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French court orders a French mayor to take down a portrait of Philippe Petain, leader of Vichy regim

Discussion in 'WWII Today' started by Spartanroller, Oct 27, 2010.

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  1. Spartanroller

    Spartanroller Ace

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    French court orders removal of Petain portrait - Telegraph

    A court ordered a French mayor to remove a portrait of Philippe Petain, leader of Vichy regime, from the wall of a town hall. The portrait of Petain, often viewed as an anti-semitic Nazi collaborator, hung in a municipal marriage chamber in Gonneville-sur-Mer, near the Normandy landing beaches. The court ruled against a decision by town's mayor Bernard Hoye, to keep the portrait which had been hanging there for decades. "The principle of neutrality in public services is opposed to putting up in public buildings signs expressing political... opinions," the court said in a written judgement. (telegraph.co.uk)
     
  2. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    Political correctness again. All presidents and leaders since 1870 were on those walls as a tradition and as an eductional purpose. Now there will be a void, as if nothing existed between 1940 and 1944......
     
  3. Spartanroller

    Spartanroller Ace

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    also they think Petain's picture is 'expressing political opinions' whereas any other leader's isn't. Quite right Petain wasn't France's finest son, but people shouldn't try and forget him, quite the opposite.
     
  4. Nicnac

    Nicnac Member

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    Yups, too many lawyers with power and influence. Too many people scared to get into trouble, the media's attention. Too may committees complaining about everything, making things so safe they are ludicrously stickered, or complicated...
     
  5. belasar

    belasar Court Jester

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    He was a good soldier in the first war and a flawed old man in the second. He possesed the sin of outliving his glory. Somewhat reminds me of Benedict Arnold. Had he died at Saratoga there would be an nuclear aircraft carrier named after him today.
     
  6. Mehar

    Mehar Ace

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    Petain is an interesting figure, a hero during the First World War, a traitor during the Second. His accomplishments during the first war are essentially void as a result.

    Belsar: I never really thought of it like that but it seems like a good comparison.
     

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