France’s Rage and Time of Discontent

   313  
In the second public appearance he’s made since October 27th, when the French youths set their suburbs aflame, President Chirac vowed to instigate numerous reforms in order to give everyone the same opportunities. “Discrimination saps the foundation of our republic.” Chirac said during his 15-minute- long speech.     At the same time, he apologized for France’s failure to deal effectively with the simmering social problems that imploded with second generation (mainly North African and/or Muslim) youths torching their neighborhoods. Contrasted to what many thought, (and what some of the press WANTED people to think), Paris was not burning. The fires were taking place in the residents’ own neighborhoods. Flames destroyed their siblings’ day-care centers, social welfare centers and too many other buildings. Many of the rampages were unleashed via Internet blogs plus cell phone text messaging.       I am not minimizing the situation, but photographers had a field day.  My phone was ringing off the hook asking whether or not it was safe for me to be in France — much less whether or not tourists should come here during this troubled time.  In the 17 years I’ve lived in Paris, I hadn’t frequented these neighborhoods and wasn’t about to start.     France is different than the US when it comes to education. American parents generally escape to the suburbs when their children are of school age. Unless you have mega-bucks and can afford huge after-tax tuitions, having children in the city, where most children are forced to walk through metal detectors, often equates moving to better public school systems and buying a SUV. Car pools, soccer games and gymnastics become the norm.   But now we see an increasing number of deathly incidents taking place in middle-America. In France, many of the best and most competitive schools are located within Paris’ city limits.     In his speech, Chirac stated that the first necessity was to reestablish public order. He requested that the National Assembly extend the directive for order (including curfews at the digression and cities’ mayors) so that positive negotiations can take place. Job training is going to be an essential part of his program although he didn’t push the envelope as far as Interior Minister Nicholas Sarcozy calling for affirmative action. Job training will be a top priority although not everyone will qualify to be a rocket scientist. Blue collar workers are needed in France (as well as in the US) and there’s nothing derogatory about working in these professions that pay well and keep (most especially) young men off the streets.     May this be a wake-up call that provokes action. It’s essential for the future of France, and the world will be watching as it becomes increasingly diversified.  
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ALREADY SUBSCRIBED?
Previous Article Holiday Wines for 2005
Next Article How to Use Public Transit in Paris: Metro, Bus, RER, Taxi