What is French? by Zuzana Zelenakova

That is the question around which so called national identity debate in France evolves. The project initiated by the Nicolas Sarkozy government aimed at defining the country´s direction in the future, and concepts like patriotism and tradition. The project is run by the Ministry of Immigration and National Identity and therefore it is only understandable that immigration and ethnic minorities became the main focus. Many accuse President Sarkozy that he is only trying to attract as many right-wing voters as possible before the spring elections by inducing anti-immigration atmosphere around the country through this project. There are concerns this initiative could resul! t in more severe restrictions for members of ethnic minorities. "For several years, immigrants and the children of immigrants have been targeted as threats to the French national identity," says Pap Ndiaye of the School for Advanced Studies in Social Science. "This may be a way to suggest they are not French or are not as French as they should be. There are so many ways to be French, and I think it will be sad if the government tells you how to be French. I worry about authoritarianism hidden behind debates on identity." However, it is now three months since the debate has been introduced and it seems that the project is being quietly abandoned by the president and the government. The debate has gone out of control adopting features of extreme right-wing fear of immigration and Islam. On Monday, Prime Minister Francoise Villon officially ended the national identity debate. “Nothing is worse and more damaging than things unspoken and stigmas that we know have always pl! ayed into the hands of extremists,” commented the minist! er the c ancellation of the project. Also President Sarkozy´s speech on national identity originally scheduled before the elections to achieve as much effect as possible was postponed. Now it is set to take place after the elections.

related story (sgx16427): http://www.france24.com/en/20100122-national-identity-marsei...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

SigEx Ventures's matrix of properties are quickly becoming leaders in digital telebroadcasting, free content delivery allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share through free online TV broadcasting, f! ree unlimited global calls, video blogs and SMS. SigEx Ventures invests in projects deploying "free" to add-on royalty revenue models