French minister Valls defends call for Roma expulsions

cenydd
Reporter

Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

French minister Valls defends call for Roma expulsions Sept 25, 2013 19:48:45 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 25, 2013 19:48:45 GMT

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls says he stands by remarks calling for the country's Roma (Gypsies) to be expelled.

He said few Roma could ever integrate into French society and "the majority" should be sent "back to the borders".

He has been criticised by human rights campaigners, the European Commission and one of his cabinet colleagues.

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But Mr Valls - a dapper 51-year-old who polls suggest is a rising star in Francois Hollande's Socialist administration - said he saw no reason to correct comments that Roma lifestyles were "clearly in confrontation" with French ways of life.

"I've got nothing to correct," he said. "My remarks only shock those who don't know the subject.

"The majority [of Roma] should be delivered back to the borders. We are not here to welcome these people.

"I'd remind you of [former Socialist premier] Michel Rocard's statement: 'It's not France's job to deal with the misery of the whole world.'"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24273380

This is quite staggering, and shocking at a fundamental level. Who is next - the Jews, perhaps? To have a government minister saying something like that should be deeply worrying to the decent people of France, and in fact for decent people everywhere.

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

ShivaTD
Essayist

Posts: 2,969

Politics: Libertarian

French minister Valls defends call for Roma expulsions Oct 20, 2013 12:33:56 GMT

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Post by ShivaTD on Oct 20, 2013 12:33:56 GMT

This reflects a generally held belief by many politicians as well by many individuals that the "People are the subjects of government" as opposed to the "government being the servant of the People" in many nations including the United States.

I would stand with Thomas Jefferson's belief that the person has in inalienable Right of Expatriation that allows them to leave their native country of birth and relocate (immigrate) to another nation. Thomas Jefferson also expressed concerns that "unlimited" immigration that is beyond the capacity of a nation to absorb could be problematic which could impose a limitation on the Freedom to Exercise the Right of Expatriation but such infringements upon the Freedom to Exercise a Right should always be to the least extent possible.

In the cases where someone has already immigrated and been absorbed into the population a nation should never have the authority to evict (deport) them regardless of what their social or political beliefs are so long as their actions do not harm others. This should obviously never be imposed based upon any attributes of the person such as race, religion, ethnic heritage, social class, or other invidious criteria. On the flip side a person that immigrates to a country solely for criminal purposes can and should be prosecuted and eventually deported because their Right of Expatriation does not allow them to commit criminal acts that violate the Inalienable Rights of another Person.

A "natural born citizen" (i.e. established by jus soli - the Right of Soil) can never have their citizenship revoked or be deported from the nation, ever, and always has a Right to Return to their native country of birth. The Right of the Person supersedes any authority of the government.

In short All People have a Right to Immigrate but not for criminal purposes. I believe that is a pretty straight-forward proposition that all nations should accept and defend.

Last Edit: Oct 20, 2013 12:38:20 GMT by ShivaTD

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.

dangermouse
Scribe

Posts: 85

French minister Valls defends call for Roma expulsions Oct 21, 2013 1:37:55 GMT

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Post by dangermouse on Oct 21, 2013 1:37:55 GMT

I suspect that he is overcompensating to defend against the encroaching far right. He wants to be seen as tough on immigration. The French as a whole support a harder line, and the student uprisings are more an objection to the abrupt method of deporting the young girl and her family, and not to the policy itself.