And those who live on government cheese and carry it
home from a church entrance in a bag to
hide the kind deed you know from how they
actually sneak away, for sneak can take a
dozen forms, they are mostly overweight
and clueless, clueless, for they can't understand
analysis, how the mountain of their dreams
once it was denuded it was denuded
forever and the water stank and it will
take two hundred years to give the money back
for which they rub their eyes and scratch their webbed
hands, they whose children will never go to
the Latin schools of New Jersey, thus they will lose
the tongue and after awhile the candles that lit up
the books at night, the rough fruit boxes against which
they scraped their knees, the lost mountain, and cheese
ah cheese, with worms, what's going on, Abe Lincoln?
Politics: December 2004 Archives
Our European correspondent, Chenapan, has sent in a transcript of a debate from the French Assemblée Nationale (equivalent of the House of Commons) that took place December 8th. The MPs were discussing a new proposed law against homophobia. Some particularly right-wing MP had this to say. (translated from the French by Chenapan)
M. Christian Vanneste - You mention the fights against sexism and that against homophobia as if they were similar. They are not! It is evident that the inequalities we must fight should be directed towards states of suffering, not towards chosen behaviours. (noise on the Socialist Group Benches)
M. Patrick Bloche - You are shameful!
M. Christian Vanneste - A chosen behaviour can always be criticised, and we are many to think that the one we are discussing with this law is not the most beneficial to society! It must be criticised, not only for the common interest, but also in the name of mankind! (noise on the Socialist Group Benches) A judgement based on moral values is universal if it is founded on the categorical imperative of Kant: act always on principles that could be erected as universal. Obviously, homosexuality cannot, less we desire the suicide of humanity!
M. Patrick Bloche - You are shameful!
M. Christian Vanneste - It's simply logical! You are, by trying to fight against discrimination, defending the notion of gender separation. It's totally absurd! The very concept of homophobia lends credence to the idea that homosexuality has the same value as other behaviours, when it is obviously a threat to the survival of mankind. (much noise on the Socialist Group Benches) You should listen to the truth in a respectful silence.
This article of law is therefore nonsensical, illustrated by the very word homophobia: "hating the same". What does it mean? Do you wish to create a third gender which would have the same equality of existence and rights as the other two, which contribute, them, to the perpetuity of mankind? (clappings on some benches of the Gaullist Group)
M. Christophe Caresche - It is appalling.
The law was passed despite his best efforts...
