M. DF,
Ho-ho, in both name and manner, the original amphibious firebrand. Hhmm, but that makes you the Dissident Salamander.
Nice work at TNAR. It's good to remember that there are still many good things in France and from France.
Alas, the current political crew plotting mush legislation for the curtailment of legitimate religious freedom is not among the good things of France. Will the French Mutawwa'in be doing panty checks to ensure people of a religious disposition haven't tattooed a cross, Chi-ro, Magen David, omkar, Ek Onkar, triratana, or some such on their pale hidden bottoms?
At what point does French Republican secularism cross over to religion of the state? The answer, long ago. (The original state-sponsored terrorist, M. Robespierre, was a big fan of state-sponsored religion as long as it was state-invented religion.)
Imagine my surprise to learn that France enacted an anti-sect law three years ago. Entitled "the law to reinforce the prevention and repression of groups of a sect-like character," it empowers the state to disband a church after two convictions for a variety of crimes. One doesn't have to make common cause with phony Scientologists to see that the state busying itself with determining the "sect-like character" of organizations invites not just the "prevention and repression" of marginal religions but also established religions (all derivative religions are "sect-like", all competitive religions are "sect-like") and organized political opposition that becomes, well, too formidably "sect-like".
French secularists complain that religious identity is dangerous because it is divisive, but, oh, look no further than this enshrinement for an idea of secularist comity:
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !
These secularists mean business! Better this ensanguined twaddle than some Jainist insurrectionist advocating Ahimsa, or a swami chanting "Hare Krishna", or "pax Christi" from the Pope (who's on notice to dress down should he find himself in France -- keep the cross tucked in and the rosary in your pocket, JP2).
The current Supreme Being squatting in the Elysée Palace is a jealous god indeed.
Marchons !,
DGB
BTW, when posing with Lenin in Red Square, the poser is first invited to make an extemporaneous confession and then is shot. Only the camera lacking bullets keeps this from being an authentic Soviet experience.