While the Burbs Are Burning Paris Is Steaming

opinionjournal ^ | November 11, 2005 | MATTHEW KAMINSKI

[ncountylee]

PARIS--Are you OK?

In the past two weeks, few City of Light denizens have been spared frequent, anxious calls and emails from far-off friends and family. To the outside world, Paris is in a state of emergency brought on by a nationwide frenzy of car, bus and trash burnings.

Frankly, I'm not OK. I tasted violence in a recent tussle--more than words were thrown, but no bones were broken--involving an embittered taxi driver who, unwilling to take me and my wife beyond a certain point, forced us out on an isolated street well past the witching hour. Then there's the owner of the local boulangerie, a crank prone to unpredictable verbal assaults on the most loyal of customers. With nowhere else open on Sundays, we sheepishly go back. Few days seem to pass without a draining altercation of one sort or another.

In short, business as usual. The discontent of "youths" in their banlieues has been getting all the attention of late, and understandably so. But Paris itself is a city of frustrated people, fed up with a stagnant economy and discredited political class. Scratch the still beautiful exterior of Paris and an angry crowd comes to the surface

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"City of Light? Give me a break. This is the 'City of Losers,'"

LOL.

[NonValueAdded]

After that [1789] Revolution, "riots" shook Paris again in 1830, 1848, 1871, 1968 and now 2005. In each case, the country's failure to embrace change brought about catastrophe. Without defending the mostly Muslim teens out hurling Molotov cocktails, one can at least acknowledge that mob violence isn't without precedent here.

Indeed. Many claim the problem is immigrants who choose not to assimilate but I say they have assimilated all too well and are simply showing they have learned the lessons of the ubiquitous French strikes albeit with a bit more enthusiasm.

[Jaysun]

Then there's the owner of the local boulangerie, a crank prone to unpredictable verbal assaults on the most loyal of customers.

Good stuff baby, good stuff.

[Andy from Beaverton]

[kaotic133]

You know what, I've been to France and I have to say the friendliest and most hospitable people there were the Muslim immigrants and Algerians.

In my opinion, they are only rioting because they cannot stand the French. I think we can all relate to that.

[CheyennePress]

That makes one of us. The Muslim immigrants spit on my Jewish friend because she was wearing a Star of David.

Not once, but twice.

The first time was unprovoked, though I wasn't with her. The second time a guy saw her, became very aggressive, spoke of how terrible life was here in France, about how terrible the French were, about how he hated Americans, so she asked him why he didn't just go back to Algeria, and he spit on her and apparently called her a dirty Jew.

I thought that I was going to be arrasted there on the Metro. First time I ever hit a grown man. Hopefully my last.

Meanwhile I had a little old Parisian woman buy me coffee and ask me questions about Wyoming and Tennessee.

My experiences generally were not positive in dealing with Algerians. With the French, I spoke a little French, and honestly, I found them very accomodating (and often suprisingly friendly) whenever I addressed them in their own language. Addressing them in English, well, they don't like that much.

[Cronos]

With the French, I spoke a little French, and honestly, I found them very accomodating (and often suprisingly friendly) whenever I addressed them in their own language. Addressing them in English, well, they don't like that much

Vrai.

[kanawa]

I say they have assimilated all too well

It may be that they have become, if not assimilated, at the least acculturated.

[palmer]

I have no experience with French Muslims, but I can say that the French don't like Germans, Italians, Spaniards, etc. and most likely despise Muslims too. All the lip service about multiculturalism is just political rhetoric. The Muslims know that they are not wanted, will never be integrated and are prisoners in their "estates". French employers will illegally discriminate against them with few consequences and tacit public approval.

It is in contrast to this country where immigrants are mixed with the rest of the population, hired freely, and have ample opportunity.

[LikeLight]

A quiet night in France...

I'd hate to be there on a bad night.

(All above images sourced to last night or today)

[highlander_UW]

Then there's the owner of the local boulangerie, a crank prone to unpredictable verbal assaults on the most loyal of customers.

Guess there is at least one in every big city...Paris has a bread Nazi. Maybe he provides for the soup Nazi in NY.