vintage french hypocrisy. while racist/obscene cartoons of prophets and rabbis are revered as free speech (the magazine that published them is provided police protection by the state), people’s right to non-violently protest racism and hate is curtailed (more than 150 people arrested for exercising *their* free speech peacefully. so that’s what “free speech” has come to mean? just another meaningless political slogan. voltaire must be turning in his grave. more here.