Douchebag Decree

The Francophones among us know that douche actually means shower in the language of love. Of course, we here in the US have reappropriated it and turned it into something far creepier, but for today’s Douchebag Decree it seems only fair to keep in mind that douche can mean more than one thing. Not only is the recipient of today’s decree French himself, but he also exists in a gray area when it comes to douchebagginess. Let’s investigate:

Meet OrelSan, a 26-year old rapper from rural France who has been called "the French Eminem." He is wildly popular, due in part to his songs dealing with class struggle and the rural drug epidemic in France. However, a song he wrote two years ago, titled "Sale Pute" (Dirty Slut) is getting international attention this week, and not for its catchy backbeat. The song is about beating up a girlfriend that OrelSan caught cheating on him, and although he claims the lyrics should not be taken seriously, French feminist groups and the French government feel differently and demanded OrelSan make a public apology (which he did).

Is this a case of douchebag justice? Or should musicians be allowed to say what they want without the government intervening? Read on for more info, and to give your opinion on this douche du jour.

Larry Summers and I go way back. He first caught my attention back in 2005 while we were both living in Boston and he, while serving as the President of Harvard University (hold your applause), said in public that the reason why we don't see as many women as men in the fields of math and science is perhaps because they lack an innate talent in those fields.  Oh boy.  Now he's back!  This time as an economic adviser to President Barack Obama (hold your applause), and don't worry, folks: his ideas are just as rotten.