NP - Houellebecq on Paris attacks

[matthew cissell]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/opinion/how-frances-leaders-failed-its-people.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=

Ecce Houellebecq. The Author has spoken, too bad he didn't choose silence.

The title blames the leaders. In his second paragraph he attributes the
1986 atttacks to Hezbollah. (Let's pass over his moaning about the lack of
a Churchill like leader, but recall what Brecht said in Galileo about the
need for leaders.) Then Chez Michel sez the blame is widely shared, but
then in the next line he's back to blaming leaders. So which is it Michel?

Howlabook claims that the "essential mission" of the government is to
protect the population. Guess he didn't study Poli-sci.

Perhaps someone should remind Monsieur H. that the only people responsible
for the attacks are the people who perpetrated them.

Mon. H. would like to be Zola but this is not his lineage. Michel
Houellebecq belongs to the line Joseph de Miastre, Maurice Barres, and
Charles Maurras.

But is his piece not also part of the game? An essay here or there
following on some book release to bump up the numbers, not a rational act
following rules but a feel for the game - "Now is the time for this!" A
controversial piece to make sure your name stays in the news for some days.
(Think back to how Baudrillard made the most out of events by saying
something supposedly profound - Iraq war and 2001 attacks.) His blip is
growing, and perhaps I should not contribute to it, but when you hear
idiocy proclaimed as wisdom it is incumbent upon you to respond.

Pauvre France. there must be more than Houellebecq and BS Henri Levy. Sure
makes me miss Bourdieu.

ciao
mc otis
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