Green Energy
First Merkel, Then Cameron, now Sarkozy
Multiculturalism has failed, says French president
PARIS (AFP) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared Thursday that multiculturalism had failed, joining a growing number of world leaders or ex-leaders who have condemned it.
"My answer is clearly yes, it is a failure," he said in a television interview when asked about the policy which advocates that host societies welcome and foster distinct cultural and religious immigrant groups.
"Of course we must all respect differences, but we do not want... a society where communities coexist side by side.
"If you come to France, you accept to melt into a single community, which is the national community, and if you do not want to accept that, you cannot be welcome in France," the right-wing president said.
"The French national community cannot accept a change in its lifestyle, equality between men and women... freedom for little girls to go to school," he said.
"We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that was receiving him," Sarkozy said in the TFI channel show.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australia's ex-prime minister John Howard and Spanish ex-premier Jose Maria Aznar have also recently said multicultural policies have not successfully integrated immigrants.
Merkel in October said efforts towards multiculturalism in Germany had "failed, totally."
The comment followed weeks of anguished debate sparked by the huge popularity of a book by a central banker saying that immigrants, in particular Muslims, were making Germany "more stupid."
Britain's Cameron last week pronounced his country's long-standing policy of multiculturalism a failure, calling for better integration of young Muslims to combat home-grown extremism.
He urged a "more active, muscular liberalism" where equal rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech and democracy are actively promoted to create a stronger national identity.
The prime minister, who took power in May 2010, argued that "under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream".
He said this had resulted in a lack of national identity in Britain which had made some young Muslims turn to extremist ideology.
Sarkozy said in his television interview Thursday that "our Muslim compatriots must be able to practise their religion, as any citizen can," but he noted "we in France do not want people to pray in an ostentatious way in the street."
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen late last year came under fire for comparing Muslims praying in the streets outside overcrowded mosques in France to the Nazi occupation.
Marine Le Pen said there were "ten to fifteen" places in France where Muslims worshipped in the streets outside mosques when these were full.
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French Have Had Enough of Muslims From Planck's Constant: Muslims pray in the street during Friday prayers near the Poissonniers street Mosque in Paris December 17, 2010. Photo Credit: Reuters/Charles Platiau Sarkozy, in his television interview...
- 40% Of French And Germans See Muslims As National Security Threat
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The Australian: Nicolas Sarkozy to target Muslim prayers Matthew Campbell, in Paris NICOLAS Sarkozy will take another lurch to the Right with a speech on New Year's Eve calling Muslim prayers in the street "unacceptable". After his expulsions of...
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- Blair And Sarkozy Demand: Islam Must Conform
It seems like Tony Blair is starting to get it. Well, at least a bit: Mr Blair urged the public to embrace multiculturalism People entering the UK must be prepared to be tolerant or not become part of British society, Tony Blair has said. In a speech...
Green Energy
World Leaders Catching Up With Infidel Bloggers
First Merkel, Then Cameron, now Sarkozy
Multiculturalism has failed, says French president
PARIS (AFP) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared Thursday that multiculturalism had failed, joining a growing number of world leaders or ex-leaders who have condemned it.
"My answer is clearly yes, it is a failure," he said in a television interview when asked about the policy which advocates that host societies welcome and foster distinct cultural and religious immigrant groups.
"Of course we must all respect differences, but we do not want... a society where communities coexist side by side.
"If you come to France, you accept to melt into a single community, which is the national community, and if you do not want to accept that, you cannot be welcome in France," the right-wing president said.
"The French national community cannot accept a change in its lifestyle, equality between men and women... freedom for little girls to go to school," he said.
"We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that was receiving him," Sarkozy said in the TFI channel show.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Australia's ex-prime minister John Howard and Spanish ex-premier Jose Maria Aznar have also recently said multicultural policies have not successfully integrated immigrants.
Merkel in October said efforts towards multiculturalism in Germany had "failed, totally."
The comment followed weeks of anguished debate sparked by the huge popularity of a book by a central banker saying that immigrants, in particular Muslims, were making Germany "more stupid."
Britain's Cameron last week pronounced his country's long-standing policy of multiculturalism a failure, calling for better integration of young Muslims to combat home-grown extremism.
He urged a "more active, muscular liberalism" where equal rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech and democracy are actively promoted to create a stronger national identity.
The prime minister, who took power in May 2010, argued that "under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream".
He said this had resulted in a lack of national identity in Britain which had made some young Muslims turn to extremist ideology.
Sarkozy said in his television interview Thursday that "our Muslim compatriots must be able to practise their religion, as any citizen can," but he noted "we in France do not want people to pray in an ostentatious way in the street."
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen late last year came under fire for comparing Muslims praying in the streets outside overcrowded mosques in France to the Nazi occupation.
Marine Le Pen said there were "ten to fifteen" places in France where Muslims worshipped in the streets outside mosques when these were full.
-
French Have Had Enough of Muslims From Planck's Constant: Muslims pray in the street during Friday prayers near the Poissonniers street Mosque in Paris December 17, 2010. Photo Credit: Reuters/Charles Platiau Sarkozy, in his television interview...
- 40% Of French And Germans See Muslims As National Security Threat
In other words, 40% of French and Germans see reality for what it is. From AFP: Paris - Four in 10 French and German people see Muslims living in their country as a "threat", according to a poll published on Tuesday by French newspaper Le Monde. Forty-two...
-
The Australian: Nicolas Sarkozy to target Muslim prayers Matthew Campbell, in Paris NICOLAS Sarkozy will take another lurch to the Right with a speech on New Year's Eve calling Muslim prayers in the street "unacceptable". After his expulsions of...
- Sarkozy Says, Burqas Not Welcome In France
From the Astute Bloggers: Sarkozy Takes on MuslimsSarkozy says burqas not welcome in France From the AP article Sarkozy states: "The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement—I want to say it solemnly," he...
- Blair And Sarkozy Demand: Islam Must Conform
It seems like Tony Blair is starting to get it. Well, at least a bit: Mr Blair urged the public to embrace multiculturalism People entering the UK must be prepared to be tolerant or not become part of British society, Tony Blair has said. In a speech...