zenith-nadir
30th November 2005, 05:47 AM
Well isn't this interesting.
France Upholds Law That Smooths History (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051129/ap_on_re_eu/france_gilding_history_1) - Tue Nov 29, 4:02 PM ET
PARIS - France's parliament voted Tuesday to uphold a law that puts an upbeat spin on the country's painful colonial past, ignoring complaints from historians and the former French territory of Algeria.
The law, passed quietly this year, requires school textbooks to address France's "positive role" in its former colonies.
France's lower house, in a 183-94 vote, rejected an effort by the opposition Socialists to kill the law.
Lawmakers from the governing conservative UMP party passed the law in February when only a handful of deputies were present. It came under full public scrutiny only in recent months with a petition by history teachers. It was denounced at a recent annual meeting of historians.Don't like the history of your country? Pass a law and rewrite it!
France Upholds Law That Smooths History (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051129/ap_on_re_eu/france_gilding_history_1) - Tue Nov 29, 4:02 PM ET
PARIS - France's parliament voted Tuesday to uphold a law that puts an upbeat spin on the country's painful colonial past, ignoring complaints from historians and the former French territory of Algeria.
The law, passed quietly this year, requires school textbooks to address France's "positive role" in its former colonies.
France's lower house, in a 183-94 vote, rejected an effort by the opposition Socialists to kill the law.
Lawmakers from the governing conservative UMP party passed the law in February when only a handful of deputies were present. It came under full public scrutiny only in recent months with a petition by history teachers. It was denounced at a recent annual meeting of historians.Don't like the history of your country? Pass a law and rewrite it!