'Negro' remark lands parfumier in court

[The Northerner]

Jean-Paul Guerlain will appear in a Paris courtroom on Thursday to answer for remarks he made in a television interview that provoked controversy in France and abroad.

Guerlain, a descendant of the founder of the company that bears his name, was answering questions on the lunchtime news programme of France 2 in October 2010 about a new perfume.

"For once, I starter working like a negro," he said. "I don't know if negroes have always worked like that, but anyway..."

...

Guerlain will be present at the hearing on Thursday, according to his lawyer. The maximum sentence for a public insult of a racist nature is six months in prison and a fine of €22,500 ($30,000).

Read more: http://www.thelocal.fr/2525/20120209/


If only more people were tried for mentioning racist and bigoted slurs...

[Aerows]

1. Part of me believes they shouldn't

Then part of me sees the bullying done to homosexuals like myself. In the end, anything that helps bring an end to bigotry and promotes understanding among people is okay in my book. We really need to stop hating each other over pettiness.

In the end, I'm an American when it comes down to it. My country comes together and doesn't implode because some people want to divide it upon bigoted lines for their own gain like right-wingers strive to do. They can do their own nasty business, but I'll do mine in the sun.

[XemaSab]

7. Banning racist and homophobic speech isn't going to stop racism and homophobia

Which is "safer" for society, someone who says "Let's go kill a fag," or someone who says "Homosexuality is a lifestyle that I don't want my children exposed to?"

I would argue that in the case of the first, the person's obviously a crazy bigot and it's better for crazy bigotry to be out in the open where it can be denounced. For example, Fred Phelps's popularity is right up there with a rat that just crawled out of the toilet during a dinner party. In the second case, it's harder to fight something that seems like someone's opinion.

Does that make sense?

[Aerows]

8. In some cases, it's better to have it out in the open

I agree. "Homosexuality is a lifestyle...." is very different than "Let's go kill a fag".

[XemaSab]

9. Case in point:

[customerserviceguy]

10. Ugh

I tried to watch it, but really couldn't stomach more than half of it. It's fun to see how fundies make themselves look like poor put-upon victims sometimes, but this was excruciating.

[dana_b]

11. double UGH!

Anyway to push their homophobic, righteous bull crap.

[Warpy]

2. It wasn't much of a slur

It was more a recognition that folks with the darkest skin have always had to work the hardest.

[MineralMan]

3. Be careful what you wish for...

"If only more people were tried for mentioning racist and bigoted slurs..."

There is a very good reason why such things are not against the law in the US. If you think for a minute or two, I'll bet you can come up with one or two, don't you think?

The laws of France are different from the laws in the US. Be thankful.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. ITA with Mineral Man

[limpyhobbler]

5. was that an insult or a complement?

Anyways that law is lame.

People should be free to speak racist things.

It makes it easier to identify racists.

[Nye Bevan]

6. And "invisible sky monsters" would count as bigotry against Christians,

or against other believers in a God, so people who used that phrase could be prosecuted?

Right?

[JSnuffy]

12. If only more people had freedom of speech and thought...

... even if you don't like it.

Oh wait, that's what we have now.