Who will win out in France? The courageous, or the cowards? Those who are ready to defend the freedom of speech, or those who counsel surrender and submission to Sharia and violent intimidation? It’s anybody’s guess.
“In the Alpes-Maritimes, a nursery school renamed Samuel Paty creates a stir,” translated from “Dans les Alpes-Maritimes, une école maternelle rebaptisée Samuel Paty crée des remous,” by Ségolène Ginter d’Agrain, Le Figaro, July 16, 2021:
For or against a school called Samuel Paty? The mayor Xavier Beck (LR) of Cap d’Ail has decided. Despite parents’ concerns, Saint-Antoine school took the name of the teacher assassinated in October 2020 for showing his students caricatures of Muhammad. This Friday, July 16, a plaque with his name was unveiled, in front of the teaching team and in the presence of the victim’s sister, Mickaëlle Paty. “It is a duty and an honor to name this kindergarten Samuel Paty. His name should not be forgotten,” explains Xavier Beck to Le Figaro.
The name change of the nursery school was voted in the municipal council on October 23, 2020. Only the four opposition elected officials voted against. The elected Romain Pommeret (who is without party label) felt that the safety of children was not taken into account. “Religion and politics have no place in a school. Then, that would set up this school as a symbol for a terrorist,” he argued. “A college in Pégomas has been renamed Arnaud Beltrame. No incident was reported,“ retorts Xavier Beck.
A tribute that divides
Xavier Beck already claimed his choice on France Bleu Azur in November 2020: “We can no longer be satisfied with simple minutes of silence, moments of meditation.” This Friday, he reiterates his will not to bow to the fear of terrorism. He also maintains that it is essential to salute the memory of Samuel Paty, so that “his courage is never forgotten and so that his name remains alongside the motto of our Republic.”
A tribute which, however, is not unanimous among the parents of the students. A petition has even been launched: its signatories fear that the school will become a target for terrorists. Some even say they are considering changing their child to school. Faced with this warning, the mayor deplores “a sad agitation.” It is essential to “engrave the name of Samuel Paty everywhere,” he maintains. His approach also aims to send a strong message to teachers, he says: “All teachers, no matter whether they are in a school, college or high school, must be able to teach their subject without fear.”
Similar initiatives
The mayor of Cap d’Ail is not the first to want to honor the memory of Samuel Paty. In January 2021, in the Var, the mayor LR of Ollioules wanted to rename the college “Les Eucalyptus” located in his town. “It is for me a strong symbol of the Republic,” explained the mayor Robert Beneventi to France Bleu. But faced with the challenge of parents and students, the project was buried. In other cities, the tribute did not create controversy.
Xavier Beck is convinced of the merits of his decision. “Municipalities such as Villeneuve-Loubet or Cannet-Rocheville have announced their intention to rename an educational establishment Samuel Paty. Others will follow,” he wants to believe. In Béziers, a city headed by Robert Ménard, the city council voted unanimously in November 2020 to rename the school of the “Oliviers” school group in homage to Samuel Paty. Other projects are on the table, such as Boulazac-Isle-Manoire, in the Dordogne.
gregbeetham says
The meek shall inherit the Earth; well in my book the meek shall inherit slavery and subjugation under the heel of Islamic thugs.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
Islam, like Nazism, needs to be outlawed in the West.
Wellington says
Nazism is not outlawed here in the United States but it is accurately characterized as an evil ideology and appropriate opprobrium is “extended” to those who wish to adulate it or even join the Nazi party in America which is called the “New Order.”
Free societies do not need to outlaw evil ideologies. Liberty can tolerate heinous belief systems. But free societies must not make the mistake of considering a particular ideology, secular or religious, good or innocuous when it in fact is iniquitous. Such a mistake, and it is a giant one, has been made by the contemporary West where Islam is concerned.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Wellington.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
The time for half-measures has passed. How many more victims must be maimed and die before the West hits bottom and faces the reality of this vile death cult. Outlaw all vestiges of it including their gathering places where they worship their supreme psychopath.
Rarely says
It’s a good thing that France (or, at least parts of it) are willing and eager to stand up against sharia law and its values. Nevertheless, when putting a specific group in the line of fire it might be reasonable to ask their permission. I might be willing to take the risk but I’m not so sure that I would be willing to risk my kids safety.
James Sang says
People have to know their rights! To behead a person over a cartoon is not right! If you believe this, you don’t belong here ! These kind of intolerance is not wanted. I hope that this person was punished. Intolerance is seen in all Muslim countries. Being whipped if you show affection to a loved one. Being killed if you believe in another type of Muslim belief. To be killed if you dishonor your family.
Infidel says
The parents are right to be concerned: I wouldn’t wanna send a nursery school-aged kid there. It would be one thing if France unambiguously declared islam a hostile ideology rather than a religion and banned it throughout French territory, and announced that the first muslim they see will be deported to the last place outside France that s/he was from. But since they’re doing anything but that, there is no reason why parents should have to demonstrate their ‘courage’ by sending their toddlers to such a school that is bound to be targeted for just its name
Either go whole hog against muslims and islam and crack down on them like you did the Vichys after WWII, or go full dhimmi and submit. Don’t risk the lives of innocent kids in the process of trying to look macho! If you wanna name a school after Paty or other places after the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists, do it only after you’ve treated your muslims at least like Sri Lanka or Burma did, if not China
James Lincoln says
Let’s see how long this nursery school will continue with the name of Samuel Paty.
Something’s going to happen…
Keith O says
If renaming things is the way to go, then how about we rename public toilets in honor of Mohamed?
They can even put cartoons of the prophet on the toilet paper or the toilet lids.
Seriously though, all victims of Islam should be memorialised in some manner so that we never forget.
We are, after all at war with an ideology and as such the victims of the enemy and those who gave their lives trying to fight for our very survival must never be forgotten.
gravenimage says
France: School named after teacher beheaded over Muhammad cartoons, parents fear it will become target for jihadis
………………
Is this what things have come to in France? It looks as though too many are happy to kowtow to these murderous Muslim thugs.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour gravenimage,
« Is this what things have come to in France? It looks as though too many are happy to kowtow to these murderous Muslim thugs. ».
When you are dealing with raging madmen …
It’s not easy to devise a solution!
À plus
gravenimage says
Dear Lavéritétriomphera, the first thing to do is to stop inviting hordes of known madmen in to your civilized nation.
gregbeetham says
“Dear Lavéritétriomphera, the first thing to do is to stop inviting hordes of known madmen in to your civilized nation.”
Yes, and uninvite the ones you already do have, problem sorted.
gravenimage says
Yes–start deporations, beginning with the worst Jihadists.
Giacomo Latta says
”Religion and politics have no place in a school.”
Did the Pope or some cardinal promote the name of Paty with regards to this school? What has politics got to do with it? Politics in terms of how a country is run and by who and what rights individuals have, or don’t have, has every thing to do with politics. If someone with great qualities dies before his time it is not unusual to want to remember him in some way.
I don’t know if Paty was even the least bit religious but if he was I think I can guess which religion was his. Yet what does (real) religion have to do with it? I don’t recall him making any religious statement prior to his beheading.
As for the school being a target for a terrorist, the entire country is a target for terrorism. If it ceases to be then the terrorists have won. The solution is to rid the country of terrorists and to stop them from entering.