Rioting continues throughout France. What began as a relatively isolated incident in a Paris suburb has spread across the country, with government authorities incapable of restoring order. The rioting has seen the destruction of many public buildings, including schools, the destruction of private businesses, most of which are family owned and the torching of hundreds upon hundreds of cars all across the country. France hasn’t seen this much street violence since 1969 and the Charles De Gaule era. Nonetheless, the violence shows no sign of waning and despite promises from French government officials, the authorities have not been successful in their efforts to clamp down on violence. Without question the rioters are taking advantage of a situation to spread chaos and mayhem.

Many rioters and sympathizers claim that the poor and immigrant families feel desperate and believe they have no hope in French society. They argue jobs are hard to come by and this frustration has spilled out into rampant violence. In France the unemployment rate exceeds 10% nationally, but is much higher in some neighborhoods. Even if the complaints of rioters are legitimate their actions invalidate their complaints, making them nothing more than violent thugs. Exactly how do they hope to improve their situation by destroying their neighbor’s livelihood? French society has been groomed on an entitlement attitude, so it is clear that there is a sense that if one person in French society is not prosperous then no one should be and thus attacks on their accomplishments are wholly justified.

The rioters and their sympathizers also claim frequent discrimination by the authorities, wait a minute isn’t this the same country that criticizes America at every turn? We’ve known for some time that France has a serious problem with anti-Semitism, with frequent attacks on cemeteries and synagogues, but apparently they have problems with most minorities as well. Complainants argue, authorities frequently harass minorities on the streets and this discrimination extends to the private sector as well. In reality France is simply a nation in decline. The street thugs turning life into a living hell for ordinary citizens seek nothing more than violence for violence’s sake, but their sympathizers point out stark contrast between the France that their government like’s to portray abroad and the real France, one with high levels of poverty, unemployment and rampant discrimination. French governmental policies have succeeded only in making a bad situation worse. French economic policy exacerbates unemployment and limits the opportunities of many to find success on their own. Yet France continues to champion its social and economic experience as a model for Europe and the world….we think not!
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06660116.htm