Heinrich Himmler anyone?

adrianwainer · 11-07-2006, 12:24 PM

http://www.fil-info-france.com/actua...tain-photo.htm

Quote:

"You are also a man of the heart, of commitment, of conviction, and that's why France admires and loves you."

From a speech by French President Jacques Chirac at the grave of French collaborator Phillipe Henri Petain.

NB I do not know if Jacques Chirac has ever visited the grave of Petain and to the best of my knowledge he never said that about Petain, I have actuallly quoted President Chirac speaking to disgraced French footballer Zinedine Zidane, but who next will Le President display gushing admiration for, Heinrich Himmler anyone?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...t/pcMatt.jhtml

Quote:

In August 1944, with the cemeteries of Normandy filled with the bodies of British, Commonwealth and American troops, General de Gaulle congratulated the people of Paris on having liberated themselves.

It was in this vein yesterday that Jacques Chirac met Zinedine Zidane and extolled his heroic and iconic virtues as a Frenchman - just a few hours after he had been sent off in the World Cup final for committing one of the most blatant fouls imaginable, and after the world's media had agreed that his brilliant career as an international had ended in disgrace.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/m...11/ixnews.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Philippe_P%C3%A9tain

http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/...tro/petain.htm

Best and Warm Regards
Adrian Wainer

Aardvark · 11-07-2006, 06:16 PM

What a strange link. Chirac was playing to his national audience. There are suggestions that the Italian gentleman who was fouled had made a visious racist comment about Zidane. It does not justify Zidane's reaction, but it might explain Chirac palying to his Arab community.

The linkwith Himmler and Petain is a bit weird and I don't understand the point that is being made.

Chirac is a man of this generation and has to consider France as it is today. Rooney also got sent off; the English fans have mixed feelings. Beckham was sent off for a ridiculous foul against Argentina some years back. These things are quickly forgotten and the fans continue to admire their favourite players, no matter how flawed. Politicians continue to seek votes and will say what is necessary.