How Did France Reach This Point?

Last September Robert Redeker, a French high-school philosophy teacher and author of several scholarly books, published an opinion piece in Le Figaro entitled "What should the free world do in the face of Islamist intimidation?"

His piece concluded that while Judaism and Christianity are religions whose rites reject and delegitimise violence, Islam is a religion that, in its own sacred text, as well as in its everyday rites, exalts violence and hatred.

The article was posted on the internet, translated into Arabic, and widely distributed. Within a day, it was being condemned on Al-Jazeera TV and the offending issue of Le Figaro was banned in Egypt and Tunisia. Redeker received a large number of threatening emails. He was condemned to death on one Muslim site, which posted his address and a photograph of his home.

So did his colleagues step up and defend Robert Redeker?
Of course not.
They sold him out.

The communist mayor of Redeker's town condemned him, the headmaster of his school complained that he had included his affiliation at the end of the article, France's two largest teachers' unions, both socialist, issued statements saying they did not share Redeker's convictions. The leading leftist human-rights organisations denounced his irresponsible declarations and putrid ideas. The French Education Minister, Gilles de Robien, criticised Redeker.

Judging from this response, it's apparent that large sectors of the French intellectual and political establishment have sold out their rights to free speech and open discussion.
When it comes to Islam, as opposed to Christianity or Judaism, freedom of speech must respect definite limits.

So what happened to Redeker and his family?

Redeker and his family went into hiding. Five months later they are still living in secrecy.
Viva la France!