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Published: November 8th 2005
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Hello Everyone!
I have received several friendly and concerned e-mails asking if I am OK in Paris despite the riots raging throughout France, and I just want to assure everyone that I am fine and that I don’t feel in grave danger here in Paris. So just to ease your minds and fill you in on what is going on I thought I might write something concerning this current event unfolding around me, though I highly suggest going to the news for more exact facts.
Firstly, the riots are taking place in many of the « banlieues » or suburbs across France. These suburbs might be comparable to our inner cities in the US, except here in France the poor are forced OUT of the cities and into the suburbs for economic reasons. The riots are mainly at night and the rioters are for the most part the French children of North African and West African immigrants. These rioters burn cars and government buildings such as schools and post offices to demonstrate their anger and draw attention to the fact that the French government ignores their economic problems, while French society routinely discriminates against them. If you want to
know more about the current situation in the French suburbs and some of the racial problems in France I would highly suggest watching the film "La Haine" (or "Hate" in English). It is directed by Mathieu Kassovitz who also directed "Gothika" among other films, and is the love interest of Amélie in the well known film "The Adventures of Amélie Poulain." "La haine" is an extremely powerful film and really makes you think about racism and become more consciously aware of it. Though it is difficult to watch, it is worth the pain! So toughen-up and head out to Blockbuster to rent "Hate" and also maybe a more lighthearted follow-up film!
Some other facts I found in the papers can begin to explain some of the frustration of immigrants here in France: the national average of unemployment is 10% while it is 20 % and sometimes 30% for immigrants from North and West Africa, and the income for Muslims is 40% lower than the national average. Clearly, there is a huge discrimination here in France against Muslims; for example I have heard that if you have an Arabic sounding last name, your job application is automatically thrown out the
Halloween
Lianne, Mer, and Me window, and thus finding a well paying job if you are Muslim is extremely difficult. Also, there is a huge amount of controversy over the issue of the veil, or young Islamic girls wearing veils to school. In the name of equality and laïcité (a secular environment) the government forbids schoolchildren to wear any « ostentatious » religious signs. This is targeted mainly towards girls in veils, but has also more recently been expanded to crosses etc. But the main point is that wearing a veil has been declared as contrary to the liberty of others and contrary to the values of French society. This hints at the fact that Muslims aren’t included in the concept of French society, though they make up a large percentage of the French population.
Back to the riots, this will be the 11 day of rioting, and as I said I don’t feel in danger since most of the action is happening in impoverished areas (although several cars were burned Sunday night in Paris, the riots haven’t been promenant in Paris proper). I do not see burning cars and wouldn’t be aware of the unrest if it was not for the news. However,
Halloween
Katie is 80's Dancing Queen and I am a Mighty Pirate for those who are concerned about me, I assure you that I am being extra careful, and that there is no need for me to return to the US.
Right now all of France is waiting to see how the government will react to the situation, and tonight the Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced that starting tomorrow curfews or a « couvre-feu » as it is called here, can be enforced in hot areas. In an effort to try to abate the anger of the youth, Villepin also announced that programs for poverty stricken areas will receive more aid, and that the amount of money available to help impoverished youth pay for a university education will be tripled. These attempts to quell the flames of anger and frustration are a step in the right direction away from the tactics of Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy, who promised to promising to clean the suburbs with a water blaster and referred to the youth in these areas as « thugs » and « scum, » however I doubt these improvemets will be enough to calm the discontent.
Alright, that is all for now folks!! Much love to all!
Don’t forget to rent the film Hate!
Au revoir, ciao ciao, Winnie
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Olivier
non-member comment
riots
Hello Winnie, First : Im french, "pardon for my english". I just red your blog which is interesting and well informed. My point of view to complete what you wrote. "(application)is automatically thrown out the window". Don't do like a lot of media, it's not AUTOMATICALLY. You're right, it happens, but it's not systematic as you said. And I'm convinced it happens everywhere else, as sad as it is, on different communities. I know few "immigrants" (in fact they are usually the 2nd or 3rd generation of immigrant, and they are completly french) having good job, good money. Concerning preventing people from wearing a veil : you're wrong. France has a "laïc" eduction system to promote the equality, no matter your religion is. In this basic principle, this system don't accept any religious external "sign". And it's the way it goes for each religion. I hope I'm clear in my explaination. You should also mention a lot of different things to understand those riots. You have to know for example that going to an hospital in France, no matter your disease is, is for free (even for you), public education cost approximatively O, especially compares to the US. But this is also a bad side of our system : a lot of people are now collecting in those suburbs different kind of allocation doing nothing. No job for them ? I'm sorry when you want, you can find and don't have to wait for the government to find you the solution, which I did. i lost my job last year, and didn't find any job (job crisis is a reality in France, not only for the suburbs:everyone). I'm now working in...Kosovo from where I'm writing you these email. To conclude, you're right, La Haine is a great movie, you should listen to the song by NTM (in french, sorry "fuck your mother") Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour foutre le feu, which was wrote 10 years ago. I have to say that I'm tolerant, but I tried to be soft and objective adding my comments. Have a great stay in my lovely country ( love yours too), Mer is so cute!