"French police make woman remove burkini on Nice beach"

"Photographs have emerged of armed French police confronting a woman on a beach and making her remove a burkini as part of a controversial ban on the swimwear...."

The images of police confronting the woman in Nice on Tuesday show at least four police officers standing over a woman who was resting on the shore at the town’s Promenade des Anglais, the scene of last month’s Bastille Day lorry attack.

After they arrive, she appears to remove a blue garment, although one of the officers appears to take notes or issue an on-the-spot fine....

Her ticket, seen by French news agency AFP, read that she was not wearing “an outfit respecting good morals and secularism”.

“I was sitting on a beach with my family,” said the 34-year-old who gave only her first name, Siam. “I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming.”

A witness to the scene, Mathilde Cousin, confirmed the incident. “The saddest thing was that people were shouting ‘go home’, some were applauding the police,” she said. “Her daughter was crying.”

Last week, Nice became the latest French resort to ban the burkini. Using language similar to the bans imposed earlier at other locations, the city barred clothing that “overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks”.

The Future Should Not Belong To Those Who Avenge The Prophet Of Islam

The thing is that Obama did say that the future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. What did he mean by that? To whom was he speaking when he said that? I certainly hope it wasn't to Americans, because it does fly in the face of our freedoms. I think he knew that, and said it anyway.

Grammatical point:

When the leader of the free world opines on the future, it's important to note which modal verb he used - should, could, must, will. etc. POTUS used "must" and not "should." If he had used "will" then I suppose there would be grounds for treason right there. As it is, he said, in so many words, that the future must not belong to the cartoonists. This is why I don't consider Obama to be my de facto leader: he wants to lead us to a place that I reject.

Nous Sommes Tous Charlies

Sans la liberté de blâmer, il n'est point d'éloge flatteur; et qu'il n'y a que les petits hommes qui redoutent les petits écrits.

~ Pierre Beaumarchais

Translation: "Without freedom to criticize, there is no flattering praise; and only small men are afraid of small writings." link

The Wiki link gives an incorrect translation, reciting "If censorship reigns, there cannot be sincere flattery."

But "sincere flattery" is an oxymoron.  In the original sense of the word, flattery means praise that is not sincere but is intended to get you something that you want.

What Beaumarchais was trying to say is that in a censored world, all praise will be fake praise. Think North Korean "Dear Leader" worship. Think of the intolerance of criticizing our POTUS. Some Muslims seem unable to tolerate anything but flattering praise.

Jihadis Massacre Writers and Cartoonists at a French Humor Magazine

"The French magazine Charlie Hebdo, targeted on Wednesday by Muslim gunmen, has a long history of mocking religions, including Islam."

Its most recent cover joked about author Michel Houellebecq’s new novel “Submission,” which speculates about a future in which France elects a Muslim president. Since its release, many have called “Submission” Islamophobic, though Houellebecq has said that “an alliance between Catholics and Muslims is possible,” and that “jihadists are bad Muslims.”

The shooters shouted “Allahu akbar” and “The prophet is avenged” while carrying out their attack. Terror analysts also noted that they made a one-finger hand gesture, signifying Islam’s emphasis of God’s oneness, that is often featured in propaganda videos of the Islamic State terror group.

In the videos, the men looked calm and poised, not firing any unnecessary shots, showing that they were well-trained for the attack.

La Mème Choisi

I like that video because the people (tourists? Strasbourg townies?) seem so bemused.

Just wait until they get a load of the minaret planned for the Grand Mosque in their town: