Chirac decorates Spielberg with French Legion of Honor

President Jacques Chirac has made US film director Steven Spielberg a knight in the French Legion of Honor, hailing him as a great filmmaker committed to fighting hatred and intolerance. Chirac praised Spielberg's ability to touch people and said films such as "Schindler's List" ensured the world did not forget about acts of heroism in dark periods of history. "In this difficult time when intolerance, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and fanaticism are on the rise again, it is essential that cinema, which touches each one of us deep inside, recalls the horror of what is unspeakable," Chirac said at a ceremony in the presidential palace. He added that this form of popular expression and creativity reminded everyone of the disastrous effects of hatred, intolerance and rejection of others. Accepting the award, Spielberg hailed France's efforts to fight anti-Semitism. "We have to work very, very hard to make people understand that we have to celebrate people's differences and not condemn them," he said.