> Military forces with occupational capacity are concerned with counter-force, not counter-value.
Indeed, that's why the french nuclear doctrine is counter-value.
There is a "European dimension" that I think you may not be considering. The state has maintained some ambiguity regarding doctrine, but it is largely regarded to be against strategic targets - including targets of mixed value. Geographic proximity limits their ability to lean one way or the other compared to say, the United States. A land invasion of France is a distinct possibility they must be prepared to counter.
Could you care to link a source for my edification?
It's all a matter of taste of course, but it's hard to take the statement that Britain go the best cheese in the world seriously. If we only look at Europe: France, Italy, Switzerland are a lot more famous for their cheeses than Britain.
The fact that almost all British cheeses are pasteurized is a clear indication that having great cheeses is not part of the British mainstream culture. That being said, there is also some high quality cheeses in Britain, but in my opinion, a lot less than in those other europeans country, by production amount and number of cheese type.
There is no limit to satire , there is only limit in the head of uneducated people.
The debate need to be shut before it's even opened. You should not have to censure yourself (when doing satire) because you are scared of offending people. Otherwise , any group can claim to be offended by anything , and you give them power on you. What if vegetarian decide it's offensive to eat meat ? What if I decide that eggplant are offensive ?
What if I decide it's offensive to be offended ?
There is no end to this. Let's limit freedom of speech at the hate speech mark and allow the rest , legally and in practice.
I wish we could be honest with each other and admit that these limits are fucking arbitrary and only extend as far as ones means to enforce such. Everything else is just pandering to more human status games with some games being more optimal for certain societal outcomes over others.
They are arbitrary, and reflect the biases of those in power. This is because effective satire demand widespread dissemination, and those in charge of the means of dissemination are the very rich. Also, increasingly those who are in charge of our creative culture are rich and monocultural, and satire is used as a tool to suppress.
This whole concept of "hate speech" is preposterous to begin with. I prefer the conception of free speech practiced here in the United States. I hate those Westboro Baptist Church people who stand near soldiers' funerals with "God Hates Fags" signs but I'd die for their right to do it.
If you happen to be from United States, you should probably know there is no hate speech exception to the first amendment. Hate Speech is protected speech. Hate Speech with Satire is protected. Other than inciting violence such as "Let's burn this down!" (Happened in the case of Ferguson, MO) you can say what you please. Somehow in the case of Ferguson, there were no charges to my knowledge.
Well you can't expect most people of English heritage to understand the particular of french political correctness.
The gap is just to huge , the irreverence of french satirical newspaper is beyond most of the english word capacity to accept.
Do UK/US people do even like really dark humour anyway ?
Not offended by said cartoons, and perfectly capable of seeing the satire.
Of course, if you judge English people by by the English media, that would be understandable, and if by English 'heritage' you don't actually mean English people, then maybe that's why they're no longer here.
Sure, the English 'ideology' has unfortunately succumbed to far more political correctness over the years, but I'd suggest that most of us can appreciate irreverence far beyond that which may be perceived.
Regardless or who is right or wrong in that case it's interesting that the US moral standard are being applied all over the internet. I mean if the main part of github community was from say Italy where there is less and a quite different social justice context we would not have this debate.
The SJW think differently all over the world , but we only apply Californian value . Same for nudity on Facebook for exemple .
As the internet grow more centralised , mostly over US based entities i'm sad to see different culture get dissolve into the US mold.
If the german try to push the French in the futur a bit to openly they will be blood on the wall. The ghost of ww2 is still there, we (the french) will go the absolute extreme measure if it look like we are threaten by germany (nukes + French Far Right = not good).
So all of this need to be hidden to the public eye. And usually it is . But greece did not get that decency.
The hint is there in the article. The French know that Germany in gunning for them:
“Only the French minister [Michel Sapin] made noises that
were different from the German line, and those noises were
very subtle. You could sense he had to use very judicious
language, to be seen not to oppose. And in the final
analysis, when Dr Schäuble responded and effectively
determined the official line, the French minister would
always fold.”
