In the view of Jack Lang, former French Minister of Culture and currently the president of the Institut du Monde Arabe, the French apparently have a duty (where this duty has come from is unclear) to allow into their midst still more millions of those who are taught to despise them – Muslims being, in the Qur’an, the “best of peoples,” while non-Muslims are “the most vile of created beings.” Why? Where does this duty to allow into your country people whose faith inculcates hatred for their hosts come from? Jack Lang doesn’t justify or explain this, because he can’t. He merely insists, without more.
The Institute of the Arab World, which Jack Lang heads, is very well endowed. The Institute is housed in a building that cost $250 million when it was built between 1981 and 1987; in today’s dollars that would be half-a-billion dollars. At the time, it was the most expensive building in France in modern times. Lang is, unsurprisingly, a great promoter of the Arab, and Muslim, presence in France. And he describes those who beg to differ with his celebration of the Arabs, Islam, and the Arabic language, in France, people such as the combative Eric Zemmour, as being “merchants of fear or hatred,” people who “cling” – note the implied losing-battle desperation in that word – to a “stunted conception of what France should be.”
Mr Lang said the study and recognition of the Arab world and cultures is more necessary than ever.
Jack Lang has it wrong. What the West – what the entire world of Unbelievers – needs to study and understand is not the Arabic language, but the fanatical faith – Islam — that its speakers embrace. The peoples of the West have done quite enough pretending that Arabic is the language of a “great civilization” in order to keep a “dialogue” going with the Arabs. But what “great civilization,” comparable to those of Europe, India, or China, have the Arabs produced? What masterpieces of art, when all paintings, and all statues of living creatures, are haram? What rich musical tradition could the Arabs possibly present, when Islam forbids all instrumental music? What is the heritage of Arab philosophy – can you name a single Arab philosopher of significance, aside from Ibn Arabi? How much of Arabic poetry consists of panegyrics of a ruler who is also a patron, or denunciations of those who, powerful and rich, deny the poet adequate support? And why is so much Arabic literature tendentious political propaganda, such as the works of the late Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish?
But if the Institute of the Arab World were being created today, he [Jack Lang] believes there would be calls for it to be named the Institute of the Muslim World, given that a majority of Muslims are not Arabs.
Does that mean that Lang is undercutting his own promotion of Arabic, by recognizing that most Muslims are not Arabs, and many speak Farsi, Urdu, Bengali, Bahasa? Should Farsi and Urdu, Bengali and Bahasa, also be offered in French schools, or should all Muslims, including non-Arabs, have the option only to learn Arabic?
“The Arabic language and cultures cannot be reduced to Islam,” he [Lang] says.
If so, it is not for want of trying by Muslim Arabs. They are uninterested in Arab culture in the period that preceded the arrival of Islam. They call that period the Jahiliyya, or Time of Ignorance. Arabic is so identified with Islam that there is practically no cultural space left for Arabic-without-Islam. And Islam cannot be separated from the language in which the Qur’an was sent down, over 23 years, to an Arab, and in his language.
What Lang wants to make you believe is that there is a rich tradition of literary works in Arabic having nothing to do with Islam. But what are the names of these works, and who are their authors? Look high and look low, but you won’t find, in all of Arabic-language literature, more than a handful whose writings “cannot be reduced to Islam.”
“In a secular framework, such as advocated by republican law, what better way to transmit elements of culture than through learning the language? It is through language learning that we discover the multiple aspects of a civilisation.”
We come back to the main point with which we began. In the schools, the time for learning languages is limited. Choices have to be made. If the schools offer, and promote, Arabic, that will mean fewer students in French schools will be studying English, a language far more useful, in the sciences and the humanities, in business, sport, and entertainment, than Arabic. Jack Lang would apparently deny that possibility to Muslim pupils, on whom family pressure to study Arabic would be intense.
The IMA [Institut du Monde Arabe] has already acted on Mr Lang’s commitment to Arabic, having run courses for all ages and levels for more than 20 years and more recently offering an internationally recognised certificate, so far allowing 500 students to sit for qualifying exams in France and other countries, including the UAE.
Mr Lang is not among them.
“Sadly, I speak only a little Arabic, not well enough to hold a proper conversation,” he said.
So Jack Lang himself, even though he is the president of the Instiut du Monde Arabe, can’t be bothered to spend the time to study Arabic, not even that small amount one would need to carry on a conversation. If he knows so little Arabic, how can he comment on the splendors of the language itself? How does he know, for example, how well Arabic accommodates scientific terminology? Or has in its lexicon acquired sufficient philosophical terms to discuss modern — i.e., Western – philosophy? He is singing the praises of a language that he admits he hardly knows.
There is a word for this, but it’s not in Arabic: chutzpah. It is chutzpah for Lang to praise and promote a language he does not know. It is chutzpah for him to declare that one of the most advanced cultures in the world, that of the French and their “perfected civilization” (as Chamfort called it), owe to the Arabic language, that soi-disant “treasure of France,” so very much. For according to the shameless Jack Lang, “Arabic has enabled French culture to open to mathematics history, medicine.”
The Arabs who pay Lang’s salary must be quite pleased with his performance. He deserves – he’s earned – his fat salary from the Institut du Monde Arabe. And the latest news from France confirms his value: President Macron issued a decree on May 2, stating that beginning in the fall of 2020, Arabic would be offered in French schools, starting in the first grade and continuing right through to university. At least it will not, for now, be mandatory. But with this option, some Muslim students who will study Arabic in school, pushed to do so by their parents, will not have the possibility of studying English, which is far more important than Arabic to their job prospects.
According to Macron’s plan, the language study in France will be offered in collaboration with the government of Tunisia. Who will be monitoring these teachers of Arabic, making sure they do not manage to include Islamic propaganda in what are supposed to be purely language lessons?
Questions, questions. One thing is certain: this expanded teaching of Arabic in French schools will replace the study of English among Muslim students, those who can least afford to go without studying English; the result will be a pedagogical mess. And unless closely monitored, such teaching may not be limited to the Arabic language, but become a vehicle for indoctrination in Islam. Jack Lang is not concerned. He knows Arabic is a “treasure of France,” without which the French would have had a hard time opening to “mathematics, history, and medicine.” Jack Lang’s paymasters must be very proud.
Henry Schalk says
Funnily enough, in Algeria, they don’t have the same sentiment for French.
https://thearabweekly.com/algerias-islamists-use-identity-issues-drum-support-serve-agenda
FYI says
And Jack Lang is “a National Tosser”
Tosser,like bollocks,is an English word I like to use.It means a dodgy type.
{In French it is Le Tosseur….and Les Rosbifs are the English}
Jack Lang in the future..
“Sadly,I speak only a little French,not well enough to hold a proper conversation”
FYI says
Jack Lang in the future..
“Ahmed,get me a respirator.Oh non:what’s the Arabic for respirator?Ahmed and Dr Abdool don’t speak French”
David says
FYi, Funny! Jack Lang does speak French, but he still can’t hold an intelligent conversation.His paymasters must look upon him as a useful idiot. Does he seriously believe what he says, or is he just taking the money?
Muslims should all be forced to learn Arabic. It will severely waste their time, and keep them occupied. How does a muslim study the Koran, yet not see the evil which it spews out, like satanic vomit?
Anyone who promotes Islam should be accused of supporting terrorism.
mortimer says
Jack Lang is a national disgrace. A sell-out.
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Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
Jack Lang seems like an example of someone offering the worst possible advice at the worst possible time. Yes, let’s all take some time out of life to learn more and appreciate Arab culture, and let’s just ignore all that islam stuff because after all so many muslims aren’t Arab. This is the kind of talk you might get from a pedophile deviant talking to a child in park…
“Let’s just talk about all that ice cream you’re going to get when you get to my place, and let’s not dwell on the bad things men in rusty vans do sometimes to children. ”
Lang doesn’t have a leg to stand on with this thing, islam is inexorably tied to Arab culture, and islam is a mortal threat the West. Why should anyone be enthused about learning more about a culture and people who threaten the well being of their own nation(s)? It’s as ludicrous as Roosevelt suggesting during the war that Americans learn German to better understand aspects of their civilization. Such a suggestion does not jibe well at all with the current situation, which is that the Western world is under massive attack by every manner of islamic supremacism imaginable. So I have a better idea, let’s reassert our own values and language so they –muslims–can better understand our civilization. Then later, after muslims learn to respect and appreciate the rights of others–gays, Jews, non-muslims, women, etc–then we can all live in peace together and then take some time to learn about Arab culture. Because then, and only then, might Arab culture be worth learning about (probably not). Amazing, I’m a high school drop out, but commonsense honesty makes me seem so much smarter than these “educated” sympathizers of islam, don’t you agree?
b.a. freeman says
Agostino, the credentials earned from the academy often have little or no correlation with the abilities of the holder. i have met very smart non-degreed people as well as uneducated fools holding lots of degrees … and i much prefer the company, and respect the abilities, of the former.
and i fear that arab “culture,” not having advanced any past the 7th century, is about on par with that of an ms-13 gang, which i would *not* classify as either culture or civilization.
James Lincoln says
b.a. freeman says,
“i have met very smart non-degreed people as well as uneducated fools holding lots of degrees … and i much prefer the company, and respect the abilities, of the former.”
Absolutely true.
I have a niece who graduated valedictorian from her high school class, received a bachelors degree from an Ivy League college, as well as a Masters degree from yet another Ivy League college.
A half dozen or more years out, and the only jobs that she has held could have been done by a streetsmart high school grad.
Others in her high school graduating class have gone on to become physicians, lawyers, airline pilots, engineers, etc. And the blue-collar types have set up successful businesses.
A colossal waste of time / money…
David says
Your daughter seems to have had bad luck, but why did her fellow students get better jobs? Has she thought of being a teacher?
James Lincoln says
David,
Thank you for the reply.
It is actually my niece.
See floats from one entry-level job to another, I’m not sure what is going on with her. My hunch is that she is an excellent student – but has a very low stress threshold for professional jobs in the real world – including teaching.
I’ve tried talking with her, in a limited way because I am her uncle, without much success…
gravenimage says
Sorry to hear about your niece, James. Sadly this is not uncommon.
David says
You make many good points.. Arab culture is like the study of moral decay. Actually it didn’t decay. It has always been rotten to the Kor-an! It has nothing to offer. Its history is appalling. The West and Islam are like two dogs A poodle, and a Rottweiler. They need to be kept apart.
I think the West is making headway with some muslims, who see the superior appeal of an advanced civilisation, compared with islam which has not moved forward one jot. It is set in stone; it is fossilised by the words of the ‘perfect’ Koran. It is their millstone. They are in a mental straitjacket. They are obligated to pray five times a day, and repeat the same mantra. This has to seriously have an adverse effect on the mind. Pure brainwashing techniques. Mind control supreme. Check out the film: “The Manchurian Candidate”
gravenimage says
Few Muslims in the West have left Islam, and how many supposedly “moderate” Muslims would stand with us against their coreligionists? Very few, unfortunately.
Shirley Ann says
Jack Lang is a picture of Walking Death to the French People & to anyone, who dares to disagree with this Wanna-Be Muslim. The French Leaders have nothing in common with the FRENCH people, but the Leaders are all welcoming to men like Jack Lang. He is one of the New Globalized Citizens, where Islam is superior. SICK!
James Lincoln says
The only good reason to learn Arabic would be to work for a government agency whose purpose is to uncover jihadist plots against the state, etc.
gravenimage says
+1
gravenimage says
Former French Culture Minister: Arabic is “A National Treasure” (Part 3)
……………….
Lang’s idea that if Arabic is forced on the French that this will somehow lessen “extremism” could not be more misguided. More than anything, this will just embolden ravening Muslims.
Alex says
First Arabic is taught
Then moderate Muslims come
Through them Islamic hardliners come.
(Hardliners close the mouth of moderates)
Result is France become another Lebanon.
Peter WF says
Very simple – the french are being taken over by their colonies.
gravenimage says
European nations that never had colonies in the Muslim world are being taken over by Muslim invaders, as well.
Moreover, France only occupied Algeria in the first place because the Muslims there would not stop attacking Infidel shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mike says
Mr Lang is muslim friendly…. especialy with the young boys in Morocco . He should move there and converted .
Mike says
Islam is fruitful for him . He has been director of Maison de la culture Arabe ( Arabic cultur House ) in Paris for years at 100,000 euros per year plus other benefits like a limousine , a chauffeur , receptions with caters, foreign travels to arab world etc…..
Kerry Wade says
This minister’s treasonous bile leads me to believe he’s either a 5th column or suffers from a species of self hatred and sado masochism, inflicting such blows on French culture. One of the national treasures of France is French not Arabic. And French is probably the greatest and most beautiful language ever. This idiot should be in prison.
No Muzzies Here says
He’s being paid by the Arab institute. Nothing he says has any credibility. Another Westerner who has sold out his country to the “Arabs.”