Monday, November 28, 2005
Following both threats of death and legal sanction, French Philosopher Alain Finkielkraut has recanted his statements made in the remarkable interview he gave to the Ha'aretz newspaper.
French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut apologizes after death threats
Thursday, after receiving death threats, the philosopher decided to respond and repent. In an extensive interview in Le Monde yesterday, he said he "despised" the man who appeared in the article (in Le Monde). "He is he and I am I. To my shock, since Wednesday, it appears that he and I share the same name."
Finkielkraut, who went out of his way to praise the immigrants, said his original statements had been an attempt to force the political echelon to take responsibility for what was happening in the poor suburbs. "Integration is our obligation," he said.
Following the apology, lawsuits and police complaints were dropped. But even after his apology, one Jewish organization condemned Finkielkraut, calling him the pyromaniac of the Jewish community.
Looks like much of Europe isn't ready to have a serious conversation with itself yet.
[via PeakTalk]
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I bet he's making plans to emigrate to Israel. If he's smart, that is. It's a shame he felt he had to recant.
I seem to recall Salman Rushdie did the same thing.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051205/5terror.htm