The (French) Politics of Walking vs. Jogging

[reinhard]

An amusing New York Times article on the political/philosophical implications of the new French president's choice of exercise:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/world ... ref=slogin

President Nicolas Sarkozy jogs... which some French see as undignified and — mon dieu! — vaguely American.

...

In an after-midnight round table on French television this month, Mr. Finkielkraut, the philosopher and a Sarkozy supporter, called on him to abandon what he called an “undignified†pursuit.

“Western civilization, in its best sense, was born with the promenade,†Mr. Finkielkraut said, noting that thinkers like Aristotle, Heidegger and Rimbaud all were walkers. “Walking is a sensitive, spiritual act. Jogging — it is management of the body.â€

Very urban ranger! But I wonder what Mr. Finkielkraut would say if Sarkozy took up shovelglove?

Reinhard

[paulrone]

God forbid! That would look too much like work.

I can say that. I'm an intellectual, you know.