A Pilgrim’s Digression

The New York Times has an article in today’s on-line edition titled French Threaten Expulsions After Islam Radical Victory. It seems that a preponderance of fundamentalists won election to the country’s council of Muslims, and France is threatening to expell any Muslim religious leader deemed “extremist.” The Interior Minister who is threatening the deportations does not provide any definition of “extremist.” However, I especially enjoyed his comment that:

“It is precisely because we recognize the right of Islam to sit at the table of the republic that we will not accept any deviation,” Mr. Sarkozy said. “Any prayer leader whose views run contrary to the values of the republic will be expelled.”

It’s as if France invited Muslims to the restaurant of democracy, then said, “You can sit at the table, but we’ll do the ordering around here.” Yet Americans are intolerant in the eyes of the French.