Francofile

US Coverage of French Riots

Now that the riots have died down and the French are sorting out causes and solutions, I would like to recap the coverage in the US media.  The mainstream news networks were not generally too inflammatory, despite a bit of sensationalizing that is frankly typical of the ratings-conscious major news outlets.   Reports focused on the burning of cars (which made for dramatic photo ops) and the reactions of Villepin, Sarkoszy, and a lack of visibility on the part of Chirac.  The extreme right expressed their triumphant glee (naturellement), but we won't waste time on the predictably tedious spewings of the Fuckfrance.com knuckledraggers or their icons Limbaugh and O'Reilly.  Many conservative newspapers couldn't resist muted displays of smug satisfaction and adaptations of the facts to suit their world view.  Some emphasized that it was a Muslim (read: jihadist ) movement, for which they provided no credible supporting evidence.  Some made observations to the effect that France got its just deserts for refusing to join the US in the War on Terror in Iraq.  (It is amazing that serious journalists are still referring to the Invasion of Iraq as part of a War on Terror, given that the connection to 9/11 has been amply debunked.  Even the Bush Administration has stopped using this term.)  A journalist for the International Herald Tribune claimed that the HLM housing projects in the suburbs had been built expressly to segregate immigrant populations, which is patently untrue.  They were built to ease a housing crisis and to accomodate French people with moderate means from all backgrounds.   For more  examples of conservative disinformation and Schadenfreude-infused quotations from conservative blogs and newspapers, read Patrick Gavin's blog post on the topic.  Patrick closes his post with the reflection that In the end it was hard for me to figure out which was worse: What the riots said about France? Or what our reaction said about us. 

What type of coverage would I have preferred to see?  First, it would have been nice for media outlets to cover expressions of solidarity in France's moment of crisis, given our close economic and historical ties with that country. Not that I would have expected President Bush himself to declare "Now we are all French." during such domestic upheaval, mirroring what Chirac said on September 11th.  But the media didn't seem to have much to cover in terms of American expressions of solidarity.  There seemed to be a tacit underlying assumption that France had this coming.  As far I as I was able to observe, any official expression of solidarity, concern or sympathy for our long-time ally was notably absent.  The French have some social problems to solve and I am confident in their willingness and in their ability to do so.  The right-wing and even moderate press coverage in the US generally reflected a pervasive intellectual laziness and certainly did not provide a serious critique of the societal challenges faced by France. 

Unrest in Suburban France

After a few days of ignoring the news media while enjoying a fall retreat in the woods, I have awakened to the news stories and blog accounts coming from France.  I plan to accompany college students to France this summer, and will face questions from students, parents, and administrators about whether or not we should go, given the current state of affairs, so I am trying to get a good grasp.

Unfortunately, I don't know quite where this situation is going and neither does anyone, really.  Is it the clash of religions? unsocialized adolescent males impulsively acting out their anger?  a reaction against the racism of the "Francais de souche"?  To an extent, it's all of these things, but there is no single satisfactory explanation.  France can and will adapt to the new social realities, but it will probably happen gradually. 

When I traveled in the beautiful country of Algeria in the early 1980's, I found the culture appealing, but very opaque. I enjoyed the trip and met welcoming and interesting people.  But the first thing that struck me in Algiers was that there were so many idle men on the streets and in cafes.  Just like French and American people have very different conceptions of work, there may be a difference in the way immigrants of Algerian descent and the French engage with the working world.  As much as racism, it may be ingrained cultural differences that contribute to the lack of economic advancement of many of the "beurs" (French citizens whose parents were born in North Africa) in the HLM's (subsidized housing complexes).  I know many French citizens (some with ancestry going back generations in France and some of them second generation North Africans) who are undaunted by the task of bridging the two cultures.  They see themselves as part of France, Europe, and the global economy.  The root causes of the current social unrest will eventually be resolved by these people, who will lead others away from ignorance and hate by their own living example. 

Something similar happened over time in the Southern US between black and white Americans.  While many of my friends in the Northern US believed that the South was a hotbed of racism and that African-Americans were far better off in the segregated cities of the north, real everyday people of both races (without attention from the media since only bad news and celebrity news are reported) were living and working together in the South year in and year out and achieving an increasingly (if not perfectly) integrated society. 

This can happen over time in France.  One problem in bridging the cultural breach in France is the gender issue.  It will be a real challenge.  But the legacy of slavery and its aftermath once also seemed an insurmountable obstacle to racial harmony in the US.  Much progress has been made and more must be made.  There have been setbacks and there are still racists in every community.  But if people of good will of all races in France continue to do their part as individuals as many have in the US, these invisible, unsung heroes can create a new society that will be stronger and more resilient than ever before.   

The French have a history of initially seeing recent arrivals as cultural outsiders who bear undesirable "barbarian" values.  Paradoxically, they also have a history of assimilating the energy and ideas of these cultural outsiders, to the overall benefit of France.  Those who think with their reptilian brains, like the rioting gangs, Le Pen's nationalist party, and racists and bigots of various stripes will have their say, but they will not prevail. Normal, everyday people will resolve the cultural divide.  I will continue to plan a three-week study tour to France for summer '06.  And with a little luck, this summer's trip will be the experience of a lifetime for the students.