Brigitte Bardot Convicted

[2Sheds_Jackson]

She has some pretty harsh views on things - but it's a free country, right? Ir is it?


Brigitte Bardot fined for inciting racial hatred
Actress fined after attacking gays, Muslims in her book

Updated: 11:48 a.m. ET June 10, 2004PARIS - French actress-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot was convicted Thursday of inciting racial hatred and ordered to pay $6,000 — the fourth such fine for the former *** symbol since 1997.

The Paris court sentenced Bardot, 69, for remarks in her book “A Scream in the Silence,” an outspoken attack on gays, immigrants and the jobless that shocked France last year.

In the book, she laments the “Islamization of France” and the “underground and dangerous infiltration of Islam.”

“Mme. Bardot presents Muslims as barbaric and cruel invaders, responsible for terrorist acts and eager to dominate the French to the extent of wanting to exterminate them,” the court said.

France’s 5-million-member Muslim community is the largest in Europe.

Bardot, who was not present for the verdict, denied the charges in a tearful court appearance last month, saying her book did not target Islam or people from North Africa.

She told the court France was going through a period of decadence and said she opposed interracial marriage.

“I was born in 1934, at that time interracial marriage wasn’t approved of,” she said.

“There are many new languages in the new Europe. Mediocrity is taking over from beauty and splendor. There are many people who are filthy, badly dressed and badly shaven.”

In her book, she also attacks homo******s as “fairground freaks,” condemns the presence of women in government and denounces the “scandal of unemployment benefits.”

Bardot’s attacks on Muslims prompted anti-racism groups to launch legal proceedings against the former star, who turned her back on film after 46 films to concentrate on animal welfare.

Bardot, who in her 1960s heyday was the epitome of French feminine beauty, was fined $3,250 in January 1998 after being convicted of inciting racial hatred in comments about civilian massacres in Algeria.

Four months earlier, a court fined her for saying France was being overrun by sheep-slaughtering Muslims.

Wow, looks like there are some pretty severe restrictions on "free speech" in France. Maybe it's just a matter of who you piss off, since I'm sure far worse things are said every day in the mosques of the radical Islamists. I don't see them being fined for their speech.

[Midtown]

makes me even more excited to be there next month.

[ronin2172]

they might be saying worse but they r not printing their comments in books and distributing them. I guess that is the difference. And it isn't as if the french government launched proceedings, it was an anti racisim group. Anyway some of what she said is disgusting and has no place in an multi ethnic, multi religious society, nothing stays the same she has to learn to deal with it and move on.

"Mediocrity is taking over from beauty and splendor." I guess a primarily white society is beautiful and full of splendor. While all others are ugly and disgusting. :cantbeli:

"There are many people who are filthy, badly dressed and badly shaven.”

In her book, she also attacks homo******s as “fairground freaks,” condemns the presence of women in government and denounces the “scandal of unemployment benefits.”

Damn she would have fit right in with a short white guy with a funny mustache from austria. And like there has never been dirty, unshaven, badly dressed people in france before....

[Vance]

:|

[Vance]

:|

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

She has some pretty harsh views on things - but it's a free country, right? Ir is it?


Brigitte Bardot fined for inciting racial hatred
Actress fined after attacking gays, Muslims in her book

Updated: 11:48 a.m. ET June 10, 2004PARIS - French actress-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot was convicted Thursday of inciting racial hatred and ordered to pay $6,000 — the fourth such fine for the former *** symbol since 1997.

The Paris court sentenced Bardot, 69, for remarks in her book “A Scream in the Silence,” an outspoken attack on gays, immigrants and the jobless that shocked France last year.

In the book, she laments the “Islamization of France” and the “underground and dangerous infiltration of Islam.”

“Mme. Bardot presents Muslims as barbaric and cruel invaders, responsible for terrorist acts and eager to dominate the French to the extent of wanting to exterminate them,” the court said.

France’s 5-million-member Muslim community is the largest in Europe.

Bardot, who was not present for the verdict, denied the charges in a tearful court appearance last month, saying her book did not target Islam or people from North Africa.

She told the court France was going through a period of decadence and said she opposed interracial marriage.

“I was born in 1934, at that time interracial marriage wasn’t approved of,” she said.

“There are many new languages in the new Europe. Mediocrity is taking over from beauty and splendor. There are many people who are filthy, badly dressed and badly shaven.”

In her book, she also attacks homo******s as “fairground freaks,” condemns the presence of women in government and denounces the “scandal of unemployment benefits.”

Bardot’s attacks on Muslims prompted anti-racism groups to launch legal proceedings against the former star, who turned her back on film after 46 films to concentrate on animal welfare.

Bardot, who in her 1960s heyday was the epitome of French feminine beauty, was fined $3,250 in January 1998 after being convicted of inciting racial hatred in comments about civilian massacres in Algeria.

Four months earlier, a court fined her for saying France was being overrun by sheep-slaughtering Muslims.

Wow, looks like there are some pretty severe restrictions on "free speech" in France. Maybe it's just a matter of who you piss off, since I'm sure far worse things are said every day in the mosques of the radical Islamists. I don't see them being fined for their speech.
She would be dragged into a court here in the UK if she was a subject of the crown, this kind of hatred is just not on. :|

[henksmoeder]

Free country except for racial hatred. That's how it supposed to be. Discrmination and racism is forbidden by the constitution (like it should be). Nothing wrong for convicting someone who breaks constitutional laws?

[Haiw]

She has some pretty harsh views on things - but it's a free country, right? Ir is it?
No matter how free, anyone in a sane mind understands that you also have to keep it free from racism.


Wow, looks like there are some pretty severe restrictions on "free speech" in France.
I don't call goign against rascism 'severe restrictions'.


Maybe it's just a matter of who you piss off, since I'm sure far worse things are said every day in the mosques of the radical Islamists. I don't see them being fined for their speech.
You don't see them fined no. You see them get thrown out of the country. :roll:

[molly747]

Makes me glad to be an American. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Even though people might say some loathesome things, it's still nice to know that, even if people disgree with me, I won't go to jail for it.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Makes me glad to be an American. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Even though people might say some loathesome things, it's still nice to know that, even if people disgree with me, I won't go to jail for it.
Try saying something like "I want to kill the President" even in the US there are limits to free speech.
Just a question to the constitutionally aware Americans on the forum (Hank, Durandal & SS47) what forms of speech would fall into the category of sedition.

[Trigger]

Makes me glad to be an American. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Even though people might say some loathesome things, it's still nice to know that, even if people disgree with me, I won't go to jail for it.
Try saying something like "I want to kill the President" even in the US there are limits to free speech.
Just a question to the constitutionally aware Americans on the forum (Hank, Durandal & SS47) what forms of speech would fall into the category of sedition.
Whoa pardner!
She said nothing even remotely close to threatening a head of state. She stated her personal opinions on what she perceives as a muslim influx into her country. Unpopular - yes, poor judgement - probably, worthy of censorship and conviction in a court of law - not even close.

No one drags muslim extremists in front of the man when they denounce us repeatedly as the 'Great Satan', yet she does something similar and gets the book thrown at her. More PC Bullsh!t.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Whoa pardner!
She said nothing even remotely close to threatening a head of state. She stated her personal opinions on what she perceives as a muslim influx into her country. Unpopular - yes, poor judgement - probably, worthy of censorship and conviction in a court of law - not even close.
While threatening a head of state is illegal in the US particularly your own I believe in France its illegal to forment racial hatred by slur or inflammotory comments such as the following: "France was being overrun by sheep-slaughtering Muslims" or "she also attacks homo******s as “fairground freaks,” I don't know about you but I think such comments are inflammotory.

[Haiw]

Besides, it's not like they ain't trying to crack down on the extremists...grab a newspaper and a whole new world will open up for you. ;)

[henksmoeder]

Makes me glad to be an American. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Even though people might say some loathesome things, it's still nice to know that, even if people disgree with me, I won't go to jail for it.
Try saying something like "I want to kill the President" even in the US there are limits to free speech.
Just a question to the constitutionally aware Americans on the forum (Hank, Durandal & SS47) what forms of speech would fall into the category of sedition.
Whoa pardner!
She said nothing even remotely close to threatening a head of state. She stated her personal opinions on what she perceives as a muslim influx into her country. Unpopular - yes, poor judgement - probably, worthy of censorship and conviction in a court of law - not even close.

No one drags muslim extremists in front of the man when they denounce us repeatedly as the 'Great Satan', yet she does something similar and gets the book thrown at her. More PC Bullsh!t.

Uuuhm trigger, they do over here. Multiple imams have been sent to court. But again for discriminating stuff. Saying america is 'Great Satan', call it what you will, but it is not discrimination.

[Chris1]

She published inflammatory remarks and civil groups representing the people she wrote about took her to court over it, NOT the french government.
It has, does and will happen in the states.

[Trigger]

Besides, it's not like they ain't trying to crack down on the extremists...grab a newspaper and a whole new world will open up for you. ;)
No thanks, I rather save a tree...besides, my puppy is 'using' the paper right now. If I want a dose of propaganda I'll just turn on the TV.

On topic: Well, it happened in France and if that's the law there, so be it.
Over here though, stand up comedians can crack jokes about homo******s and white people all night long and nobody takes them to court...Unless maybe a white or Jewish comedian cracks on minorities...

[Haiw]

On topic: Well, it happened in France and if that's the law there, so be it.
Over here though, stand up comedians can crack jokes about homo******s and white people all night long and nobody takes them to court...Unless maybe a white or Jewish comedian cracks on minorities...
I think you know perfectly fine that there's a fine line between comedy and a serious book with rascist tendencies... :roll: You don't get convicted for some harmless comedy.

[Trigger]

On topic: Well, it happened in France and if that's the law there, so be it.
Over here though, stand up comedians can crack jokes about homo******s and white people all night long and nobody takes them to court...Unless maybe a white or Jewish comedian cracks on minorities...
I think you know perfectly fine that there's a fine line between comedy and a serious book with rascist tendencies... :roll: You don't get convicted for some harmless comedy.
OK, so for instance, Michael Moore can write a book called 'Stupid White Men' and bend and distort facts and outright libel people he dislikes, and 'it's all good'. Spike Lee can make a film called 'White Men Can't Jump', and 'it's all good'. Do you see the bias?

[Haiw]

What can I say; you live in the US! :lol: ;)

Personally I can't really comment on how that is in Europe, basically because there aren't that much comedians that aren't white native inhabitants.

[molly747]

In order to have free speech, you must take the good with the bad.

[ronin2172]

On topic: Well, it happened in France and if that's the law there, so be it.
Over here though, stand up comedians can crack jokes about homo******s and white people all night long and nobody takes them to court...Unless maybe a white or Jewish comedian cracks on minorities...
I think you know perfectly fine that there's a fine line between comedy and a serious book with rascist tendencies... :roll: You don't get convicted for some harmless comedy.
OK, so for instance, Michael Moore can write a book called 'Stupid White Men' and bend and distort facts and outright libel people he dislikes, and 'it's all good'. Spike Lee can make a film called 'White Men Can't Jump', and 'it's all good'. Do you see the bias?
i'm sorry that is the lamest analogy i have ever seen....u r comparing a movie about basketball which wasn't even directed by Spike Lee..it was directed by ron shelton (a white man who also directed bull durham). To the hatred that bridgette bardot spewed?

Maybe your beef with michael moore is genuine...but those libeled have the option to sue him for what he printed. Not too much difference from what happed to poor ol bardot now is it?

In western europe racisim and such is on the rise, violence against immigrants is on the rise. Now u have one of france's most beloved symbols spewing out hatred, not legitemate critiques about the immigration policy or legitimate critiques about government policies. If it goes unchecked stuff like that will encourage others to do the same and worse.

They didn't ban her books and again it wasn't the government who took her to court it was a private organization. Even here in the US u can't go about saying just anything and not expect some sort of retribution, when u piss people off. Look how much trouble Howard Stern has gotten in...and he didn't even say anything it was one of his callers.

And u talk about double standards...Remember the furor ove f*** the police? Hell the FBI even was involved over that. Or how about when they tried to censor 2 live crew and have their records banned? Axyl Rose said just as bad or worse (used the N word and made derrogotory comments about jews and gays) and nothing happened to him. Or how about the Super bowl; Janet Jackson (black female)caught all the flap for the incident (planned or not) while her partner in crime justin timberlake (white male) caught none, coincidence?

[2Sheds_Jackson]

They didn't ban her books and again it wasn't the government who took her to court it was a private organization. Even here in the US u can't go about saying just anything and not expect some sort of retribution, when u piss people off. Look how much trouble Howard Stern has gotten in...and he didn't even say anything it was one of his callers.
The government didn't take her to court...the government IS the court. And they found her guilty. Is the fine not the government punishing her for what she said?

The Howard Stern analogy doesn’t' work - he was fined for violating rules of use on public airways. If the same conversation was in a book, there would be no problem.



And u talk about double standards...Remember the furor ove f*** the police? Hell the FBI even was involved over that. Or how about when they tried to censor 2 live crew and have their records banned? Axyl Rose said just as bad or worse (used the N word and made derrogotory comments about jews and gays) and nothing happened to him. Or how about the Super bowl; Janet Jackson (black female)caught all the flap for the incident (planned or not) while her partner in crime justin timberlake (white male) caught none, coincidence?

OMG it's racism! That's lame beyond words. Timberlake didn't catch as much **** because it wasn't his tit flapping in the wind.

Again - you have to throw out all the stuff that occurs over public airways - there are specific rules you agree to follow as a broadcaster. Janet can put that saggy old teet in any book she wants, no problemo. Also as you said - Axl Rose/2 Live Crew did not face censorship, and I believe all they were trying to do with was get a warning label on the CDs to warn parents. Nobody threatened them with jail/fines/censorship etc. There was a huge hubub just to get a sticker on the CD.

It amazes me how some (I guess mostly Europeans?) are so willing to give up their ability to speak their minds. Bardot merely has opinions, and expressed them. So what? Is Europe so fragile, so delicate that all unpopular opinions must be crushed? Bardot never advocated harming anybody. The Koran advocates killing non-believers. Is it banned in France? Or did they just fine Mohammed $6000 and move on?

[ronin2172]

2live crew did face censorship....a store owner in broward county was arrested for selling their records and a judge ordered their records pulled off the shelves. And my point with Janet is/ was that when timberlake was asked about the situation he said it was an accident and all was forgiven, while janet said the same thing and people said that's bull she was even sued. And the only reason i brought it up was the previous poster saying that white men can't jump is an example of a double standard

She did more than express her opinion...she spouted pure hatred.

[Durandal]

Just a question to the constitutionally aware Americans on the forum (Hank, Durandal & SS47) what forms of speech would fall into the category of sedition.

Man, I was going to post something about this today after I read the article in the paper at brunch.

France is losing it big time. Then again, they have a list of "official" names for you when you name your baby too, so maybe this is not too crazy. *snort*

Being arrested for this in the U.S. WOULD be a constitutional mess in my opinion. Then again, we have started the "hate crime" laws here in the United States, so who knows. I hate "hate crimes", but murder is murder and assualt is assault, regardless of the reasons. Anyone has the RIGHT to hate, as missplaced as that hatred may be. We also define hate as a racial, etnic, or *minority type here* hatred. If I killed a guy who slept with my wife and then here, it would be a "crime of passion" though for me it would be "hate"..so its all about defining stuff.

Ultimately, I thinkcivil liberties have taken a blow in France...AGAIN.

[ronin2172]

big whoop dee doo..so france has tight free speech laws and Bardot is a racist...if u don't like it then don't go there...if the french people don't like it then let them protest and ask for change...otherwise let the f***in' thing die :roll:

[Durandal]

This discussion is not about whether I personally wish to travel to France or not. It is about the natural right of free speech. Everyone is born with it, but only violence and the government (or both) can deprive a person of it. In this case it is the government.

I am pro-gay rights, but I am not going to try to prevent someone from speaking their mind, be it verbal or in print just because they disagree.

She was speaking her mind, her opinion. An opinion shared but a fairly large and growing number of French citizens, hell, heropinions are shared by certain members of this forum.

Just because it is shared does not mean it is legal. Freedom of speech allows for dissention and is healthy.

To simply brush this aside by saying boo-hoo and :rolling your eyes: :roll: is brushing aside a fundamental civil liberties issue.

Next you are going to tell me that it is ok for the Chinese to lock up non-violent, non-criminal political dissidents.

Because that is what is next...maybe not this year or the next...but in a decade or two, France is walking that line...

[ronin2172]

did she legitimatly criticisze the french government on immigration and employment? No. She did nothing but spout hatred, and as far as i can tell all she got was a fine...not jail time, didn't have her book banned, there is no comparison between her and a political dissadent who has a legitimate gripe with the way his/her government is run and is imprisoned, killed, tortured because of what he/she said. Had all she said we need to change our immigration policy...fine, no prob, but she didn't. Did she say we need to look out for islamic extremeists, no she labelled everyone in islam as evil. She said france was being overrun...as if the armies of saladin were banging down the gates to paris. There must be a move afoot to change ther language from french to arabic, to change the religion from roman catholocisim to islam.

I hope she remembers all those statements about these dirty immigrants when she watches her country being represented to the hilt in euro 2004 by a team with a healthy dose of immigrants and the sons of immigrants.

[California Joe]

Has anyone stopped to think that this woman making political statements is her generation's Pamela Anderson? Why should anyone give a fat french rat's ass? Alright then. Shut it. No one cares. Jesus, do I have to do everything around here?

[ronin2172]

^LOL rofl ...thanks for keeping it in perspective as always Joe

[Fargin]

Brigit (http://www.bitchmakemeasandwich.com/)te Bardot

[anonymous individual]

I am guessing France isn't a free country after all. No wonder they didn't support the US on the war.

Just joking. ;)

[Durandal]

Has anyone stopped to think that this woman making political statements is her generation's Pamela Anderson? Why should anyone give a fat french rat's ass? Alright then. Shut it. No one cares. Jesus, do I have to do everything around here?

Yeah, you can mock me! Give it to me baby!

Listen if We should not give a rat's ass about here why should she get fined? All it does is prove that freedom of speech in France...isn't free.

I think she is a moron and preaches hate...oh well, ignore her. Nobody shuts the klan up in the U.S. and everybody KNOWs they are morons as a result...

[UkrainianAmerican]

After reading this thread, I love the US of A even more now! woot

[SOG]

Makes me glad to be an American. Free speech is a wonderful thing. Even though people might say some loathesome things, it's still nice to know that, even if people disgree with me, I won't go to jail for it.
Try saying something like "I want to kill the President" even in the US there are limits to free speech.
Just a question to the constitutionally aware Americans on the forum (Hank, Durandal & SS47) what forms of speech would fall into the category of sedition.

we have persoanlly known someone who has threatened the president in a heated public political debate with a friend, you dont go to farkin jail, however they make a list of who you are and appearntly the guy got visited by cops before the president came to town and they simply told him he needed to stay away from the area and be accountable for where he was. they sized him as a threat, nothing more.

freedom of speech is really limited by those around you here. if your around those in line with you then you can really say anything. the general public wouldnt appreciate something like racist comments but as long as the speech was not directing violence against any american then it would be tolerated but highly protested. if you direct or incite violence then you forfeit as you enter the realm of commiting a hate crime.

theres also a sub movement of being pc (politically correct) going on around the workplace. if you as a boss have a swear word on a shirt or tattoo you must cover it up if someone complains as you are creating a "hostile" work place.

generally free speach is as open simply as those around you. but if someone is uncormfortable with certain things then you have to curtail yourself. the public sector wont get you in too much trouble with swear words etc, just watch it at the work place because of the sue happy jackals.