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OK, I forgot that one. But here are two quotes from Jerome in that thread that explain his meaning:

Jerome a Paris:

The fact is that more Americans (as a percentage of the relevant population) say they are Christians first and Americans second than French people say they are Muslim first, and French second.

So when "Christians" is the widely accepted word to describe white Americans, I'll stop complaining about the word "Muslim" being used to describe France's Arab and African communities.

Jerome a Paris:

the relevant question is "are Arabs integrating in France," not "are Muslims integrating in France.

Racism and other integration obstacles are linked to their being Arab, not to their being Muslim. The label "Muslim" is one that's only been used since 9/11 and is part of the vocabulary of the War on Terra.

Thus, we should not help promote that narrative.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Feb 5th, 2014 at 12:39:10 PM EST
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Jerome a Paris:
the relevant question is "are Arabs integrating in France," not "are Muslims integrating in France.
That sounds dangerously close to denying the Arabs/Muslims the right to self-identify. Which is par for the course since French Jacobinism as a matter of state policy denies the existence of French "identities" below the Nation.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Feb 5th, 2014 at 12:42:18 PM EST
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Jerome a Paris:
Of course there are Muslims in France

it's just not their predominant characteristic, not their defining one, and it is incorrect to label them as such.

There are tennis players in France, but it's not a label that's often used to define groups and assign violent political meaning to.

I've always seen this as the key quote of Jerome where things began to click together (for me, anyway) how France 'works'. Provocative as it was (is!), I found it a rather effective meme, it sure sticks to the mind. BTW, Jerome and I have discussed amiably over this phrase during one of the ET-meetups.

by Bjinse on Wed Feb 5th, 2014 at 01:15:17 PM EST
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