As I am assimilating myself with the French candidates while the first part of the election is rolling around, I have noticed that one candidate stands out the most to me. It is not because she is a woman, but it is for her far-right, anti-Semetic remarks. Marine Le Pen very recently made the news when she said France was not responsible for the Vel d'Hiv; this ironically occurred right after I visited the memorial in Paris that perfectly captured the essence of what happened.
Being the daughter of an open anti-Semetic father and a member of the far-right National Front party, I read that she has been working hard to separate herself from their racist associations. I recently ran across an interview she had with Anderson Cooper in March where many people were quick to call her "France's Donald Trump." In this interview, Anderson Cooper bluntly asked Le Pen if Muslim people should be allowed to wear headscarves. I viewed this as a simple question, yes of course they should be allowed, as it is their culture. However, to my surprise, Le Pen is very against Muslims wearing hijabs in public. She has even promised to ban any religious headdress in public if she is elected, this also includes yarmulkes.
She states that citizens of France have the freedom to practice their own religious but vows to ban religious wear in public because it simply "is not French." Although many believe she has tried to escape her father's anti-Semetic views, it is obvious that she still holds a few similar beliefs. I have been open to the views of all the candidates, but I think it could be detrimental for France to follow Le Pen to the end of the elections. I will pay close attention to how the country votes in the upcoming week.
Hi Kasey,
ReplyDeleteAlthough she has tried to distance herself from her father's views (and even removed him from the party) I think it is important that she does not have to speak the same vulgarities for us to know that she shares the same views. He raised her. It is hard to believe that he would not have impressed his feelings upon her from a young age. Her response to this question says the same discriminatory comments her father made, but in a different, more "polite" fashion. Her father made the comments, she wishes to put them into action. Great insight.
Grant,
DeleteJust because her father shares anti-Semetic views does not immediately mean that she does. I have much different views than my parents, even though they raised me. Yes a parent's views can influence a child, but it takes a free-thinker to come to conclusions about what is right and wrong themselves, which she has failed to do properly. Le Pen made it a point that she is not the same as her father, but she ultimately has failed and has shown the French people that she has decided in her head that Muslims and Jews are not equal to her.
She is a grown adult and has made these choices herself, I do not think they should be connected with her father, as she has the brain capacity to think for herself.