Unrest in French Suburbs

[lapis]

Suburban gangs defy French police.

Police responsible for law enforcement in France's tense immigrant-majority housing estates liken their job to a military mission.
(.....)
The violence in French suburbs has devastating consequences on police morale. "Those posted there can't leave fast enough," Mr Trotignon says.

Thoughts?

[Athlas]

I'd hate to live in the Parisian suburbs this time of year. Torching cars may make a statement, but you're not exactly being helpful when you're torching them in your own community. Though the french government is being awfully disciminating towards the (foreign) inhabitants of the Parisian suburbs, misguided violence simply isn't going to solve the problem.

I can see how they're pissed off though. They rioted last year, only ceasing the violence because of the many, many arrests and the politicians' promises of improvement. Now, one year later, not a single attempt at improving the situation in the suburbs has been made, other then increasing the number of police patrols.

Perhaps the French government is simply reaping what it sow.

[ironzealot]

At 10/30/06 10:53 AM, Athlas wrote:
Perhaps the French government is simply reaping what it sow.

you seem to be forgetting that these people don't have a right to french citizenship,if they wish to french citizens then they're obliged to put up with whatever the french government decides to do. If they don't like it they can go home

[fli]

Reno, a Parisian friend I made this year, told me that the news are hyping up more than it's what is.

I don't have any reason to not believe him...

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 10/30/06 01:21 PM, ironzealot wrote: if they wish to french citizens then they're obliged to put up with whatever the french government decides to do.

I’m sure the French royals and nobles thought the same….until they had their heads chopped off.

[Imperator]

Thoughts?

Glad I live in an American suburb, where it's quiet, boring, and dull......

Jeeze....never thought I'd be saying that......

Guess the "other side" isn't as green as my side.....

[MortifiedPenguins]

From what I'm reading.

French kids and immigrants seem to have no value for other peoples stuff in short.

They sound like spoiled little brats that have been given everything and have no value to hardwork.

No wonder this shit doesn't happen in our country.

[Athlas]

At 10/30/06 03:06 PM, Imperator wrote:

Thoughts?

Glad I live in an American suburb, where it's quiet, boring, and dull......

Yeah, the French totally surpass the annual gun victims and crime rates of the US...

Jeeze....never thought I'd be saying that......

I hope this means you were being sarcastic. ^Should that be the case, I'm being an ass ^^

At 10/30/06 03:39 PM, Athlas wrote: Yeah, the French totally surpass the annual gun victims and crime rates of the US...

The motherfucker said american SUBURBS, SUBURBS DAMMIT! WERE NOT TALKIN ABOUT THE GHETTO HERE!

[Athlas]

At 10/30/06 03:50 PM, Principal-Peterson wrote: The motherfucker said american SUBURBS, SUBURBS DAMMIT! WERE NOT TALKIN ABOUT THE GHETTO HERE!

Some of the Parisian suburbs pretty much pass as ghettos.

[Imperator]

At 10/30/06 03:39 PM, Athlas wrote: Yeah, the French totally surpass the annual gun victims and crime rates of the US...

I don't live in a big metropolitan city.......
I thought that was clear by the use of the word "suburb".......

I hope this means you were being sarcastic. ^Should that be the case, I'm being an ass ^^

No, it meant that I never expected to be glad that my hometown is a boring, dull, and dreary typical average American suburb. But by comparison, I guess I could be having my car torched living in a French suburb........

Ironic that I live in a Detroit suburb, where it's boring and nothing ever happens, yet in France the Paris suburbs are borderline "military zones".........that's what I was getting at....

But yes, you are (still) being an ass.....

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 10/30/06 03:56 PM, Athlas wrote:

At 10/30/06 03:50 PM, Principal-Peterson wrote: The motherfucker said american SUBURBS, SUBURBS DAMMIT! WERE NOT TALKIN ABOUT THE GHETTO HERE!

Some of the Parisian suburbs pretty much pass as ghettos.

They essentially are…you’re right.

But ghetto is not a word the BBC would use.

[Athlas]

At 10/30/06 03:57 PM, Imperator wrote: I don't live in a big metropolitan city.......
I thought that was clear by the use of the word "suburb".......

Right, sorry, I tend to let my imagination flow when I shouldn't.

No, it meant that I never expected to be glad that my hometown is a boring, dull, and dreary typical average American suburb. But by comparison, I guess I could be having my car torched living in a French suburb........

I'm glad I live in a small city near Antwerp, and not in a Parisian suburb, getting my car torched.

Ironic that I live in a Detroit suburb, where it's boring and nothing ever happens, yet in France the Paris suburbs are borderline "military zones".........that's what I was getting at....

Like I said, I completely misunderstood what you were saying.

But yes, you are (still) being an ass.....

For which I apologise.

[ImmoralLibertarian]

Sorry for the double post, but the fact that ‘housing estates’ is used in the first paragraph is more proof of this.

Housing Estates are like the Projects, and in the UK are the closest things we have to ‘ghettos’. So the French suburbs in the report are not the same as American, ‘white picket’ suburbs.

[Athlas]

At 10/30/06 03:59 PM, ImmoralLibertarian wrote:

At 10/30/06 03:56 PM, Athlas wrote:

At 10/30/06 03:50 PM, Principal-Peterson wrote: The motherfucker said american SUBURBS, SUBURBS DAMMIT! WERE NOT TALKIN ABOUT THE GHETTO HERE!

Some of the Parisian suburbs pretty much pass as ghettos.

They essentially are…you’re right.

But ghetto is not a word the BBC would use.

Call it what you want, but avoiding certain words, especially in times of war and trouble, should be consider censorship (I REALLY hope that's a word).

[Jose]

I hope they riot and destroy until they get the reforms they need. Downplaying the last riots didn't help any.

[ImmoralLibertarian]

At 10/30/06 04:04 PM, Athlas wrote: Call it what you want, but avoiding certain words, especially in times of war and trouble, should be consider censorship (I REALLY hope that's a word).

I could be wrong (i often am), and the BBC certainly wouldn’t stop it’s presenters from saying it, or it being said in an entertainment show…but I believe they would avoid using such words in an official news report for several reasons: it’s unprofessional and its non – PC.

[Imperator]

Housing Estates are like the Projects, and in the UK are the closest things we have to ‘ghettos’. So the French suburbs in the report are not the same as American, ‘white picket’ suburbs.

Ahhh, if that's the case, then we simply have a language barrier issue here.

For which I apologise.

There is no need to apologise if the above is true, since it is essentially a difference in definition that is the confusing part being misinterpreted. But I appreciate the apology anyways, and apologise myself for any inconveniences.

Anyone else find it odd that we have a little language problem......even though we're talking about the same friggin language......??
;)

Same word, same language, two interpretations.....hahaahah! Damn that sucks....I can't belive it. This means I'll need an English to English dictionary with me if I ever visit England.....

Funny how a Brit breakdancer friend of mine said something similar when he was visiting the States.

Well, guess this is good proof to those who take texts literally (like the Bible) that that's a really BAD idea.....

And a good example to Grammer as to why a textbook definition of "empire" is inadequate to explain what an empire is.......

[ImmoralLibertarian]

Trust a Brit being needed to sort out a misunderstanding between Europeans and Americans :-D

[Begoner]

More money needs to be spent on eduation in such immigrant-majority suburbs. Most of the immigrants live in crippling poverty and cannot adequately support their children, perpetuating a vicious cycle of unrest. It's a similar situation in inner-city schools in the US, only more extreme.

[Der-Ubermensch]

Oh the beauty of multi-culturalism!

Fear not folks, we'll all get our turns sooner or later. =)

[Athlas]

At 10/30/06 04:17 PM, ImmoralLibertarian wrote: Trust a Brit being needed to sort out a misunderstanding between Europeans and Americans :-D

Interesting how us Europeans seem to have a negative image of "suburbs", while it's an average, every-day word on the other side of the ocean.

And, to all of you, sort the reasons out yourself:

Tthanks!