT
This from Australia
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 11, 2015 22:59:57 GMT
When I said the Paris events were not getting much coverage in Oz, I should have remembered that thanks to APIAS I am many hours ahead of the mainstream media here. We are seeing the same marches, rallies, floral tributes and emotions here. Coming so close to our siege in Sydney where there were 2 innocents killed, it has caused more distress to the people who have turned out in solidarity with Paris.
Our Government chose to send the leader in the Senate to Paris...Who? A name I have not heard before. I suppose they could have sent the Head Gardener of Parliament House.
Cheerypeabrain. Thank you for your comment, I have been a barricade stormer since way back (I was born on 14 July)always on the side of peace and justice. I am so pleased to see that the demonstrations around the world are so far calm and inclusive. This is the greatest weapon that can be used against those who wish to fragment society.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 23:26:22 GMT
The big question in France is whether there will still be a feeling of solidarity tomorrow or if it will all quickly fade away. I would like to think that there will be a lasting effect, because the events of today were exceptionally powerful, but I am very much aware that the political infighting and just random current events will create the usual pile of shit before the end of the week.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Jan 12, 2015 7:50:06 GMT
"An American terrorism commentator speaking on Fox News has been forced to apologise for describing Birmingham as a "Muslim-only city" where non-Muslims "don't go in". Steven Emerson told the channel that in London "Muslim religious police" beat "anyone who doesn't dress according to Muslim, religious Muslim attire". www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30773297
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 12, 2015 8:33:15 GMT
US News reports are often vague about the facts and are totally dyslexic when it comes to maps and distances. They also have a tendency to speak first and think later.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Jan 12, 2015 8:35:25 GMT
Je suis Charlie.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jan 12, 2015 9:20:37 GMT
Although I may criticize a lot of American news as being parochial, I don't think Fox News should be used as a good representative of US media.
Or maybe he meant Birmingham, Alabama?
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jan 12, 2015 11:11:12 GMT
I agree, Bjd. I've refused to even watch Fox News for almost as long as they've been on the air.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jan 12, 2015 12:21:58 GMT
I should also say, there is a large segment of the conservative U.S. public that believes, and agrees with, everything Fox News reports.
Owned by Rupert Murdoch. Yes?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 12:35:28 GMT
And of course it must not be forgotten that Fox News is the #1 news channel in the U.S.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 12, 2015 12:51:38 GMT
Rupert...another Adelaide boy made good, eh? **sarcastic sneer**
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jan 12, 2015 13:13:47 GMT
J.K. Rowling took him to task on Twitter over the weekend. I'll try to find the exchange since it's relevant to this thread.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jan 12, 2015 13:56:07 GMT
In another instance of lack of knowledge of other cultures, on the BBC page I saw a picture of people demonstrating with a sign saying "on n'a pas peur des trous de balles", which was translated into, "We are not afraid of bullet holes". However, it actually means, "we are not afraid of assholes".
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jan 12, 2015 14:16:26 GMT
At one English-language news source, one of the suspects was spotted at Charleville-Mézières, "2 miles north of Paris".
Rimbaud has joined Charlie in rolling over in his grave.
But I have seen similar bloopers in the French press.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 20:03:14 GMT
Three million copies of Charlie Hebdo are going to be printed for distribution on Wednesday morning, instead of the one million copies originally announced (the usual print run in the past was 60,000 copies with about 30,000 usual sales). It will be available in 16 languages. There will be caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as well as unpublished material from the assassinated cartoonists. There will almost certainly be virulent cartoons against all of the people now saying "Je Suis Charlie" who never bought Charlie Hebdo in the past and/or said that their satire went too far.
That is as it should be.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 22:09:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 22:39:13 GMT
Washington (CNN)—President Barack Obama's administration admitted it erred by failing to send a higher-ranking representative of the United States to the Paris unity march on Sunday.
"I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday afternoon.
He said Obama himself would have liked to attend the march "had the circumstances been a little different." But planning began Friday night, 36 hours before the event began, and there wasn't enough time for the "onerous and significant" security work that needed to take place ahead of a presidential visit, Earnest said. He said Obama's presence also would have meant extra restrictions on the people who were there.
"That said, there is no doubt that the American people and this administration stand foursquare behind our allies in France as they face down this threat," he said. "And that was evident throughout last week."
More than 40 world leaders, including the British, German and Israeli heads of state and Russia's foreign minister, joined at least 1.5 million people on the Paris streets Sunday for a unity march that became France's biggest-ever public demonstration.
But Obama and his administration's top hands were nowhere to be found -- an absence that triggered complaints that he missed a key leadership opportunity.
The United States appeared to have options to send to the march: Obama spent Sunday at the White House with no public events on his schedule. Vice President Joe Biden was at home in Delaware for the weekend, also with a blank public schedule. Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder was already in Paris for security meetings -- and even recorded interviews with several U.S. Sunday morning programs -- but he didn't attend the march.
A Secret Service official said the agency was not asked to draw up security plans for a potential presidential trip to Paris in advance of Sunday's march.
"We weren't asked or notified about a trip," the official said. But the agency had Secret Service agents on the ground in Paris, per its standard operating procedure.
"It would have been a challenging advance ... based on what we know," Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary said. But Leary did not say that such an advance would have been impossible.
During the White House briefing, Earnest suggested security challenges were a factor in not having the president travel to Paris. But Earnest acknowledged the Secret Service could have pulled it off. An agency official noted previous "last minute" presidential trips have happened during the Obama presidency, including a hurried visit to South Africa in December 2013 for the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
The White House noted that it was represented in Paris on Sunday -- and has offered support to France in recent days.
U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley was in the march, as was assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. At a security summit, Holder was joined in those security meetings by deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 13, 2015 1:19:01 GMT
Once more the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot is left with egg on his face. Failed again to understand what was happening around him. Completely out of touch with the ordinary people and has a bunch of high paid 'advisors' who haven't a clue about anything. I am ashamed of him and how he represents my country.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Jan 13, 2015 3:19:03 GMT
Once more the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot is left with egg on his face. Failed again to understand what was happening around him. Completely out of touch with the ordinary people and has a bunch of high paid 'advisors' who haven't a clue about anything. I am ashamed of him and how he represents my country. Abbot reminds me a lot of GW Bush--dumb and very, very proud of it. Actually I'm unpleasantly surprised how much our President Obama is the same as GWB too.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 13, 2015 5:26:22 GMT
He was a Rhodes Scholar to Oxford, so must have had some brains at some time. Probably came off his bicycle in a race just once too often and addled them. He likes to present himself as a sporting type...surfing, running, triathlons, cycling and member of his volunteer fire group. Thinks he looks good in Lycra, brief swimming gear (known here as 'budgie-smugglers'). Certainly does not present as a statesman who could lead his country.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 11:38:16 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 13, 2015 12:01:17 GMT
Well I dunno. If I had never been to France I could easily believe it. But I am so lucky that I have and have already booked hotels and an apartment near Rebublique and at Nation, for my annual holiday in September. I hope my little 'early bird' bookings show a teeny glimmer of Je Suis Charlie!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 12:12:45 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jan 13, 2015 17:05:19 GMT
I am in complete agreement Kerouac. What a daft thing to do. Come to Africa and expect such disgraceful behaviour from our president. But from someone who should know damn well better - Nico you shouldn't listen to ALL advice whispered in your ear.....
|
|
|
Post by lola on Jan 13, 2015 19:55:06 GMT
I can't find yesterday's NYT front page online, but now that ya mention it I find Sarkozy in the third row between Hollande and Merkel, his eye on a chink in the front row.
I'm fine with Obama sending his ambassador to this demonstration. Are we otherwise afraid that he condones the murders?
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jan 13, 2015 20:08:04 GMT
Not at all, Lola, but what are Vice Presidents for, if not to send to Paris!
|
|