Reconciliation.
We live in a violent world. Every new example of strife seems more appalling than the last. "Reconciliation" may be synonymous with "impossibility" when one considers Muslim rioting in France and the complex factors which led up to it.
Rioting.
France has experienced several massive outbreaks of violence within its Muslim communities. In 2005, riots erupted in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-bois following the apparently accidental deaths of two Muslim teens. The pair were electrocuted when they fled into an electrical power substation from police who were checking identification papers. Two years later, violence erupted in the suburb of Argenteuil when two Muslim youths riding a stolen motorbike collided with a police car and were killed. The Argenteuil unrest quickly spread to Muslim communities in other cities throughout France.
Following are excerpts from an intriguing online analysis by WorldNetDaily. You may read the complete text at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47236
"...for years, the country with the largest Islamic population in Europe has ignored rising Muslim tensions within its own borders. ...Much of the chaos... is tied to the lack of Muslim integration into European society – whether by design or by choice. In France and Denmark alike, many cities dominated by Islamic faithful have been deemed too dangerous for police and are, effectively, 'no-go zones' ... Muslim immigrant youths have even taunted authorities, saying, "This territory belongs to Islam; you don't belong here."
"The great majority of Muslims in Europe see themselves as bearers of a superior civilization and see themselves growing prodigiously," Daniel Pipes, director of Middle East Forum, commented during the 2007 riots. "Through a cultural, religious and demographic confidence they feel scorn towards European ways and conspire to take it over."
Many say the blame ought to fall sqarely on the French for allowing Muslim communities to "grow and fester in economic and social isolation." For two generations, Muslims have occupied "preplanned ghettoes" and "have no future except as second-class citizens of the nations they helped rebuild from devastation." Poverty, unemployment and discrimination are part of daily life for a large percentage of the 5 million Muslims in France.
We live in a violent world. Every new example of strife seems more appalling than the last. "Reconciliation" may be synonymous with "impossibility" when one considers Muslim rioting in France and the complex factors which led up to it.
Rioting.
France has experienced several massive outbreaks of violence within its Muslim communities. In 2005, riots erupted in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-bois following the apparently accidental deaths of two Muslim teens. The pair were electrocuted when they fled into an electrical power substation from police who were checking identification papers. Two years later, violence erupted in the suburb of Argenteuil when two Muslim youths riding a stolen motorbike collided with a police car and were killed. The Argenteuil unrest quickly spread to Muslim communities in other cities throughout France.
Following are excerpts from an intriguing online analysis by WorldNetDaily. You may read the complete text at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47236
"...for years, the country with the largest Islamic population in Europe has ignored rising Muslim tensions within its own borders. ...Much of the chaos... is tied to the lack of Muslim integration into European society – whether by design or by choice. In France and Denmark alike, many cities dominated by Islamic faithful have been deemed too dangerous for police and are, effectively, 'no-go zones' ... Muslim immigrant youths have even taunted authorities, saying, "This territory belongs to Islam; you don't belong here."
"The great majority of Muslims in Europe see themselves as bearers of a superior civilization and see themselves growing prodigiously," Daniel Pipes, director of Middle East Forum, commented during the 2007 riots. "Through a cultural, religious and demographic confidence they feel scorn towards European ways and conspire to take it over."
Many say the blame ought to fall sqarely on the French for allowing Muslim communities to "grow and fester in economic and social isolation." For two generations, Muslims have occupied "preplanned ghettoes" and "have no future except as second-class citizens of the nations they helped rebuild from devastation." Poverty, unemployment and discrimination are part of daily life for a large percentage of the 5 million Muslims in France.
Frame of reference?
To be honest, I am still pondering this part of the assignment. I will add more at a later time.
View it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp_abyD-FeA&feature=related
Reconciliation.
To reiterate, "reconciliation" may be synonymous with "impossible" when one considers Muslim rioting in France and the complex factors which led up to it.
To my friends in FLAN 4023:
Thank you for your willingness to provide honest feedback.
Wow, Jane, this is a very interesting/upsetting outlook. There is also a large Muslim population in Germany where they have the "Kopftuchdebatte" raging. The country is divided concerning whether public officials should be allowed to wear a headscarf. The debate in Germany is solely in the courtrooms though, not the streets.
ReplyDeleteJacquelynn, thanks for your comment. In reading about the Muslim rioting, I learned that France is home to more Muslims than any other European country. I think many Muslims have chosen to live in France because their former homelands (Algeria, for example) were once colonized by the French. When I was a student in Paris years ago, one of my best friends was a lovely Muslim girl named Saliha. I often wonder where she is today, and what she thinks about these events.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, indeed! Yes, there is a HUGE Muslim population in France and no doubt, they are very much supressed. I don't recall the name of the film, perhaps Nicole and Melissa may, but we saw a wonderful film last year that clearly addressed discrimination against the Muslim community with regards employment. Very moving and very difficult to watch.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQEEbJvZUTA