Monday, November 14, 2005

 

Why France is burning – A Mexican perspective

 

By Carlos Luken

 

While rioting in France resembles barricade scenes from Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables,” the French insurrectionists and characters of Jean Valjean and Marius are replaced by mobs of Muslim-Afro youth on an anarchical rampage to protest their miserable existence. In stark contrast with the narrative, Inspector Javert’s overzealous persecution has been strangely absent.

 

Explosive rioting, pitting youths throwing stones and Molotov cocktails against police, broke out after two teenagers in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois were electrocuted while allegedly avoiding arrest. And after nearly two weeks of unchecked violence, with hundred of motor vehicles torched and buildings burned, France has found itself compelled to wake up from a dream-like stupor of equalité and face reality.

 

France’s belated reaction was timid, from a government more interested in clinging to botched social programs than facing failure. A stunned President Jacques Chirac finally spoke on the matter after 11 days of chaos. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who acknowledged the failure of integration that has led to crime-ridden slums and high unemployment,and tension with police, meekly called the violence unacceptable and finally proposed curfews, but he stopped short of sending troops into areas with growing violence and unrest.

 

Meanwhile, the grim remnants of communal tenement housing predict future problems as violence has spread to almost all major French towns. This too seems to have opened French eyes, in realization that overzealous open door immigration policies and so-called level playing field social programs have, in place of developing citizens, germinated discrimination, poverty, and desperation among many Muslim immigrants.

 

Muslims make up 10 percent of France's population of 60 million, with non-Muslim immigrants comprising a further 1.5 million.

 

The admission of millions of Muslims into France, many of whom have no wish to integrate into European culture or with government sponsored multicultural assimilation efforts, has instead created sociocultural isolationism. As a result ghetto-like suburbs developed, education standards were lowered, advancement was checked, and opportunities disappeared.

 

Too, as insulated Muslim communities grew rapidly, the number of new mosques also soared – at a faster rate than traditional Christian churches or synagogues. And many new mosques admitted sects of fanatical and violent wings that teach hatred of all non-Muslims.

 

Still, while perhaps fashionable blame for the crises cannot be placed entirely on Muslim rabble-rousers.

the republic's obstinate  immigration policy which ignored the existence of evident conflicting values and principles and  religious divergences furthered  by  the effects of years of failing social programs that were intrinsically divisive. Government incentives for  birth control for the French middle class had diametrically opposed results as Muslim migrants and their birth rates increased    This not only created a multiple society but also a suppurating one causing

The French crises are also alarming other Europeans, as melees have occurred in Brussels and Berlin. Furthermore, Muslim Internet sites are distributing incendiary messages in European countries that have similar immigration and social adventures.

 

The events in France may provide the United States with an important lesson, assuming the U.S. is willing to learn.

 

The endorsement of social policies similar to Europe’s, seeking the unholy grail of multiculturalism, may in time have similar effects as those in Europe. The lowering of standards in U.S. schools and the workplace, in order to accommodate different groups, will only eliminate immigrant motivation to strive to better themselves through personal effort, which as in Europe stagnates intellectual growth and limits opportunities.

 

While both Europe and the United States have immigration problems that must be dealt with urgently and comprehensibly, the U.S. has a fortunate circumstance. That because migrants, who manage to get into the U.S. legally or illegally, face different conditions than their European counterparts.

 

Many immigrants to Europe come from former African and South Asia colonies, while most immigrants in the United States are from Latin America. Though not all, some who migrate to Europe do so attracted by a centennial open door policy that grants them citizenship and access to welfare benefits.

 

To the contrary, most Latin Americans are well aware that gaining U.S. citizenship will be hard if not impossible, thus they come for what they see as their share of the American dream.  As well, they are willing to work for it without the expectation of welfare and other benefits (although there are certainly exceptions).

 

Though condemned by some Americans, the Latino work ethic is acknowledged and appreciated by many. Latin Americans, particularly Mexicans, are loyal and industrious workers who save. Family oriented, many send much needed remittances home, and still in time they buy property themselves. Most pay taxes in the U.S., and yes when in need they avail themselves of medical and hospital services. Too, most share common Judeo-Christian religious values and bonds with Americans.

 

Considering Europe’s crises, it should be clear to Americans that multiculturalism will lead to a weak and divided nation. Furthermore, most Latin American immigrants represent a valuable resource of moral and ethical persons, and the U.S. should not cast them aside.

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Carlos Luken, a MexiData.info columnist, is a Mexico-based businessman and consultant.  He can be reached via e-mail at ilcmex@yahoo.com.