Barbara Butch, the LGBTQ activist who was the center figure in the controversial “Last Supper” Paris Olympic scene is threatening to sue those criticizing her. Butch played the role (wearing a Christ-like halo) viewed by many as a spoof on Christ in the Last Supper. The creators insist that they were going for a type of “pagan party” of Olympic gods and sent a message of tolerance. Art experts have supported the creators and pointed to paintings that inspired the pagan motif. That is not exactly what was seen by millions of Christians who were deeply insulted by the parody.
The question is not the intent of the creators, but the intent of critics in denouncing the display and its participants.
The threat of legal action would not be especially serious in the United States where opinion is given robust protection in both criminal and civil cases. In France, however, free speech is in a free fall with the left pushing for the censorship and criminalization of an ever-expanding range of political and religious speech.
The ceremony itself had some truly powerful and stunning elements. I enjoyed the mix of music and imagery as well as the effort to show the diversity of France.
However, other elements were more divisive or excessive. For example, the producers decided to use the ceremony to feature such elements as three young people hooking up for a “ménage à trois.” With many families watching with kids, many of us thought the scene was inappropriate for such an event. However, it was the supper scene that led to protests from clerics and critics. While claiming a message of “tolerance,” the scene was taken as yet another slap at religious elements in society.
That is a debate that has continued to rage, particularly on the Internet.
Audrey Msellati, Butch’s attorney, posted a statement on Butch’s Instagram account that the DJ and activist will seek legal action after being “the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation.” She is promising to file “several complaints against these acts.”
Clearly, any direct and intentional threats of violence against Butch should be prosecuted, as they can be prosecuted in the United States. However, the French laws sweep far more broadly in criminalizing opinion and what I have called “rage rhetoric.”
In France, such complaints are often criminal matters. In my new book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” I discuss the collapse of free speech rights in France as well as other European countries. This anti-free speech wave has now reached our shores. It has many allies in our own anti-free speech movement. American leaders such as Hillary Clinton have actually enlisted the help of European censors to seek to silence American citizens.
Once the cradle of individual liberty, France long ago became a global leader in the crackdown on free speech.
These laws criminalize speech under vague standards referring to “inciting” or “intimidating” others based on race or religion. For example, fashion designer John Galliano has been found guilty in a French court on charges of making anti-Semitic comments against at least three people in a Paris bar. At his sentencing, Judge Anne Marie Sauteraud read out a list of the bad words used by Galliano to Geraldine Bloch and Philippe Virgitti, including using ‘dirty whore” in criticism.
In another case, the father of French conservative presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was fined because he had called people from the Roma minority “smelly.” A French teenager was charged for criticizing Islam as a “religion of hate.”
I also wrote earlier about the prosecution of famous actress Brigitte Bardot for saying in 2006 that Muslims were ruining France in a letter to then-Interior Minister (and later President) Nicolas Sarkozy. Bardot, an animal rights activist, was repeatedly hit with such criminal complaints for criticizing different groups.
While wildly popular with many in Congress, French President Emmanuel Macron has consistently worked against free speech rights.
That is why the homage in the Olympics to Liberté rang hollow for many of us in the free speech community. The French leaders have long been hypocritical in claiming to support free speech, such as marching in support of the Charles Hebdo magazine after the massacre after cracking down on its editors and writers.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, clearly wanted to be provocative in these scenes. He succeeded. Clearly, such provocative elements will spur debate and discussion, including heated opinions. Use of criminal sanctions for those expressing opinion would make a mockery of the display of fealty to French liberties that Jolly features in his ceremony.
The French can do what they want.
BUT…let’s be honest about it:
(1) Why does Barbara Butch wear the glorifying headgear, seated at the center of the parodic long table?
(2) If the ex-post-facto “message” was about diversity-not anti-religion, -then why not choose representatives from the major races and cultures that comprise France’s population, or the world population for that matter?
Again, let it be, but why lie about its intent after the fact?
Lin,
“. . . but why lie about its intent after the fact?”
As with most leftists, when caught in their lie, they lie some more, scream “racism,” or some other non-sense, run away, and now, sue.
Mornin,’ Upstate. You fit it all in one sentence, didn’t ya?!
Lin,
Good morning to you!
Sometimes economy of words seems to convey an idea best.
Although GEB’s comment involving pies paints such a interesting and hysterical picture!
I delete my term “not anti-religion” from my above comment. Notwithstanding, while I love the idea of a UNITED World, comprised of all races, religions, cultures, etc., I also note that John Lennon’s beautifully-melodic “Imagine” gained equal attention–was it chosen for its lyrics, “no countries, no possessions, no religion” mantra?
Again, that global subliminal messaging….
“Develop a thick skin,” demands the Left. “Get over yourself,” admonishes the Left.
That’s rich — coming from the party that throws a hissy fit any time Trump mocks someone.
The combination of radical fascist islamic jihadists with anarchic, narcissistic, socialist/communist nonconformists should, eventually, prove to be quite explosive in the end. That will require the remaining centers of western culture to reconstruct the world from the debris.
I guess we’re a strenuous intellectuals relationship this week. It’ something to be Christian and Conservative…it’s another one to be hypocrite, delusional or both. Are we set to go back to period where we will pretend only have sex to procreate once year in ones 20s or 20s, and then we all walk with chastity belts. The “ménage à trois” you are refereeing to should be a wink to anybody who has a bit of culture. It’s about Alfred de Musset, George Sand and Frédéric Chopin who were publicly known to have had a long stand relationship of that nature with George Sand being a female Transvestites, spend much of her time wearing men’s clothes in all her public appearances and in private, even designing fake mustachios on her face.. There was no secret in the upper society or in the .people. about their social life. Will stop boycotting Chopin’s music for this? Alfred de Musset was one of the best literary dramatist of his age, George Sand is usually studied in every University literary program, maybe except in Christian universities, I don’t know. If current Christians lack the proper culture to view cultural events, maybe they should decide not to assist simply, instead of dictating, compelling speech. This idea that all 12 expression of french culture should have reflected Christian values in history ion a clear perceivable manner to all christian audience is ridiculous. There was a beautiful choreography celebrating the rebuilding of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, going from the hands of the stone carvers skills from 1200 years ago to dancers hanging between earth and heavens dressed in colors of earth and Sky to remind how the building of those masterpieces which found its way through the Free Masons produced monuments which defied gravity to celebrate an authority which hung over all of us… Did every single one of the themes had to celebrate only Christianity. Christianity’ Cena, which depicts 12 Jews around a table was inspired by Roman Culture of the time, found it’s source in the esthetics of the time, were much of the population were not Christians but had a mythology of infinite Gods each representing intuitions about human nature, it’s origins and compositions, it is normal that you have overlapping symbols, why be shocked and outraged instead of taking opportunity to learn. Vinci was the Master Genius of his time, but the period was vast in production repeating with variations identical themes all with their classical inspiration. The 12 apostles in their own character trait are a composition of Roman and Greek deities but described at a human scale… Christianity encompasses mythological sources from the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and East Indian Mythologies and beliefs. Christianity, outside of the Bible, but in its sacred text is populated by all kinds of creatures, thousands of Good and Bad angels, many bi-sexed (transgendered) creatures such a the Cherubins. If your whole Cultural experience limits itself to the doctrinal reading of the 4 Gospels and we should adapt all our life experience to your limitations. (They are 54 gospels, only 4 made their way to the Bible, and they are all still studied by the l’École Biblique de Jérusalem, one of the leading authority in Christian texts and knowledge). The painting which inspired the controversial scene is a wedding of the Gods and the Crowning of Olympe, with Bacchus in the forefront, not Dionysus, Bacchus it the Roman adaptation of the demi-gods of wine and festivity.
But should we ask what goes on at the Christian Conservative Toga Parties behind back doors where it apparently not accepted to wear anything under the Toga…
If one to limit his life experience to the 4 Gospels, maybe he should use the Jefferson edition…
Or you could have saved a lot of typing and just said
“I a retard”
Oh my, aren’t we the sophisticated one? Do you really think the 3 party relationship (no matter who is in it) is family fare? You must have approved of the guy in the background with his junk hanging out of his shorts as well?
It’ something to be Christian and Conservative…it’s another one to be hypocrite, delusional or both. Are we set to go back to period where we will pretend only have sex to procreate once year in ones 20s or 20s, and then we all walk with chastity belts.
Denys Picard, why are you attempting to cosplay that it was only practicing Christians who found that shyte show derogatory? I’m wondering why it didn’t enlighten the world with an inclusive depiction of a Muslim Bacha Bāzī party – a perfect match to having an Alphabet Sex Trannny Pride Pig. Two slightly different versions of sex to inclusively enlighten the world on proper cultural views.
I saw a few Muslim Bacha Bāzī parties on my tours over in Afghanistan, and showing the world that would definitely be culturally enlightening!
You have posted an impressive screed about it being supposedly hypocritical, delusional, etc when Christians dare to be offended by a deliberate, studied insult. Spare us any BS about it being about Greek gods and nobody thought it might offend people with children watching, much less whether they’re observant Christians. This is how you’re inclusive of parents in a worldwide audience!!!!
Denys, you actually believe parents want their kiddies who still believe in Santa Clause to see depictions of artistic gang bangs and drag queens dressed like a gutter whore?
Because It will prompt those parents to say things like “See little Johnny, that’s the famous Parisian composer, Frédéric Chopin! Now go work on developing proper cultural views before we go buy you a hot dog for lunch”.
If current Christians lack the proper culture to view cultural events, maybe they should decide not to assist simply, instead of dictating, compelling speech.
Expressing offense suddenly becomes “dictating, compelling speech”? Expressing offense is compelling speech from others? That’s about as believable as cosplaying that this wasn’t a provocative insult.
You don’t have proper culture if you don’t celebrate Alphabet Sex Pride and gang bangs? In a lot of places these days, you not only won’t have “proper culture”, you may also not have a job.
Would you prefer that Christians had the proper culture to view cultural events by modeling their offense on the offended Muslims in Paris who carried out the Charlie Hebdo slaughter a few years ago over satirical depictions of Islam. Now THERE’S some “proper culture” on display for us to remember!
But please, while you’re focusing like a laser on offended Christians and hoping to Memory Hole the Charlie Hebdo slaughter in Paris a few years ago, take a moment to give us some definitions of hypocrisy you’re personally aware of.
But should we ask what goes on at the Christian Conservative Toga Parties behind back doors where it apparently not accepted to wear anything under the Toga…
There’s a provocative thought… you insinuate you have inside/underneath knowledge of what goes on at the viral Christian Conservative Toga Parties that are sweeping across the nation. They’re EVERYWHERE!
Got any of the same insider knowledge about what goes on at Bacha Bāzī parties over in the Middle East? Where the Alphabet Sex Tranny Pride Pig would be airmailed one way from the rooftops to the street below, to the cheers of the crowd awaiting their arrival.
conversation:
“Hello, yes this is Barbara, you know the drag queen, well anyway I’m calling to see if Lucifer watched my interpretation of da Vinci’s Last Supper. I could not have imagined the production without Lucifer’s help; you know he’s my spiritual guide. Could you see fit to make sure Lucifer knows that I called as promised? Thanks
PS: I’ve let everyone know that if they question my intent to show my savior Lucifer and his almighty presence, that I will sue them, of course with Lucifer guidance.
George W,
Good one!
She should not get criticism, but parody!
Inclusive much?
Kamala Harris hasnt chosen a VP, but she has chosen her new favorite shoes
Flip flops
“Kamala Harris is a communist who will attempt to illegally seize your guns to install a permanent tyranny. You’re in the middle of the communist overthrow of America. They just tried to assassinate Trump.
Have you figured it out yet?” @EmeraldRobinson
“Art experts have supported the creators and pointed to paintings that inspired the pagan motif.”
Perhaps. But what those experts evade are these pesky facts:
The painting that allegedly inspired that train wreck is titled: “The Feast of the Gods,” by Jan van Bijlert. In that painting, the central figure (Apollo) is wearing a laurel wreath — a symbol of excellence and achievement. Those nihilistic creatures replaced the laurel wreath with a halo — an obvious symbol of Christianity. That is no accident.
Neither is this:
“Oh yes! Oh yes! The new gay testament!” — crowed the nihilist Butch of the ceremony, in a now deleted comment.
And there’s this pesky fact:
Apollo is the symbol of reason — the god of thought, deliberation, light. (And that is how he is depicted in the Bijlert painting.) In classical sculpture, he is presented as an idealized, human nude — strong, upright, confident.
Those [expletives deleted] present Apollo as an ugly, obese, perverted brute cheering a drunken orgy.
So what we have from this culture of nihilism is a double mockery: Of Christianity and of Apollo. You value Christianity? We mock that. You value Apollo? We mock that, too.
Pick a value — and value, held by anyone. We mock it.
Sam, in an excellent post, ended with this: Pick a value — and value, held by anyone. We mock it.
With exceptions (more on that at the end). Marx wrote that in order for communist totalitarian utopia to replace existing Western cultures with elected governments (like France, England and Belgium where he lived), the existing pillars of their civil societies had to be destroyed. Belief in those values had to be destroyed by whatever means necessary – because communism’s success required that its subjects only have loyalty to and value the state.
So, the values of a nuclear family? Destroy them. Heterosexual marriages and children raised with heterosexual values? Destroy that. Religious principles to attempt to live your life doing your best to adhere to? Destroy that – replace that with atheism and it’s central tenant of hating religion; the only worship will be worship of The Communist State.
Communism’s Long March (Marx and Engels NEVER called their political screed “Marxism”) is not just political Marxism or economic Marxism. One of it’s strongest weapons to destroy the load bearing walls of civil society is cultural Marxism.
And that’s what The Alphabet Sex Tranny Pride Pig served up to the world in Paris.
Because they knew doing the same towards Muslims would result in them having a Charlie Hebdo/Salmon Rushdie moment in response.
Proves once again that religion poisons everything. Let the lunatics mock the other lunatics and laugh at all their ridiculousness. Fat guy at the last supper or an old fart in a pointed hat speaking out loud to an invisible celestial virgin…what’s the difference?
Proves once again that religion poisons everything. Let the lunatics mock the other lunatics and laugh at all their ridiculousness.
The Rock Fairy Religion Of Atheism has sent one of their Anonymous cult acolytes here to proselytize. No fat guys and old farts for them. No poison to be found in utopias founded by the best they’ve produced. Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot et al.
It’s telling that atheists only mention the Christian religions when posting their screeds. No mention of Islam – probably another Soviet Democrat Marxist Useful Idiot, now that they’ve become the home of the New Hitler Youth Movement rioting for hajji Hamas terrorists.
Why are atheists such feckless cowards, that they hide in the shadows out of sight, posting under “Anonymous” instead of choosing a username? Atheism looks like a cheap fake religious belief to this agnostic.
Signed,
Old Airborne Dog
“It’s telling that atheists only mention . . .” “Why are atheists such feckless cowards . . .”
Pretty sure that *this* atheist recently wrote numerous, full-throated condemnations of the nihilists mocking Christian values.
Sam wrote: Pretty sure that *this* atheist recently wrote numerous, full-throated condemnations of the nihilists mocking Christian values.
Nihilists but not atheists as well? Convince me that “the nihilists” you’re mentioning aren’t a different denomination of atheism; one whose article of faith is mocking deist religions.
I have never expressed criticism of the atheist religion if it is expressed in an academic sense (a poor descriptor I know) other than focusing on vilifying and mocking other religious faiths.
As an agnostic, I rarely comment on atheists whose public statements are confined to expressing their belief that there is no form of deity that other religions are based on. Whether the religion is an animistic religion, Abrahamic, Eastern, etc. Atheists like that are simply one more religious belief that I accept as just one more of the many religions that I do not accept for myself and remain agnostic.
As a confirmed atheist, you don’t notice that atheists when publicly commenting predominantly focus on Christian religions to mock and condemn? You don’t notice it’s rare that they ever pop up to mock Buddhism, Gaia, etc? You don’t notice that they generally restrain themselves from mocking and condemning Judaism; and when they mock Judaism they ensure they throw Christianity into their comments as well?
I think you do. Change my mind. You think and speak very well; changing my mind should be easy.
“Change my mind.”
I don’t need to. You changed your own mind with the words “predominately” and “generally.”
Your OP threw all atheists into the same cauldron. I realize that blog comments don’t need the precision of published essays. But given what I just spent three days doing (and have done in the past), it was a bit much.
“No mention of Islam . . .” (from your OP)
In case it matters to you, I personally know of atheists who received death threats, required armed security, and had to go into hiding — because of their public condemnations of radical Islam.
Sam made this claim I don’t need to. You changed your own mind with the words “predominately” and “generally.”
Making that proclamation is a piss poor version of an intelligent rebuttal of my observation that we mostly see members of the Atheist religion when they’re attacking Christianity.
And I’ll see the number of atheists receiving death threats for condemning radical Islam and raise you the number of Jews that receive death threats simply because they’re Jews not attempting to get into the condemnation of other religions.
In fact, I’ll double down and point out that Christians get slaughtered by hajji Muslims in many times the multiples of atheists that are tracked down and slaughtered.
I have no problem with your religion of atheism – it’s just another religion to my mind. Right up to the point that its cult branch feels they will reach salvation by condemning Christians.
Playing the victim when you’re far safer from death threats in this world than Jews, Christians, etc is pretty weak sauce.
Everything is an awfully big word for such a small mind.
I guess we all just imagine that billions of people throughout history have had their lives improved by kindness in the name of religion.
That doesn’t make it all good, but it certainly means you’re a pinhead
I am not surprised how thin skinned “christians” are. JT says “the scene was taken as yet another slap at religious elements in society.” So this statement implies other slaps at religious elements in society. What are they?
You have no problem disparaging the LBGTQ community with unfounded claims of “groomer”, yet when you mis identify a scene as mocking you, you go ballistic. You support a man for president who has been convicted of felonies, has been found liable for rape, hid classified documents in his bathroom. And you can’t stand someone showing a scene from Greek history and their beliefs in multiple gods enjoying their glutony.
It will be fun watching you all cry in your beer when your orange god loses the election by a land slide (not a land slade as the rapist orange god convicted of felonies thinks).
And don’t you dare call your selves “Christians”, You wouldn’t recognize Christ if he showed you scars from a crown of thorns and nail holes in his wrist. If Christ were to be here today, he would be at a homeless shelter feeding the hungry, he would be at the border consoling immigrants, He most certainly would not be in a “christian” church where the priests and pastors abuse women.
You and your fake outrage sicken the majority of people trying to live their lives in peace. Look in the mirror, watch the rapist brush his teeth.
They are all lunatics. Laugh at and mock them all.
he sinks in his own hypocritical urine. If Trump is the orange god that anonymous claims, why isn’t anonymous stricken or censored? the tone sounds like gigi.
Its Lawn Boi
orange god is his juvenile slur, while he complains about juvenile slurs.
He also loves the taste of boogers.
Rage much anon? Better have that looked after.
Lawn Boi spews his bile for all to see.
Even members of the LGBTQ community say that some are groomers and denounce their behavior.
The booger eating troll supposes that a Christian made up the term “minor attracted person”.
Spastic idiot.
Christians are getting all bent out of shape over a performance. It’s ironic since it was in France and Europe where people were burned at the stake for committing blasphemy.
It’s ironic that the very same people criticizing the French for expressing Tolerance by being intolerant over a parody. Christians are an intolerant bunch. Not all of them, but the zealots and fundamentalists are absolutely not tolerant of others not adhering to their way of life. Jesus was more tolerant that his most ardent fans. Crazy huh?
Here is Svelaz George, complaining about Christians again.
He isn’t very tolerant of their views.
Irony. Self awareness.
Pathetic
Christians are getting all bent out of shape over a performance. It’s ironic since it was in France and Europe where people were burned at the stake for committing blasphemy.
Cheap Fake Intellectual George claims you must be an observant Christian to find the Alphabet Sex Tranny Pride Pig performance to be deliberately offensive and/or derogatory. Other observant Abrahamic faiths couldn’t be offended by putting Trannies dressed like cheap whores and stylized gang bangs in front of their children. They would immediately realize their children were simply being given a lesson for their cultural enrichment!
George hopes nobody notices that when Muslim barbarians in France just a few years ago get bent out of shape about a cartoon, we get to watch the Charlie Hebdo slaughter in Paris.
George hopes nobody remembers the Muslim Arabs in Gaza that the Democrat New Hitler Youth movement promotes and riots for. The 7th century Muslim barbarian Arabs in Gaza who were still one way airmailing the Alphabet Sex Pride Tribe from rooftops to the ground below where the gathered crowds cheered that artistic, cultural performance. (Well, they were, until Iran told them to carry out the October 7th genocide – interrupting Muslim business as usual for the foreseeable future.)
Cheap Fake Intellectual George hopes the Instantaneous Memory Hole works for him and nobody notices Iran’s Mad Mullahs are still happily hanging Alphabet Sex Pride acolytes in public from cranes.
George is a Cheap Fake American as well as Cheap Fake Intellectual Hypocrite.
OldAirborne: you did not respond to my reply re: foreign-owned U.S. real estate (under “Biden Abandons..” post). thanks
Free speech is paramount. Let the fools speak out and make fools of themselves. Only with free speech Wil The truth eventually emerge. The costs of censorship are far higher than the costs of free speech.
“…will the truth eventually emerge.” Apologies for my typo.
And by the way: NO, the creators of this offensive speech should not be able to sue their critics.
Nobody said they can’t do it. Nobody is suing the Olympic committee. People are upset that an event to pull the world together was used to disparage and make fun of 1.6 billion people. So many aren’t wasting their time watching these games. Interesting that Christianity is the only religion they dare make fun of.
Isn’t part of being an artist having to endure criticism from critics?
LOL LOL LOL — Major League censorship happening in Turley’s “free speech” comment section this morning. Not only did this fraudulent comment section refuse to post my comment THREE times so far, but it even refused to post THIS comment about the censorship once already.
And once again you are the only one having this problem.
So you are either a shit eating liar or a stupid fvck.
See, no censorship.
“… the LGBTQ activist who was the center figure in the controversial “Last Supper” Paris Olympic scene is threatening to sue those criticizing her.”
It’s always fvery instructive when Catholic tort lawyers such as Professor Turley get involved in biblical issues, and in that regard it’s helpful to know a little bit about the gnostic Gospel According to Tort Lawyers:
Matthew 39-40: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”
Not surprisingly — and contrary to those that interpret that passage as an admonition and counsel to forgiveness — the gnostic Gospel According to Tort Lawyers such as Professor Turley tends to suggest that much was lost when the Bible was translated from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to German to English, and the original quote was really as follows:
“… whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. That way you can establish malice when he hits you the second time, and sue him for punitive damages, since compensatory damages for the first smite would only be nominal.”
^^^^steaming turd
A portrayal of Mohammed adorned in skin illustrations ascending to heaven on an equally decorated and lipsticked pig identifying as a horse, would have set France and likely the rest of Europe alight. She and the rest of her lot are a self-styled tribe of blue haired meanies who get their rocks off and set their endorphins flowing by poking the bear, pissing off the rest of society and calling it ‘art’. Yet they knew which bear to let be.
Sorry to be off message today BUT,
In a remarkable act of Justice for Crime, the criminal political leader of Hamas was assassinated in Tehran, Iran last nite, not long after the Supreme Leader boasted about his presence in Tehran. Gee that’s almost like the Secret Service broadcasting “take a shot at Trump” because we don’t cover building tops. Or better yet did the Biden White House lend out the Secret Service to help plan security coverage. I mean since we are all now best buddies with Iran by giving them billions and billions of dollars in the Obama and Biden administrations then obviously we should extend the hand of friendship to Iran by helping them with our crackerjack security services.
Why don’t we also send our services down to Venezuela to helped protect Maduro.
GEB,
Thank you for the morning laugh!
“Why don’t we also send our services down to Venezuela to helped protect Maduro”
It’s possible that “we” were already in Caracas to exacerbate the election steal by Maduro, with the objective of justifying US intervention against Maduro and his ally, Putin. That would be very much like a typical CIA operation featuring multiple levels of deceit.
A lawsuit, brought in December 2022 and updated in March 2024, by Rep. Ronny Jackson and victims of terror attacks in Israel, alleges that President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken “knowingly and unlawfully” provided more than $1.5 billion in aid to Gaza and the West Bank since taking office. Biden and Blinken have “known for years” that the US aid is providing “material support” for Hamas’ “tunnels, rockets, weapon procurement, and command and control infrastructure,” among other terror structures, the lawsuit stated.
The Biden administration has sought to have the case dismissed twice but failed. On June 28, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that the lawsuit can proceed, and that there is evidence the Biden administration continued awarding taxpayer cash to UNRWA even after Congress blocked funding to that group due to its support for Hamas’s military infrastructure.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20811/biden-administration-donates-to-hamas
If, under French law, it constitutes criminal “hate speech” to complain about what’s perceived as an insult to one’s religion, wouldn’t it also be criminal “hate speech” to ridicule one’s religion, as the “Dionysus Last Supper” appeared to do? And in a country where a perceived insult to Mohammed was handled by murdering the publisher, wouldn’t civil discussion of the issue be a less hateful response?
Seems there has been many quotes from participants in this shambolic event confirming that it was a parody of the last supper and now they only want tolerance. Their hypocrisy is without bounds and they should receive as much tolerance as they showed. If anything, in present day France, they should have criminal charges lodged against them for the mocking and degrading of a religion. If Mr. LePen can be charged for calling the Romani smelly, or a teenager charged for calling Islam a “religion of hate” or Ms Bardot can be charged, then surely, under French law, these so-called performers should be charged for mocking and thereby slandering and degrading a religion.
Now if this event were in the United States I would say nothing except turn off the TV, and not watch another minute of Olympic coverage (which I am doing anyway) but I am looking at precedent under French Law and even under the Napoleonic Code it should remain consistent, should it not.
As an alternative I would suggest repeating the event and let every French Citizen or Olympic Games ticket holder come to the repeat event and being allowed to throw pies, of any flavor, at the participants in the event, from a distance of about 5 feet. That would be about enough tolerance but alas such a waste of good French pastries.
On the other hand we could just throw fresh pear tarts at them, sort of like a TARTS for TARTS event. But I must admit seeing fresh pear tarts in the air flying towards destruction would bring tears to my eyes.
GEB,
The pie throwing scene in Blazing Saddles just popped into my mind.
GEB, Great comment!
I admit seeing
Fresh pear tarts flying towards
Destruction brings tears
Statement by producer, Thomas Jolly: “We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that. In France, we have freedom of creation, artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country. I didn’t have any specific messages that I wanted to deliver. In France, we are a republic, we have the right to love whom we want, we have the right not to be worshippers, we have a lot of rights in France, and this is what I wanted to convey.”
Jolly wanted to include everyone, because Christianity obviously does not? The intent, as Turley states, is to be provocative. Note too that children were included in Jolly’s diverse, sexual statement smorgasbord.
Add that I’m actually appalled at what appears to be rapidly diminishing rights in Western European countries. Trump’s recent gag order? That’s standard-fare in England, defendants are not permitted to discuss their cases in public, to offer explanation to family and friends, to defend themselves in the public sphere. People ARE arrested for speech. For those who followed the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, police officers were actually charged with murder, crimes they very obviously did not commit. Charged, it would seem, for political purpose, to appease a public determined to hold someone, anyone, accountable. It has always made me laugh too to hear the English discuss constitutional rights – the word itself actually appears here as early as 1620 in the Mayflower Compact – but to this day the English have no constitution and they have no rights. Brought to light again during the Canadian Covid convoy protests which saw the accounts of hundreds of protesters frozen, and the denial of bail, etc. Canada, as I understand it, is still a British constitutional monarchy, today under Charles III, but executive power resides with the Crown and the people, so “constituted,” have no rights.
Jolly–> we just wanted to include everyone? Everyone EXCEPT about a billion Christians. Actually they were deceptively invited to the Olympic party to be abused of course. Sadism is fun. That’s acceptable.
Perhaps newsguard has a a censorship category for Christians? If so many people think it is clearly The Last Passover Supper of Christ then what a miserable failure in communication! Butch with a nimbus identifies it so stop making shit up.
Wrong venue , Mr. Jolly. Know your audience. It’s Mardi Gras for everyone. For newsguard censor purposes the rating is immoral content. Don’t bother to watch unless you’re masochistic and really enjoy some fugly shit.