How do you say “snowflake” in French?
Flocon de neige.
Well, the following leaves me saying sacre bleu!
According to a Reuters story, a member of the French parliament wants mockery of accents outlawed.
This came after a French politician was asked a question about an anti-corruption investigation of his hard-left political party.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the article said, mimicked the journalist’s accent and said: “Has anyone got a question in more or less comprehensible French?”
OK … Melenchon is a jerk.
After four decades as a journalist, I don’t like it when politicians or anyone tries to bully a journalist. And it’s only getting worse with boorish examples from the White House, Congress and hateful spewing on the Internet.
I’ve been bullied by a California governor and numerous others. Didn’t like it. Didn’t back down either.
Whether or not you like questions journalists ask, in a free country, public officials have to be accountable … even if they don’t like it.
(By the way President Trump and others … I’m available anytime to come to Washington to show you how to treat the media and how it will benefit you. Trust me, I’m a professional.)
Meanwhile, back to France.
So Melenchon is a jerk.
But once we start outlawing speech … even rude speech … we start down a path that’s unacceptable.
Same thing with my friends who are fervent Second Amendment defenders. Any move to outlaw a weapon is seen as going down an unacceptable path.
Same thing here.
France has been called the “cradle of liberty.” Don’t let the flocon de neiges kill that history.
Also … start showing some appreciation for the country across the Atlantic that saved your butt in World War II.
And don’t tell me French cuisine is better than Texas barbecue.