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Sarkozy's communion with God

SUSAN SACHS

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 9:02 AM EDT 26/02/08

President's repeated references to faith shock the French who say he should be the guardian of a secular state, writes Susan Sachs ...Read the full article

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  1. Syed Abbas from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Christian God is a Loving God.

    Sarko's god is an angry vengeful god without compassion.
  2. Jerry Cutler from Delta, BC, Canada writes:

    What a wing-nut!

    If he wants to believe in fairy tales, fine, but keep it private.
  3. Will Hoaccio from Toronto, Canada writes: If a Muslim or Sikh said anything approaching that, French society would have a collective aneurysm. Double standard?
  4. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: Is faith the hope of last resort?
  5. JC perfide from Paris, France writes:
    In the ancient times once for a while a boy was born different. His family and the community would take care of him, he would help in house keeping and the priest would come to speak to him. However, when he dies, he would not be carried to the grave on a shield, and he would not be allowed to be buried in the church yard.
  6. JC perfide from Paris, France writes:
    Urban Dictionary
    god 2071 up, 1338 down

    God, the omniscient, primordial and eternal who created man in his own image and therefore posseses a digestive system, sense organs, limbs and other attributes that would be useless to an immortal being. If God came first, what would he eat or walk upon? Why would he have those five senses if nothing to sense yet existed? And if he has 'always' been here, how long did he sit around doing nothing until he decided to invent the Universe? And why? And if he hadn't yet invented the universe, what exactly was he sitting on? Where is he going to exist if there is nothing to exist in? And what is wrong with the idea that we all just expire and disintegrate and rot?

    God help us.

  7. Anuradha Bose from ottawa, writes: I think he is grasping at straws!
  8. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: . . . yeah, but which VERSION of God does he fancy ? Just asking; it's a fair question, since there are so many competing versions available.
  9. L.B. MURRAY from Canada L.B. MURRAY from Canada from Canada writes: A psychologist or psychiatrist is needed to analyze President Sarkozy's strange behaviour... perhaps it has something to do with his very mixed background, Sarkozy with a grandfater who was a Jewish doctor, another from another background, another ancestor from another background... perhaps President Sarkozy was not fully accepted by his peers during his teenage years... who knows... That man says and does very strange things.

    Too bad Segolene Royal did not win.. she looks better balanced and compassionate.

    -
  10. François Papineau from Montreal, Canada writes: President Sarkozy, continue like that and you will be a one mandate president.

    Will Hoaccio: have you read the article? The French are against that. But what can they do except prostesting maybe and waiting for the next election. Double standard, I dont think so
  11. Mark H from United States writes: "Jerry Cutler from Delta, BC, Canada writes:

    What a wing-nut!

    If he wants to believe in fairy tales, fine, but keep it private"

    Why should he have to hide his beliefs? It's his re-election bid, let him sqander it if he wants to.
  12. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: This is a good move for Sarkozy.

    Christianity is the Western religion. It differentiates us from other people. The Christian cross is featured on many of the flags of Europe, and our art, our laws, and our unique values cross-reference Christianity.

    More than ever, the West must differentiate itself from the rest of the world, and reaffirm its territory and customs.
  13. M T from Canada writes: "Christianity is the Western religion. It differentiates us from other people."

    What an odd statement by someone who worships a Jew born in the Middle East.
  14. * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Will someone just vote him out already? He's becoming the Chavez of France with his ramblings and overreaching...
  15. Andre Carrel from Salmo, Canada writes: Sarkozy is just another consequence of a restless, perhaps bored electorate. You don't know what you want, you just want something else and you want that which bugs you to go away.
    The likes of Sarkozy get elected because people are looking for something else. Well, the French now have something else. In a few years they will look back on Royal the way the Americans looked back at Gore.
  16. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: M.T., you are well named.
  17. Winter of Discontent from Ottawa, Canada writes: This artice is just full of conjecture and is merely relying on snipets from others... basically it is poorly written and lacking in facts.

    Sarkozy, in France, is seeking to allay some of the religious-political tensions and public demonstrations which France has been rocked by for months.
  18. * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes:
    Of course, the West is Christian. It's even more relevant here where we have seen its success among Catholics and Protestants unlike in Ireland for example, where Christians have been killing one another. In Canada, we've been fortunate to have a culture of tolerance and the French legacy of the separation of state and religion while implemented in Quebec's napoleonic code of law, has only infused a more modern and liberal interpretation to the wider entrenched English values. Almost to a fault, with Trudeau taking it much too far it now seems.

    But for France to turn back now????
  19. Pickman's Modem from Canada writes: Winter of Discontent from Ottawa, Canada writes: Sarkozy, in France, is seeking to allay some of the religious-political tensions and public demonstrations which France has been rocked by for months.

    ----

    Right, I'm sure that this will soothe the feelings of alienation and xenophobia the immigrants in France have to deal with on an ongoing basis.

    He is pandering to the nationalist, right-wing crowd -- just like GWB, just like some elements in the CPC. Religion is the lowest form of tribalism.
  20. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: Next year, there will be a second U.N. sponsored World Conference Against Racism in Durban. Reading the U.N. website one can see that 'anti-racism' equates to a mob blaming whites and the West for things which vex non-Westerners, like inequality.

    Christianity is a defining feature of Western culture, uniting Europe and European-derived counties. As a Western leader, Sarkozy's pronouncements on faith are timely, in that Westerners must show the world that we know who we are and what we are, and we'll assert our unique heritage in the face of aggression .
  21. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: "Religion is the lowest form of tribalism"

    Tribe can be used synonymously with words describing diversity. Tribe is an expression unique evolution, rewarded by nature.

    Anti-tribalism = multiculturalism? Multiculturalism is no better than a religion, with articles of faith, heresy's, preachers and sins.

  22. Mark Stone from Detroit, United States writes: President Sarkozy is absolutely right. France's slip into social chaos started at the mob-directed martyrdom of Louis XVI. When France destroyed the monarchy and decided to become "The United States of France" in 1793 it willfully severed itself from over 2,000 years of brilliance calling far too much of its past "shame".
  23. Antoinette Dupuis from Sworn to Secrecy, Canada writes: Sarkozy in insane.

    And the poor French as stuck with him for six years.
  24. Pickman's Modem from Canada writes: Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: Tribe can be used synonymously with words describing diversity. Tribe is an expression unique evolution, rewarded by nature.

    ------

    What are you trying to say? That makes so sense whatsoever.

    The problem with what Sarkozy is doing is that it is regressive, and will almost certainly cause tensions between the many religions in France. A few hundred years ago France was busy trying to track down the remaining Hugenots and put them to death or exile. How is this "Western"? Is this what you want us to go back to -- states espousing one religion over another?
  25. F/A josquin from van, Canada writes: Well he has lost the French there. They will never allow a weakening of the 'state'

    Conservatives can never hide their stripes for long, can they.
  26. Politically Incorrect from A UK without the EU, United Kingdom writes: Mr. Sarkozy is treading in dangerous waters here. If he gets his way and Christian religious thought and symbolism is allowed back into the political vernacular and French politicians are allowed to engage in dialogue with religious leaders he is only leaving France open to attack by the non Christian religious leaders that now call France home. He must make it clear right from the start that he is referring to embracing Christianity only, as it was the traditional form of religion in France until 1905. If he agrees to allow forms of religious expression to pervade government and society, the secular country that France currently is may find itself embroiled in a religious war it may not be capable of winning. Unfortunately in this politically correct world it is either all or nothing in order to protect the rights of non-Christian, non-European people at the expense of its own in Europe. I hope he knows what he is doing.

    Gordon Brown cannot be trusted to keep a promise.
    Say NO to Tony Blair becoming president of the EU.
    http://www.capc.co.uk/viewsandcomments.htm
    http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php
    http://www.iwantareferendum.com/
  27. Politically Incorrect from A UK without the EU, United Kingdom writes: "Chris E. from vancouver, Westerners must show the world that we know who we are and what we are, and we'll assert our unique heritage in the face of aggression ." Chris you said in two lines what took me two paragraphs to convey. It is hard to say something like this without some socially zealous politically correct person calling this a racist way of thinking, which it is clearly not. We should all get along, but not at the expense of denying, and being ashamed of who we are or what we represent. All too often we apologise for, and change our culture to accommodate others and when we decide that enough change is enough, we are then called bigots. We are then expected to atone for the real and perceived sins of past to placate our accusers, and unfortunately the government does not give indigenous peoples the support they need when the immigrants demand even more change and funding to support their needs.

    Gordon Brown cannot be trusted to keep a promise.
    Say NO to Tony Blair becoming president of the EU.
    http://www.capc.co.uk/viewsandcomments.htm
    http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php
    http://www.iwantareferendum.com/
  28. Duh Work Farce Virtually Alive from Canada writes: Sarkozy is one smart Americanized cookie. In the most politicized and secularized nation in the world with the strongest labour unions and student unions in the world, Mr. Sarkozy is trying to de-politiicize and de-secularize France. Much like the dumbed down, numbed down, bumbed down apolitical US where show biz types like Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwartzenegger have turned politics into a TV program, where Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have weakened political sensibilities with religious faith, Mr. Sarkozy is attempting to do the same in the France that is the shining light of liberty, equality, brotherhood and political liberty. Load have mercy.
  29. Rain Couver from Canada writes: Syed Abbas, please spare us your sanctimonious righteous indignation. Let us discuss your "peaceful and loving" god.

    Pickman's Modem from Canada writes: Right, I'm sure that this will soothe the feelings of alienation and xenophobia the immigrants in France have to deal with on an ongoing basis.

    >>French Jews have been dealing with alienation and xenophobia for centuries, now it is not just the French, but the new immigrants that persecute Jews of France. Give me break.
  30. No Left or Right Just Neutral from Canada writes: He should call Bush. Bush knows a thing or two about "talking" to god!
  31. François Papineau from Montreal, Canada writes: Rain couver: if teh French are son xenophobe abd anti-semit, how come have they elected one at the highest job in the government?
  32. Richard Roskell from Canada writes: Un canon lache, non?
  33. Jean Malice from Fight Global Walarmism and Carbon taxes, Canada writes: "Touche moi pas" est bien sur une victime de l'education nationale du temps du Front populaire, dans tout ce cirque mediatico-politique, car comment en vouloir a un homme aussi instruit et s'exprimant avec elegance? Ceux qui nous rebattent les oreilles a propos de la faiblesse de l'education nationale actuelle, ont eu un rappel a la realite grace au vieux sbire a lunettes qui a profere ce "touche moi pas" de bien mauvaise education.
    Nicolas Sarkozy en revanche a montre son sens de la repartie en citant de memoire San Antonio! Bravo Mr le President et quand a Hollande et autres socialistes, il en disent de bien pires sur Madame Royal...
  34. Will Hoaccio from Toronto, Canada writes: François Papineau from Montreal, Canada writes: "Will Hoaccio: have you read the article? The French are against that. But what can they do except prostesting maybe and waiting for the next election. Double standard, I dont think so"

    They may be "against it", but there are degrees of anger. I can't really quantify this, but considering the hostility many French would display to someone with a kirpan or a kippah and that they voted for Sarkozy to uphold "French values(including secularism)" I am surprised there aren't riots over this. Bit of an exaggeration i know, but I still feel there is a clear double standard.
  35. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: Sarkozy is a masculine, take-no-crap kind of guy.

    This is exactly the antidote needed for a society that has become infected with effeminate, liberal values. If anyone can defend France from the Muslim and African invasion, it should be him.
  36. Syed Abbas from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Rain Couver

    " ....... French Jews have been dealing with alienation and xenophobia for centuries, now it is not just the French, but the new immigrants that persecute Jews of France ....."

    I presume by new immigrants you mean the "Muslims."

    For 1,300 years the Tribe of Judah allied itself with the Jihadi Islam, and terrorized the Christians and the Shia, in Spain, in Levant, and in the Ottoman Empire.

    But in the last century, the unholy alliance between the Judahists and the Jihadis came apart when they began to dispute the same land.

    The creation of Israel and the ensuing present Judahists-Jihadi civil war is the best news the progressive forces have had for a millenium and a half. May they eliminate and annihilate each other.

    And if they do that in the West too, so much the better.

    Good riddance to both.

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