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Suicide on Paris cathedral altar stirs France's far right


Dominique Venner, 78, was right-wing French historian, blogger and essayist

CBC News

Posted: May 22, 2013 11:22 AM ET

Last Updated: May 22, 2013 10:57 AM ET

[Image: d_hi-dominique-venner.jpg]Dominique Vanner, 78, the French essayist and blogger, killed himself on the altar at Notre Dame Catherdral in Paris Tuesday.Facebook
The public suicide in Paris of Dominique Venner, a 78-year-old right-wing French historian and essayist, has stirred a strong political reaction in the country.
Some 1,500 visitors were cleared out of Notre Dame Cathedral after a man put a letter on the altar of the 850-year-old monument Tuesday, then pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head, three days after a law legalizing same-sex marriage came into effect.
Venner's blog describes his opposition to France's new law authorizing same-sex marriage. In some posts, he criticizes "massive immigration" and what he describes as encroaching Islam; others include historical analysis of revolution or American-European relations.
The suicide was described by National Front leader Marine Le Pen on Twitter as a political act.
"All respect to Dominique Venner whose final, eminently political act was to try to wake up the people of France," Ms Le Pen wrote on Twitter, the BBC said.
"It is in life and hope that France will renew and save itself," the far-right party leader added.

1st suicide in decades at site

In response, Socialist Party chief Harlem Desir said he was shocked by her characterization. He called Venner's death the "gesture of a far-right marginal."
It was the first suicide in decades at the landmark site, Monsignor Patrick Jacquin, the cathedral's rector, told The Associated Press.
"It's unfortunate, it's dramatic, it's shocking," Jacquin said. The motives for the suicide, and the contents of the man's letter, were unclear.
It says he fought with French forces against Algerian independence fighters a half-century ago in a war that ended with France losing its most prized colony.
Police ushered people out of the cathedral after the shooting, Interior Minister Manuel Valls told reporters from the grand stone plaza in front of Notre Dame. "We call for compassion," he said.
"Notre Dame is the cathedral of Paris, one of the capital's and the country's most beautiful monuments, so we realize how symbolic this event truly is."

Opened for evening service

It's highly unusual for the 12th-century cathedral, visited by some 13 million people from around the world every year, to be evacuated, the AP reported.
It opened for an evening service that church officials said would include a prayer for the man who committed suicide and other struggling souls.
After Venner's death, a friend read a message from him on a conservative radio station, Radio Courtoisie, where Venner had once broadcast, the BBC reported.
"I believe it is necessary to sacrifice myself to break with the lethargy that is overwhelming us," he was quoted as saying. "I am killing myself to awaken slumbering consciences."
Venner was once imprisoned for activities with the Secret Army Organization (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle, the BBC said.
Quote:Venner was once imprisoned for activities with the Secret Army Organization (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle, the BBC said.

Quote:The suicide was described by National Front leader Marine Le Pen on Twitter as a political act.
"All respect to Dominique Venner whose final, eminently political act was to try to wake up the people of France," Ms Le Pen wrote on Twitter, the BBC said.
"It is in life and hope that France will renew and save itself," the far-right party leader added.

Fascists.

They love Big Symbolic Gestures.

And their meaning is always Banal.
Jan Klimkowski Wrote:
Quote:Venner was once imprisoned for activities with the Secret Army Organization (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle, the BBC said.

Quote:The suicide was described by National Front leader Marine Le Pen on Twitter as a political act.
"All respect to Dominique Venner whose final, eminently political act was to try to wake up the people of France," Ms Le Pen wrote on Twitter, the BBC said.
"It is in life and hope that France will renew and save itself," the far-right party leader added.

Fascists.

They love Big Symbolic Gestures.

And their meaning is always Banal.
One down, several thousand to go...It's a start at least. If only they would all follow his fine example.
Jeez, you'd think they were making gay marriage compulsory for all or some thing. What is it if some one else wants to get married? What ever happened to live and let live?
Magda Hassan Wrote:What ever happened to live and let live?

Well he's a fascist. Or was....

Fascists like ordering people about, telling them what to do. In public.

In private, the whips and the obsession with humiliation and pain can get out of control.

I'm fine with Venner's Big Symbolic Gesture of Banality.

Live and let die.
Jan Klimkowski Wrote:
Magda Hassan Wrote:What ever happened to live and let live?

Well he's a fascist. Or was....

Fascists like ordering people about, telling them what to do. In public.

In private, the whips and the obsession with humiliation and pain can get out of control.

I'm fine with Venner's Big Symbolic Gesture of Banality.

Live and let die.

Sadly for Venner, I don't think it will rally the 'masses' of neofascists in France or anywhere. At least now he doesn't have to contemplate remarriage to a man or seeing gay couples on the streets of Paris holding hands or embracing He'd rather have had them shot, but instead shot himself. Well, the better of the two options, for sure. Strange though, as I'd think neofascists would be rather happy about the march toward that ideology the 'West' is taking goose step by goose step.....America in the lead, UK just behind....true France and others are lagging, but seem to slowly be drawn as if by a magnet...he only needed to wait. Oh well, bye Venner. Enjoy 'Hell'.