The US media's been downplaying the riots near Paris. It took a bit of searching on CNN to find this one.
CNN.com - Paris riot: PM?cancels Canada trip - Nov 2, 2005The above mention of "families of immigrant origin, often from Muslim North Africa" is the only mention of the ethnicity of the rioters - and even then it's not a firm statement with the qualifiers "The area is home mainly to". So they can go "Not us! We didn't say the M word! We're clean! We won't offend!" if any group like CAIR gets all pissy.On Tuesday night, the sixth straight night of unrest, some 150 fires were reported in cars, buildings and garbage bins in the suburbs across the Seine-Saint-Denis region on the north and northeast of Paris, France-Info radio said.
The area is home mainly to families of immigrant origin, often from Muslim North Africa, AP said. It is marked by soaring unemployment, delinquency and other urban ills.
Police detained 34 people in the overnight violence, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told Europe-1 radio.
It's looking like a powderkeg over there. And the fuse is lit. How big will the bang be when it comes?
J.
Comments (4)
I think the issue in Paris right now has more to do with poverty than religion. Although the fact that one specific religious group is so poor does help to blur the two.
Posted by rawb | November 3, 2005 7:51 AM
Posted on November 3, 2005 07:51
The dominant culture in France these days seems severely attached to the status quo they've managed to develop over the last 20-30 years. High wages, short hours, unions controlling everything, and governmental control of the working environment such that even the ethnic French have problems finding employment - much less the immigrant community. With the addition of massive amounts of non-French cheap labor (which is what the immigrant communities were looked on) and the problems the Muslim community has when faced with integration issues (as in, "We ain't gonna. YOU conform to OUR way of thinking.") you're looking at real problems.
It's also happening in Denmark. And the Netherlands. Islamic communities, refusing to assimilate into the local culture. That's a sure ticket to trouble....
J.
Posted by JLawson | November 3, 2005 11:46 AM
Posted on November 3, 2005 11:46
And also to some extent, the local culture resenting immigrants who could potentially change or disrupt the balance they have there. All these immigrants might work for sub-union wages, put more French people out of work, etc etc etc.
Everyone loves their status quo, and everyone can rally against newcomers. It's sad but true.
Posted by rawb | November 3, 2005 7:50 PM
Posted on November 3, 2005 19:50
But they can't work for sub-union wages, Rawb, because then the unions strike and France grinds to a halt. So, they're unemployed.
They're in a pickle, that's certain. I think the Seine's going to be running red before it's all over.
J.
Posted by JLawson | November 4, 2005 9:17 AM
Posted on November 4, 2005 09:17