The New York Times reports on France’s reaction to a dictionary’s decision to include a nonbinary pronoun.
Le Petit Robert, rivaled only by the Larousse in linguistic authority, chose to add “iel” — a gender-neutral merging of the masculine “il” (he) and the feminine “elle” (she) — to its latest online edition. Jean-Michel Blanquer, the education minister, was not amused.
“You must not manipulate the French language, whatever the cause,” he said, expressing support for the view that “iel” was an expression of “wokisme.”
Official portrait of Brigitte Macron, © French Presidency, Soazig de la Moissonnière
To her credit, First Lady Brigitte Macron is not on board. Her reaction: “There are two pronouns: he and she. Our language is beautiful. And two pronouns are appropriate.”
As the Times reported: The Robert defines “iel” (pronounced roughly “yell”) as “a third person subject pronoun in the singular and plural used to evoke a person of any gender.”
During COVID, the right has been inundated with lectures about believing in “The Science” — especially “consensus” science. Well, I can’t think of any area where there has been more consensus than that there are two genders, male and female, and those designations are based on biology, which is a science.
I believe in calling people what they want to be called, but I also believe in not surrendering my understanding of reality to make others feel empowered.
I believe that about the 2020 election. Biden won. And I believe that there are two genders. (Yes, there are hermaphrodites, but they are defined by biological traits, and if they want to be called “iel,” c’est bien avec moi.)
The reaction of a nonbinary French person, Mx. Delhomme to Macron’s remark: “This for me was very violent.”
Violent? No. It’s not violent. It’s an opinion, a consensus scientific opinion.
Macron did not call for violence — but in its fashion, Delhomme’s response makes sense. If you can make up belonging to neither gender, you can make up non-existent violence.
Here’s the thing: Delhomme decided that he was gay, then, he told the Times, he decided that he evolved and he no longer felt “my identity was that of a man.”
OK, but NOBODY CARES.
We all get called things that we don’t like. Grow up.
Debra J. Saunders is a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership. Contact her at dsaunders@discovery.org.
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