Posted on 11/14/2005 8:43:39 PM PST by NormsRevenge
PARIS - President Jacques Chirac said Monday that the unrest in France's poor, largely nonwhite suburbs revealed a "crisis of identity" that the entire nation must heal with firmness and with measures that combat what he called the poison of discrimination.
Chirac — speaking to the nation for the first time since the unrest erupted Oct. 27 — said France must instill values and hope in the "sons and daughters of the Republic" growing up in the poor, largely immigrant suburbs ringing French cities.
French law must be obeyed, he said, but all of France — its companies, unions and the media — must work to change decades of discrimination with new hiring policies.
"These events testify to a profound malaise ... . This is a crisis of direction, a crisis of reference points, it is a crisis of identity," he said. "We will respond by being firm, being just and being faithful to the values of France."
Chirac, speaking with the flags of France and the European Union behind him, delivered the prime-time address on national TV after being conspicuously quiet as youths burned cars and buildings for 18 nights straight.
Since being hospitalized in September for an ailment that many suspected was a stroke, Chirac — who turns 73 later this month — had left Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to speak for the French government. Chirac showed no sign of an ailment Monday but, unusually, wore spectacles.
The far right, which blames French ills on immigration, has sought to capitalize on the unrest. At a rally Monday that drew about 300 supporters, National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who faced off Chirac in 2002, castigated immigration policy.
"We let in 10 million foreigners over 30 years — it's wild insanity. No country can handle that invasion," Le Pen said.
Philippe de Villiers, whose Movement for France promotes French sovereignty, echoed Le Pen, saying that "migratory waves" are at the root of the "war of the suburbs."
Chirac spoke after the Cabinet approved a measure to extend a state of emergency from 12 days to three months, with the possibility of ending the measure early. The parliament was to debate the bill Tuesday.
First put in place last Wednesday, the state of emergency gives regional authorities the power to call curfews, conduct day-and-night searches of homes or deport foreigners convicted in the violence. About 40 towns, including France's third-largest city, Lyon, have used the measure, imposing curfews on minors.
The unrest — sparked by the accidental electrocution deaths of two teenagers as they hid from police in a power substation in the northeast Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois — has abated over the past week.
But the decision to extend the state of emergency until mid-February made clear that authorities fear the riots could flare up again.
The magnitude of the unrest has stunned France. The country's leadership and many citizens learned the depth of discontent in France's suburban housing projects, home to many immigrants from North Africa and their French-born children disillusioned by discrimination and soaring unemployment.
The civil unrest is the worst since the student-worker revolts of May 1968 and the worst ever in the suburbs, where sporadic violence has in the past been quickly capped.
Chirac said discrimination "drains the foundations of our Republic." But he appeared to rule out U.S.-style affirmative action.
"There is no question of entering into the logic of quotas," the French leader said. And he defended the French model of integration, which seeks to meld citizens and residents of all ethnicities into a single mold — and which many officials and experts have questioned since the violence erupted.
"At stake is respect for the law but also the success of our policy of integration," Chirac said, stressing the need to fight illegal immigration, trafficking of all types and the "modern form of slavery" — networks trafficking in illegal workers.
Chirac said he decided to create a corps of volunteers to train 50,000 youths by 2007. He told companies and unions they must encourage diversity and support employment for youths from tough neighborhoods.
France's media also must "better reflect the reality of France today," Chirac said.
"We will not build anything enduring without fighting this poison for society which is discrimination," he said.
Chirac condemned the violence but also reached out to disgruntled youths.
"I want to say to the children of difficult neighborhoods, whatever their origins, that they are all the daughters and sons of the Republic," he said.
But he urged their parents to exercise their authority, warning that "those who refuse should be punished as the law allows."
Scattered arson attacks continued into Monday. But the number of vehicle burnings dropped: 284 compared to 374 the previous night, police said. A week ago, 1,400 vehicles were torched in a single night.
French President Jacques Chirac addresses the nation from the Elysee Palace, on French channel 'France 2' during the evening news Monday, Nov. 14, 2005. President Jacques Chirac said in a televised address that the rioting reflects a 'profound malaise' in France.(AP Photo/Jean-Pierre Muller/Pool)
Crisis of of identity all right.
NOT ONCE IN THIS WHOLE FRIGGIN' "report" DID THEY WRITE THE WORD "MUSLIM".
LOL! Looks like a classic wimp speaking after knowing he has lost a war.
Mais Oui! There appear to be some people born in France who won't surrender! This is of course a development of great concern, leading Chirac to question the very essence of "Frenchness".
Yeah right works every time.
heavy sarcasm
The french aren't very bright, are they? These monsters boo the french national anthem, write rap music about killing every cop in the country, then tracking down their families and raping their wives, and France doesn't understand the depth of hatred for the republic amongst these 'beurs'?????
The french aren't only pussies, they're stupid pussies.
Does anyone have the feeling that, thanks to the French riots, the age of official multiculturalism may be over?
Typical socialist. "Mr business owner, don't hire who you want who would be best for your business. Hire instead who I want, who will be best for my and my political party's fortunes and future."
What good is it going to do to train 50,000 of these utes? They got not enough jobs to go around as it is!! Not that the utes actually want to work. Why work when they can draw welfare without the work???
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
All that Prozac and they still can't get along...
Only if conservatives are into some sort of utopian fantasy.
This guy does so not want to be re-elected.
The only identity crisis I see is when Chirac mistook himself for a man.
Malaise ? Sounds like Chirac has reached a Jimmy Carter moment, when all around him is collapsing because of his incompetence and he doesn't have a clue why.
Zut Alors! Nous ne veut pas tirer les grosse canon a les hommes avec le Koran. Non! non!. Ecoute moi! Repetez apres moi:
I'm a litte leftist
short and stout
Here is my handle and here is my spout
When I get all steamed up here me shout
NOT OF MUSLIMS IS THIS ABOUT!
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