Κυριακή 4 Σεπτεμβρίου 2011

France is bacon

   Διαβάζω μειδιῶν:

   I understood it as "Knowledge is power, France is bacon".
   For more than a decade I wondered over the meaning of the second part and what was the surreal linkage between the two? If I said the quote to someone, "Knowledge is power, France is bacon" they nodded knowingly. Or someone might say, "Knowledge is power" and I'd finish the quote "France is bacon" and they wouldn't look at me like I'd said something very odd but thoughtfully agree. I did ask a teacher what did "Knowledge is power, France is bacon" meant and got a full 10 minute explanation of the Knowledge is power bit but nothing on "France is bacon". When I prompted further explanation by saying "France is bacon?" in a questioning tone I just got a "yes". At 12 I didn't have the confidence to press it further. I just accepted it as something I'd never understand.
   It wasn't until years later I saw it written down that the penny dropped.

France is bacon [πηγή]

   Ἡ ρῆσις ἔχει γίνει ἀστικός μῦθος.

   Μουσουλμάνος τις ἐρωτᾷ ἐὰν μπορῇ νὰ ταξιδέψῃ στὴν χώρα τοῦ μπέηκον, φίλος δὲ τῆς Γαλλίας τὸν καθησυχάζει λέγοντας ὅτι αὐτὰ εἶναι ἀντιγαλλικὲς κακοήθειες τῶν ἀγγλοσαξώνων.

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
   That is a ridiculous and stupid way of describing France made by people who have never been there and part of the smear and hate campaign which started when the French government refused to invade Iraq, a Muslim country. What is meant by that nasty smear is that the French are so feeble that they are eaten up by their adversaries. Of course you can go to France, and there is a large number of Muslims who have settled there from North Africa all over the place. You can even wear traditional hijab and long dresses. What you are no longer allowed to wear is the Niqab (where your face is completely hidden) because it has been used by terrorists to escape and it is considered repressive of women's liberty and individuality.

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