To the Editor:
Re “Jihad and the French exception,” by Farhad Khosrokhavar (Opinion, July, 20): I take issue with Mr. Khosrokhavar’s critique of the French adherence to “Laïcité,” or secularism.
The French firmly believe in the separation of church and state, understanding that religion is a private matter based not on science, or rational thinking, but on faith. Mixing religion and politics only leads to confusion and Dogma.
It is not France that is too rigid in its policy, as Mr. Khosrokhavar suggests, but the Muslim religion in particular, which demands adherence to the Koran, in political as well as private life. There is no separation of mosque and state, there has never been a reformation, and those who want to reform the religion are often considered heretics and worse.
There is no rationale for killing French citizens. It is the Muslim community that rigidly holds to their religion, and it is that community which must become more “pragmatic and sensible,” not the other way around.
ELLEN SHIRE
Gagnac-sur-Cère, France
Note from KBJ: The diagnosis is correct. Islam is pre-modern. France is post-modern. Something must give. We'll see how many bombings, beheadings, slashings, shootings, and automobile crushings it takes before the French people take action to preserve their culture and their way of life. By the way, French philosopher René Descartes might take issue with the claim that religion is not based on rational thinking. What are the so-called proofs of the existence of God?
