tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10166090.post8780456126984568863..comments2024-02-17T07:59:18.705-08:00Comments on Grad Student Madness: Book Notes: "Platforme" by: Michel HouellebecqRufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17762279210783841414noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10166090.post-61296547974724794552008-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:002008-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:00In general the French lean more towards secularism...In general the French lean more towards secularism, so they tend to find in favor of the accused, but it's still irritating that people can be "charged" for speech in the first place. It's the same in Canada- people usually get off after being accused of "inciting hatred", but they still have to pay their own legal fees. So, if you don't like someone, you can bankrupt them by filing a complaint against them with the human rights commission. And, if I'm not mistaken, the accuser does *not* have to pay, or even show up for the hearing. It's a recipe for abuse. Happily, I think a lot of people are picking up on that in Canada, especially after McLean's (sort of our Newsweek) got accused of hate speech.<BR/><BR/>The good side of it, I guess, is that people tend to calm down after the person gets brought up on charges and found not guilty. The bad side of it is that these commissions undercut any ideas we might have of free speech in the western world. So, I guess I'm not what you'd call a supporter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10166090.post-55276832134813245892008-08-18T11:26:00.000-07:002008-08-18T11:26:00.000-07:00I know, that's one of the reasons I'm so strongly ...I know, that's one of the reasons I'm so strongly against multi-lateral international treaties with them. It's really scary to think that you could be brought up on charges for expressing a viewpoint, controversial or otherwise. What if they decide to prosecute you for reading it, or writing a favorable review of it? I guess you should really be careful who you loan your books to.<BR/><BR/>Who decides this stuff, and on what criterion? They could have as easily found him guilty. I remember once reading that The Ten Commandments, the movie by DeMille, was at one time on the Vatican's blacklist, but never heard or understood why. <BR/><BR/>The only thing I could figure out was the movie actually portrayed Seti I as a thinking, feeling human being as opposed to some evil incarnate, monstrous caricature. I guess the fact the actor that portrayed Joshua was obviously wearing dentures didn't help much.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10166090.post-47559665990883814232008-08-18T09:12:00.000-07:002008-08-18T09:12:00.000-07:00Oh yeah, he went through a Salman Rushdie phase in...Oh yeah, he went through a Salman Rushdie phase in France and was eventually brought up on charges of "provoking racial hatred". The judges found him not guilty and decided that he was making legitimate criticisms of religion. So, it ended well. But, it's a bit annoying to live in a country where speech is restricted- as it is in France and Canada, for that matter.Rufushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17762279210783841414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10166090.post-83663084011469152402008-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:002008-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:00Wow. I hope he has bodyguards. Sounds like a good ...Wow. I hope he has bodyguards. Sounds like a good book, and he sounds like a good writer, and a damn brave one. I don't know about the French as a people or culture, of course, but looking at it from an American cultural perspective, I think most American readers are still at the pablum stage when it comes to arts and entertainment. <BR/><BR/>We expect our novels, movies, etc., to present clearly defined characters who express clearly defined viewpoints.<BR/><BR/>Any scene depicting sex tourism, to use this example, should automatically be portrayed with s no-holds barred denunciation of the act, otherwise we assume the writer tacitly approves of it, or maybe is outright promoting it.<BR/><BR/>I think television is a big part of the problem, but certainly not the only one, just the most obvious. Mass marketed movies and to some extent even music shares some of the blame. And then of course there are always your Dobsons on the right and others on the left who perpetuate what amounts to hysteria, and they end up demanding a ransom that is paid by the purveyors of popular culture. <BR/><BR/>True art as always remains a hostage.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.com