Fitz:
I think this whole deal is pointing out that we can’t ever sit back smug and sure of our own country or our own life. We always need to be prepared. Pointing fingers is a very stupid thing, isn’t it? I am shocked at the amount of discrimination that exists in France. Perhaps they had me convinced that they had it all figured out. Instead, they were overlooking an entire segment of their population for some reason. France is learning the hard way. It is not just their treatment of immigrants that needs to be looked at, but the amount of social services that render people incapable of work.
thanks fitz, I must admit that you and I seldom agree but on this issue I am fully with you.
The problems at present being experienced in France are very symptomatic of the “Gallic” approach to their way of life. You only have to look in recent history at the performance of many in authority in France at the thought that any WORD that is English should be banned from the French language. We would often laugh at the silliness of it but, it showed an underlying contempt for anything “not French”. It is a case of national pride taken to extremes. For anyone to say that they must not be smug and to be over sure of their own country is VERY perceptive, excessive national pride can very quickly transform itself into arrogance.
For the French, their notion of “complete” nationality without room for variation or accomodation of others ethnicity has lead them to this situation. Anyone who ascribes to a different form of “Frenchness” albeit Muslim, Bhuddism, or even Christianity is considered beyond the pail and as such is seperated from society. It is right that we should have sympathy for those being subjected to this anarchy but, it is also worth bearing in mind that it is this same citizen who placed the current and past governments in power to create the situation they are now suffering from.
Much is made about the “Islamic” threat to Europe but, again this is very much a French problem. In the rest of Europe, and particularly in the UK there is no barrier to ANYONE, Christian, Muslim, Bhuddist, or even Wicken climbing the ladder to the top in private or state organisations. In the UK we have had cabinet ministrers from many different ethnic minorities, we even have one from SPAIN, (not overly popular but that a personal thing, not national). In the UK we even have a government department dedicated to Racial Equality. We might not always agree with what they say but, at least there is a forum for saying it. Even in this situation all is not perfect but, at least the potential problems have been recognised and SOME attempt made to circumvent them.
The rioters in France are mainly second or third generation North Africans. They are in a country that forbids them from linking with their past heritage but also excludes them from becoming “French” on their own terms. the result is that in the areas where the problems started 40% of the population is under 25 years of age and, of those, 40% are unemployed. This is a very large portion of disenfranchised people and to call them “scum” etc. is not only provocative it’s downright unchristian.
I watched the French interior minister giving his “scum” speech on the box the other day and, for reasons beyond this forum, the sound was muted. To watch the body language was frightening, my first thought was how reminiscent it was of the speeches I have seen of Goebbels, in Germany, during the 1930’s, ranting on about the “Jews”. I have discovered it is an interesting exercise NOT to listen but just watch, it’s surprising what you see!!
