Modern ‘liberté, égalité et fraternité’

Only to those without the tiniest bit of education in European history might ‘the French revolution’ be a new term. It was, by near definition, a time of political and social upheaval, a revolution by the book: Bloody, drastic, influential and the sort of tale fit to make legends.

And so it did. For ten years, from 1789 until 1799, it drastically changed the way politics would be perceived for centuries to come. There are many things that can, one way or another, be traced back to the French revolution. Feudalism was cut off at its roots, monarchs were restored and executed, Napoleon entered the scene and empires were built and torn down.

But the French revolution is remembered in the minds of people for a slogan too: Liberté, égalité et fraternité, meaning liberty, equality and fraternity. This led to a secular tradition, combined with such pride that only one example would serve us well as an illustration. Back in the days, when king were seen as god’s replacement on earth, divine trust and legitimization made people loyal. Any act against the king, was an act against god. When, on 17^th of January 1793, Louis XVI was condemned to death, we could almost say a tradition died with it.

Many Western traditions have a secular constitution, among them America.  Yet in America president Obama had to lay his hand on a bible, and people in court hear the words ‘so help you god’. The French would be utterly perplexed if this happened in their public institutions. I believe no western state is as fearful as is France when it comes to losing its secular character, for which it feels that it fought so hard to attain. In order to preserve these precious gifts of history, they are willing to go to surprising lengths in limiting other aspects of people’s lives.

Lately, particularly Switzerland created upheaval across the globe by a minaret ban, as many Swiss people saw these as a sign of Islamic imperialism (there is a sort article on that issue on this site). Wild rounds of applause by right-wing parties across Europe followed, most vividly expressed by Wilder’s, no doubt sincere, congratulations to the Swiss people for their ‘splendid decision’. With recent threats to the Danish cartoonist, bad news from Yemen on terrorists, problems in Iran and with Pakistan being picky on which parts of the Taliban they want to fight (Afghan Taliban is mostly left alone, while the Pakistani Taliban, who are responsible for many suicide bombings in Pakistan, has had to endure many attacks by the army), we can hardly say Islam is thriving in the minds of secular rationalists. In France, however, things are of a different order.

There it is much less a right-wing anti-Islam offensive and much more of an enduring process that defends equality for everyone, by virtue of fighting things that are associated with radicalism. Already in 2004 a law went into force forbidding the burqa in public schools and on identity cards. It is as if they ran years ahead on the now as fraudulent perceived debate on multiculturalism. More and more people who think ‘outsiders will accustom to our values, traditions and opinions’ are being ridiculed and booed off-stage.

And to a certain extent this is justified: Doing nothing simply does not work. But too much enthusiasm, with stereotype ways of interpreting your own culture, which is then shoved down immigrants’ throats like they did in the Netherlands, will not work either. The Dutch’ heard-headed, unrealistic ways of bending people into newly baptized model-citizens was far from a success (constant policy changes and additions to a rotten core won’t do much to cure that). This is not to say that no firm measures are needed. You cannot simply let people in, without subjecting them to rules by which the game is played.

And that is what the French state is aiming for. If you want to live in France, then you will act and behave like it. This does not mean you will have to undergo a diet of wine and baguettes while wearing ugly caps, but it does mean the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, and indeed the French language. Don’t get me wrong. With millions of immigrants problems are bound to arise; then again, so do problems pop up among ‘ordinary’ citizens (forgive me my bold statements. I do not mean racial divisions, but elaborating on each term will make this text unreadable. I think you know what I am aiming for; if you do not, then please feel free to comment and I will elaborate).

These principles are part of a heritage, now deemed valuable enough by politicians to stick out their necks and ban burqas in public altogether. At least, that is the direction the French state is now heading for. Many fear violent reactions by Islamists, or much negative publicity that will bend the effect-curve of the ban downwards, instead of making it a positive addition to cultural and political upholding of values. With a five to six million Muslim population, it is a courageous step by any standards though. Nicolas Sarkozy summed up why this step is necessary: It is a ‘sign of subservience and debasement’.

It would be a safe bet to state that many will find this an inappropriate step. Especially other European governments will be quick in casting their doubts on the policy. The step itself is not unsound, however. Not many people will be affected by this new measure, at most a couple of thousands: This is not in itself an argument of course, though it does send a very clear signal to people by underlining that it is neither numbers nor religion they care about. It is a signal not just to Muslims, without sending it to everyone else.

Something as simple as looking a person into his or her eyes, seeing a facial expression and making recognition a possibility are not things we should consider to eradicate from public life, especially not if gender discrimination decides who should and should not be concealed. Keep that in mind: This should not be seen as a step against Muslims. It should be seen for what it is and what it does. No direct Islamic doctrine prescribed wearing a veil or burqa. And in any case, Muslims, like Christians, are free to practice their religion according to French tradition: Privately.