French issues (2)

See on page Issues (1)

Ethical issues

The French do not fight about the same issues as Americans. On some of them there is, globally, a consensus and the French rarely quarrel or demonstrate about them. For others (typically French), the country is split and it is important to observe that the division is always along a political line (right vs. left) and never along a religious line (read about religion in France).
Issues for Americans (and not so much for the French, who globally agree about them) Not much difference between France and America about :
  • Abortion has been legal in France since 1976 (loi Veil) and no significant political or religious movement is campaigning for a return to the previous situation ; see facts about IVG (abortion)
  • The death penalty in France was abolished in 1982 and only a handful of extreme-right-wing politicians campaign for re-establishing it
  • Arms control is not an issue in France : it is prohibited to detain arms and nobody challenges it
  • More to come...
  • Euthanasia and Stem cells : same situation and debates as in the USA
  • Homosexuality is now much better accepted due to several important anti-discrimination laws (and the HALDE : see below) ; the PACS (a purely contractual form of quasi-marriage) is largely used by homosexal couples but many still want a "real" one, which is not (yet) possible ; adoption by homosexual couples is not legal
  • More to come....

DID YOU KNOW THAT...... ? The HALDE (" Haute Autorité de Lutte contre les Discriminations et pour l'Egalité " for "high authority against discriminations and for equality") was established in 2004 as an independent regulator to help citizens fight against racism, homophobia, sexism and generally any form of discrimination (age, sex, race, health, mental condition, religion, etc), particularly in the job and housing markets. Its mission statement includes helping victims to take their case to court, setting up "testings" to establish a discrimination, proposing new regulations and valorizing best practices. Any citizen can write to HALDE about his/her case for help or advice.

Some typically French ethical issues

Issues for the French (and not so much for Americans, for whom they are not important issues)

  • Secularism is an important issue in France and when people have the feeling that it is at stake (for instance when President Sarkozy declared in December 2007 in Rome that " people need religion ") a majority of the French protested (including churches) : see more about secularism
  • " New social rights " : an example is the " droit opposable au logement " (opposable right to a home) ; according to a law passed in 2006, any French citizen is entitled to a home, and if he/she cannot find or afford one and is not proposed social housing, he/she can invoke this law and demand a home ; the left thinks this is a normal right in a democracy, the right thinks it is crazy and not applicable
  • The market economy is morally questionable for a large minority of the French and so is private money in any cultural or educational organization : you can have thousands of artists, students or professors demonstrating in the streets and shouting "Non à l'argent privé" (no to private money) or "Culture (or education) is not for sale", etc..... Read more about money.
  • More to come .....

A few examples of French controversies about philosophical and ethical issues :

  • most students demonstrating AGAINST the autonomy of universities : see why
  • thousands of artists, writers, academics demonstrating AGAINST the Louvre museum opening a branch in Abu-Dhabi
  • a very large support for the idea that all illegal immigrants should be granted working papers
  • more to come...

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Harriet Welty Rochefort writes articles and books about France and the French. Order her books:

  • "French Toast, An American in Paris Celebrates The Maddening Mysteries of the French", St.Martin's Press, New York, 1999
  • "French Fried, The Culinary Capers of An American in Paris", St.Martin's Press, New York, 2001

More on Harriet's books (excerpts, upcoming events, testimonials, etc..)

Together or separately, Harriet and Philippe speak about Intercultural Differences : click here for information.

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