France is burning
 

Well France is burning down and laws have been enacted to arrest anyone and take over the press.

But yet, I don't see massive protests all over the world against France. Hmmmm...

-Rudey

I was a little surprised to see that this hadn't been a topic here yet. Just TODAY, they imposed a curfew in an attempt to stop the rioting. They refused to bring in the military because they say it is "not at that point yet". When does it become that point? There have also been some comments that the rioters are getting more organized. After 12 days, they finally declare a state of emergency?

Even the humorists are ahead of GC on this:

"France has asked the muslims to choose a leader, so they can surrender to him."

"France: are they rioting 'cause they won the soccer game, or 'cause they lost?"

Maybe the guy that used to run FEMA works in France now?

-Rudey

It is sad to see the images of these things on tv. :(

I would have thought someone would have surrendered by now to keep the buildings from burning.

-Rudey

Don't you think that pledging 30 billion euros to 'create' jobs (apparently through alchemy? Magic?) is the modern equivalent of the white flag after an end-around through Belgium?

-RC
--I'll believe it when I see it, is what I'm getting at

Again like I said in another thread... if you are willing to treat people lile second-class citizens, or to adhere to racist policies - why is it a shock that eventually they fight back?

As the saying goes: France is reaping what it has sowed.

I have obviously missed the World News segment on the morning news show I watch...

.. what's the deal in France? Why is everyone all angry?

From today's CNN article: "The unrest broke out following the October 27 deaths of two young men of North African descent, who were electrocuted when they hid from police in an electricity sub-station in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois."

This brought out rage that the police are perceived to be targeting these young poor Muslims in France and that the government has essentially ignored the needs of the people in poor areas with high crime and high unemployment.

"De Villepin said the rioting was the result of France's failure to provide hope to thousands of youths, most French citizens and the children of Muslim immigrants from northern Africa. "

They have burned thousands of cars every night, schools, etc. and it was spreading into many suburbs of Paris each night. On Day 12, they declared a state of emergency and it has declined slightly.

So you're saying that immigrants should hold on to their old culture even more tightly when they arrive in a new country? I read in the Globe and Mail that if a Muslim girl in France wants to be more "secular" then she could get into a lot of trouble in her community. Holding on to one's culture to much can be a dangerous thing, and not to mention, turn one into the laughing stock from the old country, who may see these views as being out-of-date!

I don't know if hiding from police is against the law in France, but here... Admittedly I don't know why they were hiding or what they had allegedly done wrong, but I'm always shocked that something like this can start because somebody was doing something illegal that turned out poorly for them.

Why do you assume that because the police were there that anything illegal was going on? It sounds like everyone is angry for some pretty legitmate reasons.

They may have reasons to riot. I don't know a lot about what is going on, but this type of thing seems to happen as a result of someone doing something they shouldn't have been doing anyway. Would they have started rioting regardless of whether these two young men were electrocuted while they were hiding from the police in an electrical sub station - don't get me started on that being a "genius" place to hide in the first place? If so, that's a different conversation. Running/hiding from the police is illegal in this country - maybe it's not in France. I have no idea about what they were doing before they decided to hide from the police, I was commenting strictly on what the article says started it. Have you ever seen an instance where the police are looking for someone (for whatever reason) and running turned out well for them? Even I've seen a couple episodes of Cops ;)

So sorry Chirac. I think a UN declaration must be made to blame both France and the Arab immigrants. It's only fair.

The funny thing is how the morons burn down their own rat holes while being egged on by the drug dealers that control the hoods and want to keep cops out.

-Rudey

Glad to see you have a firm grasp of the situation there Rudey :rolleyes:

Yes there are Arab immigrants rioting - but so are French youth, Portugese immigrants, Italian immigrants, African immigrants, Caribean immigrants, East Indian immigrants... in short anyone who felt they got the shaft because they didn't fit into the ideal of "French".

But nice to see your anti-Arab bias slipping in... now where's hoosier with some equally ill-informed statement?

Rob you don't know anything and always try to pass yourself off as an expert.

Go lie about something else now and stop making accusations against me. It takes a special person to be a complete loser in life and on a message board. Congrats to both you and Cashmoney.

-Rudey

So did the police actually electrocute these men, or did that happen on accident b/c they were in an electricity sub-station? :confused:

What is an electricity sub-station?

I'm not precisely sure, but I always thought it was like a power plant?

http://www.howstuffworks.com/power.htm

The first article I read when this started said they ran into the electrical substation while being chased by police. I presume this is like a big power plant with high voltage stuff around. I've never seen any explanation on why the police were chasing them.

Yeah, France is the america of the old world. Who else buy EuroDisney? I'm glad my ancestors moved away from there, but its time for us to move away from crazy people again.

A long time ago, during one of the many wars between Britain and France,
the French captured an English Major. Taking him to their headquarters,
the French General began to question him.

The French General asked, "Why do you English officers all wear red
coats? Don't you know the red material makes you easier targets for us
to shoot at?"

In his quiet English way, the Major informed the General that the reason
English officers wear red coats is so that if they are shot, the blood
won't show and the men they are leading won't panic.

This little-known historic fact clearly explains why, from that day
until now, all French Army Officers wear brown pants.

Why do people loot and riot and start fires in their own neighborhoods? That's an odd way to signal your displeasure. Like going to the bathroom in your water glass or something.

I first formulated this question in my mind during the whole Rodney King thing and I've never come up with a reasonable answer.

Sorry; please return to the topic at hand :)