Silence, Bande de Cretins!

La Marseillaise is one of the most recognizable songs in the world, and is generally considered to be the greatest national anthem ever written. The lyrics recount the struggle during the French Revolution, and are filled with vivid imagery such “May a tainted blood irrigate our furrows.” Now, we French take the sanctity of the French language very seriously, even enacting a law (Loi Toubon) to protect against the infiltration of non-French words into French society. This goes back as far as 1635, when Cardinal Richelieu established L’Academie Francaise to act as the official authority on all matters concerning the French language. So what does all this mean? Like I said, we take the French language very seriously.

Yesterday (Tuesday, October 14th), France played against Tunisia in a friendly. Although the match was played in Paris, at the Stade de France, many of the 60,000 spectators were Tunisian. Given the history of French colonialism, this is not surprising. However, given the context of that history, it should not have come as a shock that many of the Tunisian supporters whistled during the playing of La Marseillaise. In France, as in much of Europe, whistling is extremely derogatory and is considered even more offensive than booing. This has happened before, against Algeria in October 2001 and against Morocco in November 2007 (both friendlies, and both against former French colonies).

This time, the opposing supporters took things even further, whistling at Hatem ben Arfa as he was announced. Ben Arfa was born in France to Tunisian parents, and the Tunisian Football Association spent a great deal of time trying to convince him to play for that national team, which was obviously unsuccessful. While Domenech stated that he was “moved” by the beautiful singing of both national anthems by several franco-tunisian women, he claimed that he simply ignored the negative energy from the crowd.

The rest of France, however, did not. Prime Minister François Fillon called the whistling “insulting for France and the French players”, while Bernard Laporte, the ministerial secretary of state for sport, was quoted as saying that France should no longer play friendly matches against their North African former colonies. After meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy, French Sports Minister Roslyne Bachelot stated that in the future any matches at which La Marseillaise was interrupted by poor sportsmanship would be stopped immediately. She went on to state:

“Government members will immediately leave the arena where our national anthem has been whistled.

“When whistling of our antional anthem happens, all friendly games with the country concerned will be suspended for a period yet to be determined by the federation president.”

Unfortunately, Jean-Marie Le Pen also felt the need to open up his yap. The far-right (way far right) mouthpiece declared that the whistling of La Marseillaise was a sign that the multicultural experiment of France is not working. I’ve previously discussed the appelation of the national team as “Les Blacks, Blancs, et Beurs“, a concept of which Le Pen is not fond. Incidents such as those of yesterday simply give this asinine man even more ammunition for his National Front party ramblings. Certainly, the history of French colonialism in North Africa is a painful one (on both sides), and it is understandable that resentment against racism (both state-supported and individual) is present.

But really, how can you boo the greatest national anthem ever written?

To recap:

If you are English and boo Cashley Cole, that is acceptable.

If you are anyone and you disrespect La Marseillaise, we will hunt you down and beat you with a baguette. Or maybe we’ll just take our ball and go home.

Written by Darkvader on October 15th, 2008 with no comments.
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Adebayor writes, the Milan reflects

It is by now trial of strength between the Arsenal and Emmanuel Adebayor. Club has declared the London it incedibile, but the togolese forward is making of all in order changing air. She remains to establish which: that of plain of Milan or that of sea of Barcelona. Catalans who, second the house press, are strafavoriti: or “It marks” that “Sports” have given for fact the agreement with the player. To convince the Arsenal, that chip ax (and does not conclude) the single negotiation if it is begun to discuss from the stratospheric figure of 43 million.

From part its, the togolese does not remain sure to wait for the events passively. Emmanuel has taken to paper and pen and has directly written to its mentor Arsene Wenger, already guilty to have answered to the numerous ones does not telephone carried out in the last days. Thus, hand to the old beloved fax, that it is becoming the object centers them of this negotiation: the letter, addressed directly to the French technician, has been sent for information also to general manager the Ken Friar and to the same Galliani. And in via Turati they have confirmed the arrival of the missiva. Whose contained it recites more or less thus: “Arsene Beloved I have need of parlarti, is an important moment for my career”. Unfortunately for the Milan, to how much it seems, a copy has been sent also to Barcelona, richer expecting.

And then, a lot in order to change, to the Milan does not remain that to watch themselves around, to attend, to study what it succeeds holes from the world of the famous usuals. Spanish Radiomercato advises the rossoneri tifosi to leave to lose Adebayor and to throw an eye to Seville rather, where Luis Fabiano goes towards the expiration (june 2009) and continues to traccheggiare on the offered ones of renews. And from the Europeans, instead, trapelano voices of first, timid survey (with a lot of seeming asked the old friend on purpose Mark Van Basten) of Huntelaar, till now never approached from the Diavolo.Come is changed, in the calciomercato one.

Written by Darkvader on June 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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Major Alvega - Notas Falsas - Parte 1/3

Coragem e audácia em plena II Guerra Mundial O herói desta série, Major Alvega, é um lendário piloto luso-britânico da RAF (Royal Air Force), famoso pela coragem e audácia, no cumprimento de missões de alto risco, durante a 2ª Guerra Mundial. As suas aventuras irão colocá-lo em confronto directo com o seu maior inimigo, o terrível (mas cómico) Koronel Von Block, que ire…

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Written by admin on May 6th, 2008 with no comments.
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