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Riots in France and the U.S.: where are the differences?
Eleven days after the outbreak of riots and violence in Paris, the situation doesn't seem to be getting better. The riots continue and what started as a cry against racial discrimination has developed to be a chaotic situation where gangs and criminals take advantage of the violence situation. Could this outbreak happen in other places in Europe? Surely, immigration is a core issue that the EU should deal with as soon as possible. It isn't good enough that the Commissioner for Refugees timidly states that the refugee problem is there and that thousands of people are trying to enter the EU daily only to be treated as animals. Immigrants are now part of the fabric of the EU but unlike the U.S., they don't really mingle and merge into their host countries. There are small nations within the small countries, Algerians will be Algerians in a country that seeks to defend and preserve their history and culture by, in large measure, keeping others at bay. Immigrants in the U.S. want to become American, immigrants in Europe want to save money to eventually return to their countries of origin. The second generation will either integrate or fight the system and at the moment it seems there's a lot of fighting the system going on.
Funny that unlike its American counterpart, French authorities haven't decided to send in the troops yet. The scenes of Americans against Americans seen in New Orleans haven't been seen in Paris. The French Government has been in denial. I do approve of the fact that the army hasn't been involved, but has it been for the right reasons? Aren't French authorities trying to cover up a tear in their society that can't be patched any more? The turban ban is still there, "institutionalized racism" as immigrants call it seems to still be there too and it will take more than just a few measures to come to terms with the new France, the whole of society must acknowledge that the times have changed and that the proud French people now include many others that have come from far away places.
As for the gangs and drug dealers allegedly involved in the riots, how about bringing in an European peace corps, NATO forces or the like, just like in Bosnia, before Europe explodes at its very core.
Here is a testimony by Mamadou Nyang, 19 , at the excellent BBC site about the French crisis:
This sweatshirt says 'Dead - for nothing'. It's in memory of the dead boys, Bouna and Zyed.
I left school two years ago but have never had a job. As soon as I say my name and where I live, they tell me the vacancy has gone.
I am happy to do any job, except be a policeman. I hate the police. As soon as they see blacks or Arabs, they just try and cause trouble.
