but it need not manifest itself in backwards religious beliefs based upon ancient mythology. Modern rational people no longer cling to such age-old fairy tales. Anywhere and everywhere the framework and theology of a religion exist, politically motivated zealots exploit it and deal it as a drug to intoxicate their masses, gather support from their addicts, and create division, hostility, and inflict massive suffering upon us all. Islam serves best as the apt contemporary exemple, but all forms of religion can serve as dangerous vehicles to be easily highjacked and slammed into the pillars of modern civilization with spectacular and disasterous consequences.

I applaud the French for drawing the line on this menace, this evil, this encroaching fundamentalism, and insisting upon maintaining the ideal of France as an enlightened secular society.