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Indeed: "It's not tolerance we need, but a way of thinking that allows us to get outside of the boxes they want to lock us in..." (Alessi Dell'Umbria in reaction to the riots last year).

The national myth (and this includes the idea that "the state is always right" mixed with white identity and catholicism), is fueling this.  The Left, which falls on the statist side, gives free reign to internal institutions like the CRS in the name of security and doesn't thoroughly question the role of institutions in causing divisive inequality in France.  The Right uses class difference and mixes it with extremely potent racial differences based on some vague notion that there has been a monolithic "France" since Astrix roamed its woods.  

If folks would just call the Edict de Nantes "Louis XIV's Final Solution," then maybe what were fighting for would become clearer.

I like Asterix, be he wasn't French!  If people would just get beyond their national myths, then maybe democracy could work.

Anyway, waking thoughts from the u.s. west coast.

by andrethegiant on Sun Apr 29th, 2007 at 10:57:17 AM EST
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If people would just get beyond their national myths, then maybe democracy could work.

I like them West Coast thoughts.  Keep them coming.

Having said that, can you explain more what you meant by this:

The Left, which falls on the statist side, gives free reign to internal institutions like the CRS in the name of security and doesn't thoroughly question the role of institutions in causing divisive inequality in France.

?

I am guessing that an example of this would be the CRS focusing on non-whites in discharing their "crowd and riot control" duties?

Does the left in France really support giving the CRS that much leeway to execute its functions as an organ of the state?

Do you think that diversifying these police forces ethnically could help ameliorate the problem of "causing divisive inequality in France"?

Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.

by marco on Sun Apr 29th, 2007 at 11:16:47 AM EST
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"Do you think that diversifying these police forces ethnically could help ameliorate the problem of "causing divisive inequality in France"

Interesting question. I would be interested in an answer too, especially since I read reader´s comments of a Libération article alluding at studies/opinions about some unexpected problems arising from having now some minorities in the police force. Even if only in small numbers so far.
Unfortunately it was only an allusion and I couldn´t gather what the problem was.

La répartie est dans l'escalier. Elle revient de suite.

by lacordaire on Sun Apr 29th, 2007 at 04:58:52 PM EST
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