Swissie

Doug I really hoe yo find homes for all of them. We are unable to help at the moment- but could you tell me whether your cats are sterilised before re-homing, please. Bonne chance.

As everywhere, some do, some don't. Friends arriving this week really understand humour, even English humour... and as a Professor Honoris Causa in politics - irony is his speciality! Thanks Kathy, not mine, I'm afraid - just borrowed it from elsewhere - and couldn't resist.

Talking about faith, sometimes it gets a bit complicated! In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative: Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them. 1.Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your adoring fan. James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia

It does seem strange that the less educated or travelled people are, and the less real contact people have had with foreigners/immigrants  - the more racist, intolerant or just plain frightened of 'differences' they are. Blame the Press and TV?? I was very young when I first experienced racism, in the form of other local childrens' behaviour towards recently arrived Italians, first the men alone, then their wives and families - and also towards visiting Romanies and Hungarian families in 1956 escaping their country. It was abhorrent to me as a young child, as it is till now.

TBE  =  très bon état     no idea about the G?

I'd be very rich if I got a few Euros every time somebody round here (both France and Switzerland - we live right on the border)  'd'toutes façons, j'peux pas blairer les bougnouls'. Makes me wince every time in horror. Strange thing is, there are NONE around here. It is possible to be truly integrated AND be different. It is possible to be really proud of your national identity WITHOUT being racist  (Nazis and fascists were really proud of their national identity, of course).

So ban the burqa, but allow the hijab. It is clear that it is a CULTURAL thing for SOME muslims- and not religious (nothing in the Koran requires it). What would you have done if kids from Australia had come on an exchange, and 2 of them were Maoris wearing traditional Maoris tattoos? Of if a kid wears dreadlocks. Or if Chines kids came for gymnasitics and wore the yin/yang symbol - an important Taoist/Buddist symbol? And what if you had a student group from Israel, visiting your school? As a teacher, I could not possibly arrange an exchange with a French school, where any child from an ethnic background who shows any signs of that difference - and I think a scarf is NOT a religious, but a cultural symbol, would be barred. I could NOT discriminate against some students, often my BEST and most hard-working students. I must do some reading again - but I am pretty sure that the majority of Catholic private schools are mostly state funded - and to me that just does not square up to the Principe de laicité.  You can't have one rule for the immigrants and the majority, and another for Catholics- if you want a secular state. In the UK of course, Church and State are still closely linked (Prince Charles has already said he would not be happy to be Head of the Anglican Church in a multicultural Britain - which is probably why his mother has not abdicated, as it knows it would cause a crisis and perhaps change the system for ever [GOOD, I say]) - and the Laws of religious tolerance mean that we have a very different attitude. After the wars of religion in both our countries in the 16th and 17th Century - GB decide to reunite its people with tolerance, whereas FRance decided to solve the problems by becoming secular. Personally I wish we could have the best of both, secularity and tolerance. Yet again - that is not the issue.                Improve relations          or             inflame them?

Hope the above info was useful. Are you living in Besançon? We are not far up in the Jura.

And I do understand how you feel, and I respect that- although I still feel that the British way of accepting that integration does not require immigrants to become more like us than  us (yes I AM British). But I do, as said in my previous post, understand the values of the Principe de laicité. You have not replied about how such a big number of State funded Catholic and Jewish schools do fit with said principle. Either you have a secular system, or you do NOT. Amazing though that Catholic schools are now becoming the refuge of Muslim kids! Would you really have refused a wonderful, hard-working, polite, friendly, helpful, smiling child arriving on an exchange with a bright coloured scarf though? For us, her teachers, it would have been unimaginable to have to leave her behind - one of our best students- and for the teachers to have lied to us like that. What if the introduction letters had not had a photo, and we would have turned up on the Monday morning? We ask our students to work hard, take part, be helpful and cooperate - whether they wear a scarf or not is irrelevant. And yes, you are right the French and British history and culture, and so may factors, make the situation very different in both countries. But Quillan is so right, France is a much less tolerant country than the UK- and the Laicité is just too often a very thin veil (!) for plain racism, and so is this old chestnut 'national identity. A great film to watch, Kassowitz's 'La Haine' if you want to see what it is like in the out of town Cités/estates. BTW it is the same in Switzerland, my native country- and even much worse. The whole banning the burqua initially came from here- after the law against Minarets was passed recently. Fear and phobia of the unknown - vitriolic hatred often in my village and in rural areas, where they have never seen a Muslim, never mind a Minaret or a Burqa. It would be interesting how you would feel Frenchie if you spent time teaching in a multicultural school in Leicester, as I did (4 different schools). I taught with many French native teachers during my career - and all agreed that British tolerance brings much better results and a much better atmosphere- and allows students, girls in particular, to achieve their potential better, as they do not feel they and their culture/religion are not respected and/or rejected. I would totally approve the banning of the burqa is the scarf was allowed - but that has been banned already. Most here have said that a scarf is NOT a religious symbol (the Koran in fairly clear on that) but a cultural one- so why ban it. Laicité is about religion not customs/culture, is it not? Again, the crux of the matter is : improve or inflame an already very difficult and tense situation. Appeasement or war. The Nazis chose war- but I am not sure it was the best way to solve their problems. A friend of the burqa I AM NOT. But most girls I've known to wear a scarf did so out of choice, not parental dictate, though I do not refute that some are forced to. Catholic kids are forced to go to Mass and take communion- and in some areas are still expected to marry another Catholic- still sort of arranged.

Interestingly, the teachers at the French school were split into 2 clear groups- those who were strongly feminists, and felt they were truly protecting their students against oppression by male members and the Imams, and other things like female circumcision, arranged marriages, etc (and I did understand their concern and their point of view) - and those who were strongly anti arab, anti Muslim and actually openly racist. (avec ces 'bronzés -said the wife of one of the teachers who worked in ZUP school (poor estate) - pas la peine de se casser pour préparer les cours, ça sert à rien). Often it seems, the Principe de laicité is used by racists and the extreme right as a barely hidden mask for sheer racism. It is perhaps the case that many British people living in rural France have no idea about the uphill struggle of Beur (North African) young people, even those 2nd, 3rd or more generation, in France. Their huge difficulty in accessing good education, and Further Ed, the almost impossibility in accessing the Grandes Ecoles, the Elite of police, legal, engineering, civil engineering, law, etc, 'unis'. And of course jobs, bank loans, accomodation, mortgages - a great song by Zebda, a Beur group from Toulouse 'ah non. ça va pas etre possible'. A French Muslim friend of mine was unable to find a job after her IT Deug (2 year Degree) and the ANPE (Social assoc for unemployed) sent her to the UK with the Da Vinci programme. She is a very practising Muslim, but does not wear any religious signs, and was educated in a private Catholic school. She was amazed how well she was accepted in the UK, for her professionalim and attitude, irrespective of her religion, and irrespective of the fact she is a woman (a fact which still is a real hurdle in IT in France). After her 6 months work-experience, the Firm asked her to stay and she did, for 8 years. Bought a house and was very settled, climbing the ladder at work. She had to return to take care of her mother- and made a killing on the sale of the house. Back in Paris, she phone Estate agents - she has NO accent at all, and when she explained her job and situation, they were falling over themselves to find her flats to rent or buy - as soon as she gave her name - she found the flats had just been rented, just been sold! Her first week-end back she went out with friends and her sister to a Club in town- all bar her + sister got in. They were told they were 'unsuitable for the image of the Club' - they were dressed just like the other girls. ETC, ETC, ETC- perhaps some of you have NO idea about provocation and police behaviour, and daily rejection these young people have to live. So why bring this law for a tiny minority, for something that is NOT a problem- but which might well become one in the face of the problems above.

Watching it now - the mind really boggles. WHY is the first question that comes to mind??? Amazingly, I couldn't believe the coincidence that I know the family of the 'aspirant'. Small world. Programme started late, so the end was 'cut off'. So many contradictions and questions remain. How can a society have a secular aim but require members to believe in a Supreme Being? How can a secular aim square up to accepting practising religious people? 1 sentence really sticks to mind 'nous devons intervenir sur les dirigeants de ce monde, puiqu'ils ne sont pas capable de le faire'. And at the same time they say that political topics must not be discussed within the Lodge. And why recruit actively within the Grandes Ecoles (The Elite of private universities) and in particular Science Po (where the future Political Elites are recruited). How can people say they are not interested and that they should be left alone to play their silly harmless games - when their aim is, as clearly stated, to change the world order, and their members include the Elites of our society?

A real story - I do wonder what you would have done. As a teacher I organised lots of trips abroad for our students. Last trip I organised was to Epinal, our twin town. It was our 10th or more exchange with them, so we knew the teachers, the Head, and the area very well. Very few immigrants or Muslims there. As always, we sent the letters the students had written about themselves and their family, with their photo in the top corner. The French school did the same, so we could try and best match the kids according to hobbies, music, sport, families, etc. and so the kids could write to each other a few times - a brilliant excuse to write something practical and relevant in the language, and to get to know each other better. A week before we were due to leave in May (French students were to come to us in June) - I had a phone call from one of the (French) English teachers : they were very sorry, but the family where Rashree was supposed to stay had a family emergency and she couldn't come on the exchange. It never even crossed my mind something else was up. I explained (R was in my tutor group) how much she was looking forward to it, how much effort she had put in her letters and French to prepare - that her family had seen me at parents' evening a few days before and had explained they had re-decorated the spare room and bought a new bed - and had been practising typical English recipes with a neighbour for the exchange. Dad was a surgeon and mum a university lecturer- lovely people- she wore western style clothes, with a coloured scarf (like the daughter). I explained it was essential they did everything possible to find another family, or ask staff and teachers if anybody would have one of the older 6th Formers so that R. could stay with a family. I phone every day to check and the answer was 'no no, we've tried everything to no avail, she just can't come'. We hadn't told R. or her family as we knew they would be sooooo disappointed. In desperation I phoned Marie, the older 6th former who had stayed with me the previous year- and explained the situation. 5 Mins later her mum phoned back - no prob, Rashree can stay with us too (I was to stay with them)- the mum was lovely and said she totally understood R's disappointment. I immediately telephone the teacher and told her the good news - I'd found a family and R was coming. Silence ... then she said sharply 'NO, you can't do that! She can't come, that is it'. Surprised by her reaction, I asked why - and then the penny dropped. Rashree's photo, of course, was taken with a scarf on! Teacher said ' if she comes, we will all go on strike'. I just could not believe it. Got an emergency meeting with the Langs DPT and the Head to discuss how to proceed. A/ we would explain the situation to the parents that evening - and see their reaction. If they agreed for R. to come without wearing her scarf, we were OK. If they did not, we would explain that there was no way we would not take her- but that she must be aware that she might cause a reaction and had to be mentally and emotionally prepared for it. We would have dealt with all consequences- but it was a hard thing to take on - we were ready, but we didn't want R to suffer or be uncomfortable. Once we had explained the cultural differences and the Principe de laicité- they immediately said - no problem, she can go without her scarf. And we were saved by their positive reaction. I cannot imagine what would have happened had they said that their culture is not something they can just take on and off on demand. I met R. recently in Leicester - she was blooming - a social worker, soon to be married. Wearing jeans, a cotton top and a bright coloured scarf. Couldn't be more integrated, a useful and active member of English society - fully integrated, with her culture and religion still very much part of her. Proof that you do not need to become more English than the English, more French than the French. My husband's family did just this- and totally lost their roots and culture. A shame.

Don't know about Spain either - but when we were crossing regularly from UK, the vet in Calais said I'll sign the passport but won't repeat treatment, better for the dog.

Two good points made   a/ most Muslims do not wear a burqua or wish to wear one b/ the hijab or scarf is banned in schools, and has resulted in a lot of tension over the past decade, including some girls dropping out of school, and others being banned from entering the school wearing a scarf.  It's a very difficult one - and the UK and French situations are quite different, for all sorts of reason. The UK has never been a secular State, and the Queen is the head of the Anglican Church. Also 'our' Muslims are mainly from the Indian sub-Continent, whereas the French one are mainly from North Africa - and are culturally a very different group. If the scarf/hijab had not been banned in schools about 10 years ago- causing much tension and discord - it would now be much easier and less confrontational, to ban the burqa. Again, for me the main point is ' would banning improve relations with the Muslim community or inflame'? I am definitely NO friend of the Burqa, but I do feel the latter is more likely and it would be best to leave well alone.

Must have been quite a (rare) sight - and yes, do wish you had your camera.

That sounds brilliant. BTW if anybody is interested, Enrica's place is called Il Poggio, in Celle sul Rigo, next to San Casciagno Bagni     www.ilpoggio.net

Gluestick, having taught in several inner city schools in the UK, I can categorically say that the Muslim students were very very keen to achieve and had very supportive parents, on the whole. More than I can say for some sections of the UK population, very sadly. Wish they would ban black balaklava and sunglasses men roaming the countryside in Pembrokeshire just now! (but that is another story...)

Thanks, will watch.   Stars indeed*******

BRAVO!

Julio Aparicio - much more fun when the bull wins.

Mais la pluie ne nettoie pas tous les cacas de mouches à l'intérieur - il faudra vraiment que je m'y mette! Hier le boiler d'eau chaude a rendu l'ame - on attend les devis - quelle joie! On va essayer de passer au solaire - si c'est abordable financièrement.  On aurait en fait bien besoin de pluie - mon nouveau potager, 4 'frames' de 2mx1m sont bien seches, et les plates bandes aussi.

Bon voyage Cendrillon. Gemonimo, ne me parle pas de vitres - on ne voit pratiquement plus à travers les miennes - mais il fait beaucoup trop chaud pour m'y mettre! En plus j'ai bu 2 ou 3 (hmmmm) verre avec mes copains et copines d'enfance et je suis un peu pompette! Quelle magnifique journée- 29 C avec une petite brise- et beaucoup de bonne humeur. C'est bizarre mais très sympa, après presque 40 ans en Angleterre de retrouver tous les ami/e/s de mon  enfance.

Trés chaud ici aussi - nous allons feter les 60 ans de mon plus vieux copain Pierre-Eric- enfin celui que je connais depuis le plus me plus petite enfance. Ses parents et mes parents étaient de très bons amis et nous avons passé presque tous nos week-ends d'enfance ensemble- au lac, en foret ou sur les pistes. A plus.

Great - could you give us a résumé of their advice, solutions? STP.

The few French words used above were hardly taxing ze little grey cells, non?