The Quai d'Orsay, bastion of anti-Semitism in Francel

Am behind as is normal, but must notice finally the very good first glance at David Pryce-Jones's new book Betrayal: France, the Arabs and the Jews that appeared at Augean Stables several days ago.  I would be even more blunt, especially about the situation today. The...

An amusing few hours in Barcelona

Iberian Notes on the amusing proceedings of the Catalan parliament: inter alia, the silly criticisms of José Montilla, the new premier, made by Màrius Serra in La Vanguardia.  This is the same Màrius Serra whose newest book's first chapter is available in this...

When was the last time that a pope abroad wasn't received as a head of state?

I knew that I had read somewhere days and days ago that the Holy Father is not being received in Turkey as a head of state and finally see this at CNA this morning:: It was also announced recently that the Pope’s welcome has been downgraded to a second-class protocol...

Intelligent Catholics question Telegraph's ignorance and credulousness

This is just so ridiculous that it doesn't merit any comment, really, other than a few laughs at the utter cluelessness of the Telegraph and the hack they have writing for them from the Eternal City.  And however it may be that Professor Giuseppe Alberigo in Bologna is a...

Two legs good, four legs bad

¡No Pasaran! notes that, in the French media, the 'extreme left' has been metamorphosed, somehow, into the 'left of the left' and the 'anti-capitalist left'.  The 'extreme right', however, remains the 'extreme right'. 

Jihad and prostitution?

Spengler at Asia Times writes about the relationship between a nation's creation of jihadists and its creation of prostitutes: What is it that persuades women to employ their bodies as an instrument of commerce, rather than as a way of achieving motherhood? It is not just...

Identity politics v individual rights

In most cases, if I notice that someone is advertising a 'manifesto', I look the other way and continue about whatever my business is.  But 'multiculturalism fostering tribalism and political victimhood' also caught my eye, at the top of this essay at Spiked: it is worth...

Dutch elect a not very interesting parliament

The Dutch parliamentary elections will keep the Christian Democrat government in power, probably, although with some portfolios shuffled about, according to Pieter Dorsman at Peaktalk; there is this, also, from Ummah News, but: the Wilders party is so small as to be ignorable...

CNN notices Islamic extremism?

At Israel Insider, a link to an hour-long CNN program, hosted by Glenn Beck (never heard of him), concerned with Islamic extremism.

Amin Gemayel: victory for sovereign Lebanon possible without violence

In an interview that appears in today's Le Figaro, Amin Gemayel, former president of Lebanon and father of Pierre Gemayel, who was assassinated on and buried today, was asked if he fears a new civil war in that unhappy country:No.  The 'ingredients' for a civil war don't...

Obsequies for Pierre Gemayel in Beirut

The funeral rites for Pierre Amin Gemayel were performed this morning at the Cathedral of St George in Beirut, with his Beatitude Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, celebrating the requiem Mass.  The...

The Holy See's communications people need 'reform'

Dr Magister's column today is troubling: the communications people who work for the Holy See need some 'reforming' and it is not clear who is going to do that work of 'reform'.  There are two parts to Dr Magister's critique: the first has to do with the evident inability...

The French must protect their interests at the Arab courts

Yes, yes, the French are bristling and threatening to fire on Israeli aircraft reconnoitring in Lebanon: France is scheduled to hold the first round of presidential elections in April, and one of those reportedly considering tossing her hat into the ring is Defense Minister...

"This is a photo of a baby elephant"...

"A baby elephant", Le Salon Beige continues, "taken in the mother elephant's womb.  It is evidence enough: an elephant, but a tiny elephant.  In the same way, a human foetus is a human being".The photos are everywhere: my recollection is that there is a National...

Racists, anti-Semites, anti-Catholics: all of them reprehensible

Via Relapsed Catholic: the Catholic League issued a news release today about the Michael Richards "racist tirade".  CL president Bill Donohue:“Michael Richards gets interrupted by hecklers, unleashes a racist tirade, gets blasted by the cultural elite and...