The nasty face of nuclear protest

THE Australian newspaper, The Sun Herald has called on Aus tralians to have a more discerned approach to the anti-French movement.

In an editorial, the paper refers to the “boof-headed bigotry that has become the unacceptable face of anti-French nuclear demonstrations that have swept the country. However, while general peaceful protests are supported, there are two other types of protests being

employed boycott of French goods and abuse of French people, or people of French origin.

“... it’s time for all fair-minded Australians to condemn the increasing numbers of cases of abuse and even violence aimed at Australians of French origin, or Australians involved in business with a French flavour like restaurants, patisseries or fashion bou tiques.

“The French have a proud history and a magnificent culture. It may be because they are European, and not Asian, and do not fall into any convenient single issue category, that this sort of thuggery has been allowed to spread.”

Earlier, the Sydney Morning Herald linked France to “cowardice”, “incom

petence”, “cheating”, “stupid architec

ture”, “cultural wankery”, “cruelty” and “selfishness”. A