LE JOGGING NON ÉGALITAIRE?

A raging controversy among French intellectuals and other critics regarding President Sarkozy's passion for le jogging ('le jogging,' originally known as 'le footing' and now more fashionably as 'le running' as the French have no word for jogging) has erupted across France. The criticisms range from "sweating is crass and un-French" to "is jogging is right-wing?" (Libération, a left-wing newspaper) and "it is a ploy to brainwash his citizens." Philosopher Alain Finkelkraut pleaded with President Sarkozy on the main state television channel France 2 "to abandon his 'undignified' pursuit" Mr. Finkelkraut suggested 'Speedy Sarko' "take up walking like Greek philosopher Socrates, French poet Rimbaud and other great men." Jogging in a N.Y.P.D. tee-shirt certainly does not help his infuriated critics! Although eight million French citizens claim to jog, President Sarkozy has rekindled a French suspicion that the habit is for self-centered individualists such as the Americans who popularized it. Sports sociologist Patrick Mignon noted that "French intellectuals had always held sport in contempt, while totalitarian regimes cultivated physical fitness." Media critic Daniel Schneidermann said "Mr. Sarkozy uses the video images of his jogging as 'a major weapon of media manipulation.'" There is also snickering as to Sarkozy's form. Champion athelete coach Renaud Longué told L'Equipe sports newspapers (one of France's largest selling national newspapers and its only sports daily) that "Mr. Sarkozy bends too far forward, his stride is off, his arms dangle and his feet hit the ground the wrong way." The coach also suggested the President to "check your diet because it seems you are carrying a slight excess of weight." MON DIEU!