The French Non-binary Pronoun War Heats Up

You’ll recall that I discussed this here: Chris of Rights: Umm…I don’t Get It

Well, it’s back in the news again.

Althouse: "There are two pronouns: he and she. Our language is beautiful. And two pronouns are appropriate."

Said the French first lady, Brigitte Macron, quoted in "In a Nonbinary Pronoun, France Sees a U.S. Attack on the Republic/When a French dictionary included the gender-nonspecific 'iel' for the first time, a virulent reaction erupted over 'wokisme' exported from American universities" (NYT).

Lilian Delhomme, 24, a gender-nonconforming student of international affairs at the University of Paris 8 who has been using the pronoun “iel” for about a year, was appalled by Ms. Macron’s statement.

“This for me was very violent,” Mx. Delhomme said in an interview. “Coming from the first lady, from a woman, from a French teacher, from someone whose relationship went against many societal norms, it made me lose hope.”

The French First Lady is opposed to the language addition. She says it’s a beautiful language, and this is an awkward addition. She’s correct on both counts. If they actually had a true non-binary pronoun, that might be worthwhile, but a non-binary pronoun that has two gender forms is, well, stupid.

Umm…I don’t Get It

Details here, but for once I’m going to pontificate a little.

Ace of Spades HQ (mu.nu)

Unlike America, France has an official language. Not just a name, “French”, but honest-to-God approved words, approved by the Acadamie Francaise. And they have an official dictionary, Le Robert. I have one myself.

The Acadamie Francaise decides what’s in the French language, and Le Robert publishes it.

Well, the wonderful people at Le Robert this year decided that the Acadamie Francaise was moving too slow on this whole non-binary pronoun thing. So, they mutinied and created their own non-binary pronouns.

I had been wondering myself about this, as French is very much a gendered language. La voiture, for car,  for example, is feminine, but le train for train is masculine (la for feminine, le for masculine).

Ok, that’s bad enough. Le Robert has always been the official word on the official language. Now, they’re setting their own path. Not good.

But it gets worse. The path they’re on doesn’t even go anywhere.

As quoted by Ace (emphasis mine):

French dictionary Le Robert decided to add the entry "iel" -- a combination of "il" and "elle," which means "he" and "she" in French respectively -- into the online version of its dictionary in October.

It's a "personal subject pronoun of the third person singular and plural, used to refer to a person regardless of gender," the dictionary entry reads.

Together with its plural and feminine form, called collectively as "iel, ielle, iels, ielles," this new addition to the French language has triggered strong opposition from some French politicians.

So, this is the part I don’t get. You created masculine and feminine forms of your new non-binary pronouns? How is this in any way different from the il & elle that you started with? You created binary non-binary pronouns.

Apparently, Ace and I are the only two people to realize just how insanely stupid this idea is.

Or, as Ace mockingly puts it:

Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Your "non-binary" pronoun iel--

ALSO HAS A "FEMININE FORM"???!

SO "IEL" IS THE MASCULINE FORM OF THE "NON-BINARY" PRONOUN, AND "IELLE" IS THE FEMININE FORM OF THE "NON-BINARY" PRONOUN?

Do you--

Do you not see--

having masculine and feminine forms makes them "binary"?

Don't you need a ANOTHER "non-binary" pronoun for people who are, what's the word, actually non-binary?

Sacre Merde, this is even stupider than I thought it was going to be.

Well I guess the non-binary pronouns have to have a gender, because every noun or pronoun in French is either male or female.

So....

What is the point?

Exactly. What IS the point?

You’re Going to Be Treated Like Lepers

Or worse.

Just for not taking a stupid shot.

French citizens without booster shot will be locked out of parts of society (reclaimthenet.org)

The French government recently announced that booster shots are available. All people over 65 are eligible for the booster shots if it has been six months since their second dose of the vaccine.

The government said seniors above the age of 65 who do not get their booster shot when they become eligible will have their vaccine passport deactivated and so they will be locked out of much of society.

If it has been six months since the second dose of the vaccine, the government will allow those eligible five weeks to get the booster shot. The government will begin enforcing the new rule on December 15.

I don’t yet have my booster. I guess I’d be locked out of French society.

The Thought Police Is in France

French President Macron criticized for creating online "thought police" task force (reclaimthenet.org)

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has come under fire after forming a committee against online speech that critics are already calling the “thought police.” According to Macron, he considers “conspiracy theories” a “poison” to society.

Macron claimed in an interview that conspiracy theories are a “key problem” for France and that he’s fighting against the idea that “all views are equal, that those of someone who is not a specialist but who has an opinion on the coronavirus are just as valid as those of a scientist.”

However, some have blasted the president for trying to impose an official narrative to secure a second presidency against conservative populists such Marine Le Pen.

The left won’t let you argue against them. They know best.