Humanism masquerading as overt violence

For several days, and even weeks now, the Place de la République in Paris has been invaded by a crowd of revolutionaries calling themselves «Nuit Debout». Their mission? To protest against capitalism and advocate «humanist» values.

As is often the case, the good intentions of the bobo (or bobette, if you prefer) left in reality conceal an intolerant and even totalitarian spirit. On April 16, essayist Alain Finkielkraut went to the demonstration with his wife to see for himself what was going on, without the filter of the media.

Whether you agree with his ideas or not, no one would dream of challenging the right of the author in question to go to this public square. And yet... if the police hadn't been there, an academician might well have ended up in hospital. Covered in unfounded insults and physically shoved, Alain Finkielkraut was chased away by far-left militants on that spring night.

Once again, the monster shows itself: under the guise of openness, outrageous sectarianism; under the guise of humanism, overt violence; under the name of democracy, fascism. Tolerance isn't always where you think it is. If ever there was a supporter of the Enlightenment in this darkness, a republican on the Place de la République, it's Alain Finkielkraut.

Write to the author: jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com