‘they spend the greater part of their time on air comparing France to other European countries, invariably, with the goal of belittling France’
Same in UK.
Absolutely right. news programmes no longer just broadcast facts, we are offered every Tom, d**k or Harriet’s opinion, and they are usually nothing more than media hype. Whatever it is, they are agin it.
Which is the main point. We’re all indulging in the same masochism. And when it comes to beating ourselves up, any comparator will do. Even if they are doing the same thing in reverse.
Yes, and as in the article, usually Germany, often Scandinavian, and, rarely, France.
Dustshoe Richinrut
2 years ago
I suppose in the 1950s the young ladies of Paris were all dressed prettily or stylishly like Audrey Hepburn going to outdoor dances in Roman Holiday. Romance had been in the air. Nowadays everybody is in training gear, jogging pants, as if folk need to be events-ready, as if to fight off the flab that goes with a tech-ridden, food-saturated society. The springy trainers are not conducive to a sauntering walk. A sense of wonder, of culture and of romance have declined. The very young don’t have those things evident to move them. To mimic. Maybe television and now ridiculously tiny tyrannical screens are to blame. There is little genuine cheer. People are scared to be romantic in the open. Everybody’s taught to be tough now. Though everybody yaps or moans if their phone goes missing like it’s the end of the world. It nearly is though. Crikey.
I speak decidedly subfluent French, but ok enough for me to read him in the original. I think my favourite of his is Serotonine, although Soumission was also excellent.
Read al of his stuff. The only one that’s even slightly less good than brilliant is The Possibility of an Island. Although it’s still very good.
Worth reading them in order of publication too, because the evolution of his characters’ darkness is really something to behold.
David Batlle
2 years ago
With a fall of Christianity in the west, you no longer have anything worth defending, apparently. That’s not me talking, this is patently obvious in the decisions of our politicians and the behavior of our citizens. “Science”, which you claim has replaced your outdated religious faith, is apparently not enough of a unifying principle to hold our civilization together.
He also says their former religion was anyway one where you ‘offer your throat to the butcher’s blade’
Perhaps Welby is an old time Christian after all . In fact didn’t people call Tamburlaine ‘the scourge of god ‘ sent to punish the Christians ( bit like Justin’s barrister mate who used to run Christian holiday camps for public school boys involving flagellation )
I’m an atheist and I have an abiding pride in the Enlightenment, in science, in the awe-inspiring discoveries of Hubble, as well as a deep feeling of connection to my land, my culture, my history, my people and to the planet. To art, music and literature. This idea that without God there can be no unity, or belief in human and natural, rather than supernatural things, I find it weird frankly.
You could see the culture of your ancestors , art ,literature , buildings etc as being closely connected to religion though , which for most of history it was
I am an atheist too but when looking at some kinds of art it makes sense to think oneself into the sensibility of the artist and his original audience .
Conversely it would be better if vicars and bishops were happy to see themselves as ‘cultural Christians’ preserving certain traditions by officiating at weddings and funerals and keeping the liturgy going in services for people who are interested , instead of mining religious texts selectively for stuff that justifies their political bent towards multiculturalism ,identity politics and BLM .
Yes, you can say that, but the proof is in the pudding. Secular societies have so far shown little inclination to survive. We are dying by demography.
Last edited 2 years ago by David Batlle
Cheryl Jones
2 years ago
Personally I think a reduction in human population would be a good thing. And Greta would be pleased I’m sure if there were a lot fewer people available to consume all the stuff that uses all that dirty old fossil fuel.
That will take place again someday, as it has several times before over eons of time, and most certainly won’t occur again due to anything humans did over the last 100 years.
Colin Elliott
2 years ago
Good article, with just enough subtle humour.
Alan Hawkes
2 years ago
“… here is in France a vague and widespread ambiance of self-flagellation…” We have that here in spite of Brexit. Perhaps we should have negotiated a right to ditch historical guilt.
Will Cummings
2 years ago
“Cheese is worth defending. If it’s really good cheese.” It’s true in both French and English, but it sounds better in French, more inspiring somehow, if one gets the accent and emphasis just right.
Douglas H
2 years ago
Micky, if you can’t be bothered to look up your quotes, but you use them anyway, then I can’t be bothered to take you seriously.
I think he’s taking a delicious swipe at academic narcissism while at the same time legitimately ridiculing its pretensions. Clever and subversive. Wish the entire article was of that quality, mind.
David Morley
2 years ago
Anyway, it is one of the two), that sooner or later — “the thing is certain”: we will be enslaved by the Chinese.
I think it was Voltaire – but I’m also too lazy to check.
Celine was even more specific, imagining the Chinese tunnelling all the way to France.
Bob Taylor
2 years ago
No, narcissism is a plague spreading throughout the world.
Zorro Tomorrow
2 years ago
‘If there was a problem French journalists would have reported it.’ Yeah right. Is this writer some naive teenager? The French people want the same as everyone, that the globalists, the politicians, the woke, the religious, the self flagellators (who after all get off on it) would just foxtrot oscar and leave us to get on with it.
Ray Andrews
1 year ago
“and in any case, their former religion is the sort where you offer your throat to the butcher’s blade.”
Yes, and very synergisticaly the new religion teaches that to serve Allah properly one takes up the butcher’s blade to cut the throat of all infidels. That the latter are willing is very convenient.
‘they spend the greater part of their time on air comparing France to other European countries, invariably, with the goal of belittling France’
Same in UK.
Absolutely right. news programmes no longer just broadcast facts, we are offered every Tom, d**k or Harriet’s opinion, and they are usually nothing more than media hype. Whatever it is, they are agin it.
Which is the main point. We’re all indulging in the same masochism. And when it comes to beating ourselves up, any comparator will do. Even if they are doing the same thing in reverse.
Yes, and as in the article, usually Germany, often Scandinavian, and, rarely, France.
I suppose in the 1950s the young ladies of Paris were all dressed prettily or stylishly like Audrey Hepburn going to outdoor dances in Roman Holiday. Romance had been in the air. Nowadays everybody is in training gear, jogging pants, as if folk need to be events-ready, as if to fight off the flab that goes with a tech-ridden, food-saturated society. The springy trainers are not conducive to a sauntering walk. A sense of wonder, of culture and of romance have declined. The very young don’t have those things evident to move them. To mimic. Maybe television and now ridiculously tiny tyrannical screens are to blame. There is little genuine cheer. People are scared to be romantic in the open. Everybody’s taught to be tough now. Though everybody yaps or moans if their phone goes missing like it’s the end of the world. It nearly is though. Crikey.
“A sense of wonder, of culture and of romance have declined.”
Disappeared.
Superb article and translation.
I must read more of Houellebecq ‘s stuff
I speak decidedly subfluent French, but ok enough for me to read him in the original. I think my favourite of his is Serotonine, although Soumission was also excellent.
Tks. Will read them both
Read al of his stuff. The only one that’s even slightly less good than brilliant is The Possibility of an Island. Although it’s still very good.
Worth reading them in order of publication too, because the evolution of his characters’ darkness is really something to behold.
With a fall of Christianity in the west, you no longer have anything worth defending, apparently. That’s not me talking, this is patently obvious in the decisions of our politicians and the behavior of our citizens. “Science”, which you claim has replaced your outdated religious faith, is apparently not enough of a unifying principle to hold our civilization together.
Its only the progressives who believe in “the science”: they haven’t changed since Darwin.
He also says their former religion was anyway one where you ‘offer your throat to the butcher’s blade’
Perhaps Welby is an old time Christian after all . In fact didn’t people call Tamburlaine ‘the scourge of god ‘ sent to punish the Christians ( bit like Justin’s barrister mate who used to run Christian holiday camps for public school boys involving flagellation )
I’m an atheist and I have an abiding pride in the Enlightenment, in science, in the awe-inspiring discoveries of Hubble, as well as a deep feeling of connection to my land, my culture, my history, my people and to the planet. To art, music and literature. This idea that without God there can be no unity, or belief in human and natural, rather than supernatural things, I find it weird frankly.
No atheist has yet explained the existence of the universe, or better still, its creation, and what happened before that.
How do theists explain the existence of God?
You could see the culture of your ancestors , art ,literature , buildings etc as being closely connected to religion though , which for most of history it was
I am an atheist too but when looking at some kinds of art it makes sense to think oneself into the sensibility of the artist and his original audience .
Conversely it would be better if vicars and bishops were happy to see themselves as ‘cultural Christians’ preserving certain traditions by officiating at weddings and funerals and keeping the liturgy going in services for people who are interested , instead of mining religious texts selectively for stuff that justifies their political bent towards multiculturalism ,identity politics and BLM .
Bravo ^^^
Yes, you can say that, but the proof is in the pudding. Secular societies have so far shown little inclination to survive. We are dying by demography.
Personally I think a reduction in human population would be a good thing. And Greta would be pleased I’m sure if there were a lot fewer people available to consume all the stuff that uses all that dirty old fossil fuel.
Why don’t you set the example, then?
That will take place again someday, as it has several times before over eons of time, and most certainly won’t occur again due to anything humans did over the last 100 years.
Good article, with just enough subtle humour.
“… here is in France a vague and widespread ambiance of self-flagellation…” We have that here in spite of Brexit. Perhaps we should have negotiated a right to ditch historical guilt.
“Cheese is worth defending. If it’s really good cheese.” It’s true in both French and English, but it sounds better in French, more inspiring somehow, if one gets the accent and emphasis just right.
Micky, if you can’t be bothered to look up your quotes, but you use them anyway, then I can’t be bothered to take you seriously.
I am guessing, but I doubt that Micky cares either way
You bothered enough to read the article, which I suspect was all Micky wanted you to do.
I think he’s taking a delicious swipe at academic narcissism while at the same time legitimately ridiculing its pretensions. Clever and subversive. Wish the entire article was of that quality, mind.
I think it was Voltaire – but I’m also too lazy to check.
Celine was even more specific, imagining the Chinese tunnelling all the way to France.
No, narcissism is a plague spreading throughout the world.
‘If there was a problem French journalists would have reported it.’ Yeah right. Is this writer some naive teenager? The French people want the same as everyone, that the globalists, the politicians, the woke, the religious, the self flagellators (who after all get off on it) would just foxtrot oscar and leave us to get on with it.
“and in any case, their former religion is the sort where you offer your throat to the butcher’s blade.”
Yes, and very synergisticaly the new religion teaches that to serve Allah properly one takes up the butcher’s blade to cut the throat of all infidels. That the latter are willing is very convenient.