[extropy-chat] FWD (SK) French claim Paris riots more cultured than American riots

[Samantha Atkins]

On Nov 12, 2005, at 10:03 PM, Terry W. Colvin wrote:

>
>> French authorities have been reluctant to send in troops to quell  
>> the protests, insisting that a military presence will only be  
>> legitimate with UN backing. Bringing the riots under control has  
>> been dismissed as "Anglo-Saxon policing" by members of the  
>> Government. "We do not want to relinquish our proud French  
>> traditions just because they cause mass civil unrest," said Social  
>> Affairs Minister Jean-Louis Borloo. "We will not trade in racism,  
>> mass unemployment and arrogant timidity in policing for a  
>> "McCulture" of law and order."
>>
>

This is probably one of the better clues as to why this happened in  
France.   Government that is unwilling to keep the peace hardly  
deserves the name.  I could understand if the riots had some deeper  
political significance perhaps.  But simple out of control  
destruction for no cause but mass frustration?   I would have sent in  
enough police and troops to stop this long ago.   Yes, work on fixing  
the underlying problems.  But in the meantime don't jut let the  
cities burn.

- samantha