Paris Riots Spreading To Other Towns

You realize if this were going on in the US, the world would be talking about it as a symptom of something terribly wrong with Americans and American culture and Jimmy Carter would be pronouncing us a third world police state.

I can't think of a wider gap in American politics than the hope with which Jimmy Carter rode in to Washington, and the complete embarrassment the man has become. I always felt Carter was, no matter what, a good and decent man. But there is no defense of his thinking these days short of senility. And if that's the case, someone needs to have the decency to walk him far away from the political stage.

AULNAY-SOUS-BOIS, France Nov 3, 2005 — Rampaging youths shot at police and firefighters Thursday after burning car dealerships and public buses and hurling rocks at commuter trains, as eight days of riots over poor conditions in Paris-area housing projects spread to 20 towns.

Youths ignored an appeal for calm from President Jacques Chirac, whose government worked feverishly to fend off a political crisis amid criticism that it has ignored problems in neighborhoods heavily populated by first- and second-generation North African and Muslim immigrants.

Comments

[callmeBetty]

What? You couldn't figure out a way to tie the ACLU into this French news story, so you go after Jimmie? Desparate, man..... Getting lazy? There's got to be an ACLU connection, gotta be.......

Strange what some find embarassing......

[Dan]

Desparate, man..... Getting lazy

I was a strong supporter of Carter and entitled to my opinion, like it, or not. It isn't without some sadness that I wrote that. Chill out.

[Spanky]

Dan-O:

"You realize if this were going on in the US.."

wha? This did happen in the USA...back in the late '60's. The only difference is that the USA hid their '60's rioters in New Orleans for the past 30 years.

It wasn't until Katrina and the aftermath that I realized "Geez...there are all those Watts and Detroit rioters from the '60's. I wonder what they are doing sitting on their roof tops?"

On the other hand, I guess you can make a case that at least America culturally trumped the French for a change.

woo-hoo!

[callmeBetty]

Just having a hard time following your stream of consciousness, Dan - how the mind goes from race riots in France to Jimmy Carter..... Jerry Lewis, maybe, ; )

And I do need to chill out. It's just a little hard right now, when all I read on these conservative blogs lately is left this, leftie hates this, how to make a leftie cringe, liberals think this, Democrats want your babies to have 5 abortions before high school graduation...... you know, the usual.

[paul]

If it were not for the terrorist activities going on in Europe (thats where France is) a person with a political need to use the rioters might have the opinion expressed.

France has had several terrorist scares and have dealt with them successfully so far. This includes a nationwide bomb plot on rails. US and Britian have not been so efficient in their intelligence. Possibly because in the US case they have so little experience with moslems in Africa and the middle east. Second most probable asue is the US has a need to advertise everything it does before it does it.

The US want you to think that its a race riot based on religion. The excuse for the race riot is the accidental electrocution of two thieves running from the law.

Are you suggesting that the French take up the US methods of race harmony - the one that isnt.

The French also have been successful in curtailing Moslem activism through law as well as keeping the veil and scraf out of their schools. The US has not. Not even able to keep the veil out of the drivers license.

It seems the French saw what was going to happen to their country when the US went to war in Iraq just a little more clearly than we saw what it would cost us.

[Captain Joe]

I predict that the US will have similar riots when the "mexicanization" of the US reaches a similar proportion of US population as the north African proportion of French population, that is about 20%. Looks like the border problem is reaching a crisis level.

[nova]

I like that comparison to the USA of the 1960s. Very good. These Paris rioters are the same young guys who tried to pick pocket me on the Paris Metro on 3 different occasions. They are so young they are not very good at it and got nothing from me but I hear that they do pick pocket and/or rob quite a few Americans and the French Police do nothing about it. Take them to the station and let them go. In fact, did you know there are now NO police in the Paris Metro system on weekends. Must be lack of funds under socialism.

[TheAlamo]

The problem is the symptoms are addressed, but not the cause. Poverty is caused by socialistic government tendencies. As the welfare state grows, the productive state diminishes, and the two head for an eventual clash. Historically communistic, or monarchist type situations are the result, and no one gains except the state.
The 60's crap here was instigated for political reasons, not economic reasons, and was used to usher in the socialism that we live under today. The next riots here will be based on political/economic reasons, because the socialist state will always fail.

Until we, France, and the rest of the world realize that government is not the solution, nor can it ever be, these things will become more frequent. Government cannot alleviate a growing cancer of welfare by continuing to steal more from producers. We only have about 4000 years of history to prove it.

What will work, is the free market. When people are free to produce, and not regulated or credentialized out of busines, all of society prospers. When idiotic laws like minimum wage cheat people out of jobs and money, then you will have unrest, and eventually riots.

The wonderful part of it is that the rioters, DO know the right people to blame...the government in which country they live, and that very government from which they seek solutions is what actually perpetuates their misery--and will never give them the right answers, or help.

Unfortunately, they do not take it out on the government, but rather the people who work for a living--supporting them.
But no one claims poverty breeds intelligence.

[Northerner]

I don't think the last race riots in the US were in the 60's. 1992, LA, Rodney King, anyone remember?
And the underlying issue in France is poverty as much as race. Similar to LA in '92.

[callmeBetty]

>And the underlying issue in France is poverty as much as race. Similar to LA in '92.

The underlining issue during the Rodney King riots was the not guilty verdict. Poverty had nothing to do with it. Many Anglos were angry as well.

[MB]

Dan, your article was profound…
In France:
French and Arab marriages have produced youths, who amass this decade, neither accepted into French Society, nor fully in the Muslim tradition. They are the new society born out of a mix of two sociologically split cultures.
They cannot work; they have no place in France or ME. I would be more concerned that Chirac address this, in whatever manner, before they find place in a lucrative terrorist environment. This situation cannot be labeled poor, nor racial, but more likely…a lost and forgotten population… (We are talling millions of lost youth, here.)
Soon those multi-racial youths with privilege, will identify to create an aedificare built of frustration. This is what is running in the background while the MM determines these youths to be ‘immigrants’….I personally believe that the immigrants are just along for the ride.

[okoj]

When african-americans riot/organize it's usually after a series of truely bad events, with the officials covering it up, and saying there was no problem. It is usually the poor african americans who riot, they do not have anything to lose. The events in Paris would have never triggered a massive response in america. The cops did not directly beat, kill anyone, and there is no indication of a cover up.

30-50% unemployment in a community would cause social breakdown. Someone was not paying attention. Hopefully this will burn itself out after a few days of martial law, followed by some reform,(per the american model). If not, look for Islamist influences fueling this.

[mustymark]

What most Americans fail to understand is that it is France's liberal immigration policy that is at fault for the over abundance of muslims in France. They accept nearly everyone from Morroco and Algeria. This has resulted in an imbalance..cultural and otherwise. The french are just now figuring out that they've got to slow it down. They've been far too liberal.

Arabs are HATED in most areas of France by most of the people because they are responsible for so much of the crime. We just lost the sale of an awesome condo because the buyer who loved it...thought there were too many Arabs in the neighborhood. Also, the established Arabs take advantage of the immigrants by renting slum like apartments to them and getting the rent money by strong arm tactics...I know this because a FORMER Arab business partner is a slum lord and openly bragged as to how he and his thug brothers collected the rent. Once his character was discovered, he was out on his ear....(at least from our company). My last visit to Toulouse was punctuated by Uncle B. constantly warning us to watch out for the Arabs who would rob us, clean out our car, and maybe bash us on the head. And more of my immediate family will not drive nice cars because the "Arabs" will trash them. We got my FIL a radio for his old beater that he hacks around in, and the ONE time he forgot to take the radio front off...the arabs got his radio.

This is in the beautiful south of france on the MED...not in Paris. When the revolution happened in Algeria many fled to the south of France. Recently there were riots there that were NO WHERE on the American news. They were between the Gitanos and the Arabs who are killing each other at an alarming rate.

France needs to STOP Arab immigration and seriously consider sending the ones who are not working and on the dole right back to where they came from. At least in the U.S. the mexican illegals come here to work, they work sub standard jobs and can't get on the dole. France pampers their welfare cases too much. They give welfare to the new immigrants and there is no incentive to work...so they live in slums collect the dole and get into criminal activities.

If France does not do something about this the whole country will end up in flames.

[ez]

Don't ya'll get it.... this has nothing to do with socialism or carter or rodney king. this has to do with the holy way that osama bin ladin and his cronies are still successfully waging against the industrialized west. bush has failed to contain this threat, and al queda operates in many ways that they don't want us to know about.

[Mark]

It took the french riots to spread into the second week before the international press even began giving the violence attention, especially here in the USA. The smallest conflicts in the USA get worldwide attention if they comprise only a few dozen people and last only 30 minutes. Having said that, I remember the gross exaggerations from the press on Katrina in New Orleans, so, despite how much I loathe the French, I take the media's coverage of the riots with a grain of salt.

[Booger]

THe riots were needed distractions. Otherwise world wd go to sleep. Hurricane, Birdflue and Now Race Riot wd keep us in our toe.

The French Deserve this.

[http://www.kstreetfriend.blogspot.com]

Paris riots coming to America soon. . . What is the plight of the black man? Consider this.

I write the following because Tom Birdsong, Assistant Managing Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on Wednesday, November 9, 2005, said, “No one is going to write about your family’s plight.” Thereafter, Mrs. Estelle B. Richman’s staff (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania‘s Secretary of Welfare) became very rude and indifferent to our emergency situation. In fact, Ms. Richman’s chief of staff, Linda Hicks no longer accepted our calls. Christian Bowser actually laughed about our situation. Inez Titus, became even more stubborn with her unlawful position. The Executive Director for Western Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, Tim Cornell (Mrs. Titus’ supervisor) has yet to return any of our calls.

Nonetheless, a man was shot to death in a cinema lobby shootout after watching gangsta rapper 50 cent’s movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” prompting the Loews Cineplex at the Waterfront in West Homestead (just east of Pittsburgh) to stop showing the film. I was there with my family (common-law wife and three minor children). That is, although determined eligible, my family has again been denied the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”) federal entitlement for the fourth or fifth straight year. Without heat during the cold winter months a theater provides temporary shelter (allowing my family opportunity to give relatives “a break” from our nightly sleep-overs).

What happened at the Waterfront? Shelton Flowers, 30, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was shoot three times and died later at a local hospital. Flowers had just watched the movie and got into a confrontation with three men in the bathroom. A fight ensued and spilled out into the concessions area, where Flowers was shot. Immediately, Loews Cineplex pulled the movie as a precaution. The R-rated movie is based on Curtis “50-cent” Jackson’s own life which includes drug dealing, time in prison, and getting shot nine times. Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom, Inc., removed billboards for the movie near some inner-city schools after Los Angeles area community leaders complained last month.

Wilkinsburg, just east of Pittsburgh, is a town that was once synonymous with white supremacy. It is a town that had a mere 502 black residents in 1950 when its population hit 31,000, and only 224 more black residents 10 years later. But, over the next few decades, almost like a prophecy, the black population rose to 90 percent. That is, just a little more than 200 years ago Andrew Levi Levy, Sr. named the town “Africa.”

The borough grew from Levy’s land and other plots (such as the curiously named “Pious Purchase,” and others called Rippeyville, McNairsville and Sterrett Township). It was incorporated some 118 years ago and given the name Wilkinsburg after Judge William Wilkins, the Secretary of War under President John Tyler. Nonetheless, many of its current residents still believe Wilkinsburg is no different today than it was in the 1920's when hooded knights of the Ku Klux Klan cavorted. They say whites still control the town with black “puppets” politicians.

While other cities the size of Pittsburgh has seen a steady growth in gun crime, our gun violence trajectory appears to have exploded. Community activists, politicians and crime experts all have brainstorm strategies for stemming violence. The residents here had hoped for a comprehensive plan of action that would have addressed part of the root causes that lead our neighbors to take up guns. But, the answer given is more of the same. The local politicians have taken a page from the George W. Bush handbook (Madison Avenue to sell our reputation).

We have our three rivers, a beautiful skyline, a romantic culture district, a few of the country’s best hospitals, excellent universities, and the like. But, there's never anything mentioned about our blighted downtown business district, the high unemployment rate of black males, increased gun violence, and the growth of conservative republican complacency.

It's no secret any more that economic conditions for blacks in Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities is precarious. Black residents rank low compared to the national average of income, employment, and education. We have chronic problems of gang and drug violence, family breakdowns, soaring incarceration rates for young black males, and abysmally failing public schools. Wilkinsburg residents are, in fact, the best example of the 13 percent of the United States’ black population still living chained in by a Bush presidency, with our eyes riveted on the wall of the white media (Madison Avenue) in front of us, where we see nothing but shadows made by powerless leaders hiding behind us.

We could debate endlessly the role of such squeamishness in concealing and exacerbating the problem with race relations in both Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. We could also discuss the minor role played by gangsta rap music. But, what we should consider is how right-wing conservatives, such as Senator Rick Santorum, have convinced so many blacks that shadows from behind (self-indulgent grab for expensive cars, clothes and money of black republican conservatives living in our affluent North Hills neighborhoods) are reality.

Many of the black residents of Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities believe a lot of the Madison Avenue nonsense. They believe things that are just not true. And, the Republicans gets their strength from this.

The bottom line: The root cause of the shooting at the Loews Cineplex is the apparent political cleansing of true democrats from local politics. Gerrymandering and electoral manipulation (just plan “punk ass” democrats) have left the city with zones of endemic poverty, an absence of social services, crumbling infrastructure, and appalling schools. After the radicalized poverty of black America was laid bare in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina almost everyone expected some change from white America. But quickly the Bush administration and the Republican party have lapsed back into policies to further divide America.

In the 1990's white America built prisons to house the disproportionately black inmates it had planned to toss into jail (in the years that followed) to reassure the affluent majority it complacency with race issues. One of every eight black males between 25 and 29 years old is behind bars on any given day according to the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit group that seeks to reduce incarceration rates. If this rate continues, one of three black males born today will be imprisoned at some point in their lifetimes.

A local daily “conservative right” newspaper, “The Pittsburgh Tribune Review” recently feature an article written by Walter Williams, a professor of economics at George Mason University. In the article “Ammunition for Poverty Pimps” Mr. William suggested the Census Bureau’s 2004 current Population Survey found two segments of the black community. One segment suffers only 9.9 percent poverty rate and another suffers 39.5. He surmised that one would be a lunatic if they believed white people practice discrimination. He concluded, among other things, that the only distinction between the two segments was marriage. Adding, “If today’s black family structure were what it was in 1960, the overall black poverty rate would be in or near single digits."

I guess Mr. Williams failed to consider the proof that demonstrates blacks are denied opportunities in forms of employment, education and even human treatment. For example, on October 18, I borrowed a little more than $50 to buy a bus ticket to travel halfway across the state for an oral test given by the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission. I was well dressed in a dark business suit and could have been easily mistaken as a black republican conservative. However, while on the elevator headed for the floor for the testing, a white woman asked me if I was allowed on the floor where the testing was being held. She suggested that because I was black, "I had no business on their elevator." She ordered me off the elevator on a lower floor and said that she would have to call up stairs to let the staff know I was on my way.

Soon thereafter she was advised that I was scheduled for an oral test on the floor I was trying to get to. But, she still refused to compromise. She announced that I wasn't permitted to travel through their office without an escort. Interestingly, it was additionally odd that the State required a monitor to sit in with me during my testing.

Nonetheless, getting back to the LIHEAP issue, the federal entitlement program provides waivers and reduced heating rates to low-income households. It is a federal program that assists those who cannot pay their bills. Eligible households can receive assistance through a direct payment to energy vendors that supply their fuel, or through a crisis component during weather-related emergencies. To be eligible for the program, household income cannot exceed 135 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines: $12,920 for a one-person household; $17,321 for two persons; $21,722 for three persons; $26,123 for four persons; $30,524 for five persons. For larger households, the guidelines increase by $4,401 for each additional person. Homeowners, renters (including those whose rent includes heat), roomers and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible.

I have a good understanding of the program because I was previously employed by Allegheny County as a planner and wrote grant applications for the agency that implements the program. However, in 1989, I was fired in retaliation for organizing a union. The political sub-division said I was terminated for being tardy four times in a four-month period. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ("PHRC")identified a white female working in the same office as having been tardy 71 times during the same time period and not disciplined. But, the PHRC ruled it was bad management and not discrimination.

Ever since my termination the political-subdivision has found some way to retaliate against my household, i.e., always reaches from any available loophole to frustrate the process and deny my family the federal entitlement. In the past, I have complained to the State, federal government (FBI), courts and media to no avail.

Consider this, when the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan passed through Western Pennsylvania in September 2004, the LIHEAP offered free water heaters and furnaces. Income restrictions were waived allowing the affluent to participate. My family was denied relief because the deed to the house is recorded in our minor son’s name. But, LIHEAP allows renters and other non-homeowners to participate.

The current issue involves Duquense Light Company’s termination of our electric service immediately following the close of last year’s LIHEAP program (March 31, 2005). Although they already had $371 as a security deposit the utility company terminated service and demanded $866.01. And, despite the fact that we didn’t have any electrical service, the next month we received an unexplained bill for almost twice that amount actually due: $1,646.17. Because we are current living on “food stamps” we were forced to go without electric until the start of the 2005-2006 LIHEAP program.

As a “food stamp” participant we received our LIHEAP application early and returned it weeks before the November 7 start. In fact, as we do each year, we contacted Mr. Cornell’s office to advise him of our situation (requested that he process our application to allow the electrical service to be restored on November 7 without a 72-hour wait). Mr. Cornell didn’t respond.

Mrs. Titus, Mr. Cornell's assistant did call on November 7, just before the closing (3:00 p.m.) of her office. She advised our application would be denied - "Duquense Light now demanded $2,600.” To memorialize the outrageous response I requested permission from Mrs. Titus to allow a "three-way" connect with the local media (Channel 4). I called Channel 4 because I was given its “gold medal” for outstanding community service in 1989. However, during the three-way conversation Ms. Titus refused to acknowledge her previous position (Duquense Light demand of $2,600). She would only say our family was being denied the federal entitlement. Immediately, I voiced a complaint to Mr. Cornell’s secretary. She suggested that I call Harrisburg (Department of Welfare’s main office). She provided me the number.

Precious Perry answered the Secretary of Welfare’s telephone. She transferred me to Ms. Richman’s chief of staff (Linda Hicks). Mrs. Hicks promised to have Christian Bowser call before five p.m.. But, it never happened. At 9:00 a.m. the next morning (November 8), I called Mr. Cornell’s office and left another message requesting a return call. I also called Mrs. Hicks again and questioned why Mrs. Bowser never called.

This time, Mrs. Hicks promised to have Ms. Bowser call before 11 a.m.. Mrs. Hicks asked us to “call back if Mrs. Bowser failed to call.” It never happened.

I did call Ms. Hicks at 12:00 noon but she rushed me off the phone. She gave me Mrs. Bowser’s telephone number and requested that I call her directly. I called the number but got Mrs. Bowser’s voice mail. I left a message explaining the situation. Mrs. Bowser never called back.

On November 9, 2005, I called Mrs. Hicks again to advise Mrs. Bowser' failure to call. But, Mrs. Hicks quickly rushed me off the phone again. She said that she would no longer address the issue. She said “communicate with Ms. Bowser from that point.”

Thereafter, I called Mrs. Bowser’s and spoke with her secretary. I left another message. Even more frustrated now, I called the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I spoke with Mr. Tom Birdsong. I advised him of our situation and asked if he would investigate the issue in a “confidential” manner. He said that he would forward the information to Larry Walsh. I informed him that in the previous years I have communicated with Mr. Walsh but nothing was done. I even told Mr. Birdsong that I once connected a Post-Gazette columnist, Tony Norman, and allowed him to participated with a three-way telephone call (allowed him opportunity to monitor a call to prove how rude the LIHEAP program staff was acting). Mr. Birdsong said he would have Mr. Walsh call.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., I was finally able to get Mrs. Bowser on the telephone. She laughed at our situation!

After laughing, Mrs. Bowser would only reiterated Mrs. Titus position, “Duquense Light can demand funds that are not owed.” She added, “Mrs. Titus’ position is final.” She said she would have Mrs. Titus send us a rejection letter.

Immediately, I called Mr. Birdsong. But, he became rude. The conversation concluded with Mr. Birdsong saying “No one is going to write about your family’s plight.”

50 cents, during an interview on ABC’s “The View,” said he was saddened by the fatal shooting: “I feel for the victim’s family in this situation.” He added, “But you know, these weren’t kids. This was a 30-year-old man (who) had a dispute with three other guys.”

I’m older than 30. But, what is rage? How come I’m able to control my anger? Would I have controlled my anger if one of my family members was hit by a stray bullet during the shootout?

http://www.kstreetfriend.blogspot.com