About Me

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In my interests below, I list French language, cinema, theatre, politics, art, and wine. And while French brought me to a lot of these things, I also like all of them in a more general way. I really love languages and their connections. I also have a thing about how theatre and cinema, art, politics and wine all hook up in some way. As I think of these ideas, I can hear the thwonk of the cork coming out of the neck of the bottle, and the gentle squeak as the cork is twisted off the tire-bouchon. Ah, that oakey, musty, acidic aroma wafting, wafting and people talking and talking and talking. And, oh they found out we have some sets of boules and they want to play pétanque. "Let's pick teams and play in the shade of those plane trees." The sounds of summer resonate: the crunch of the terrain under foot, the click of the iron bocce knocking in the players' hands, and the soft kiss of the wooden cochonnet as it hits the ground scuttling down to its resting point where it will await the arrival of each team's battle-worn aggies.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

New York Times on Clichy-sous-bois

New York Times article  (France’s Ideals, Forged in Revolution, Face a Modern Test)
It talks about life in Clichy-sous-bois in the aftermath of both the riots from ten years ago this October and the Charlie Hebdo and Kosher supermarket shootings makes for interesting reading. The article is reasonably short, so it does not expand on some ideas. I was particularly interested in the use of the term "enlightenment fundamentalism".



8 comments:

Alla said...

After reading this article I see what does the Arabic culture feels and how they feel living in French republic. And this is why I really like U.S., they allow here to practice any religion as long as it is safe for the society. Although, I do find it a little bit unfair from the Arabic side when they begin to complain about the French republic not allowing them fully practice their religion, because when relocating or moving to anther country you have to do your own research if the country you are moving to is k with you practicing your religion there. We have to understand that not all countries are welcoming the religions/cultures we are bringing into their country. This doesn't mean that France should discriminate, because noone has a right to judge you based on your cultural background. I feel like this is an issue anywhere you'll go. When meeting someone we always tend to ask "where you from?", or "are you christian?" and etc. These categories sort of allow us to predict your actions in certain situations, even though they aren't the guides to make an opinion of someone.

Alla said...

When a 14 year old said "They don't respect us, and then during a minute of silence we are supposed to honor them?". This is a great point this teenager is bringing up, because for government it is very important to know their responsibilities in regards to its population.
When building up an empire or so to speak a strong society, we have to include that hen laws are made they have to be obeyed by both sides, as the people that make them as well as the people that live in that country. This is why this boy says that he will not honor the society because the society shows no respect towards him and their religion. And I feel like he is making a great point here.

Anonymous said...

I think it is alarming to read because of the brutality and economic stress the immigrants and France is facing. Do they have representation? Are they familiar with the ins and outs of the law? If they did then they can be heard instead of acting out out of fear. I agree that the article does not have much depth to it and it is almost a year old. What most immigrants have to deal with is the culture shock and the incompetence of their parents who have difficulty maintaining the needs of the family. Thus, I do believe the political scientist is right they lack fraternity and fear of rejection.

Anonymous said...

The employment office in the outskirt of Paris is not a bad idea for a landmark a reminder of the past. Because like all things that come to pass modernization can work around it.

Unknown said...

This article was very interesting to me. I found it very interesting that people wer having a debate about what it means to be French. I really loved how the article stated "By law and tradition, citizens are meant to be judged as individuals without reference to race, religion or gender in the service of the republic’s ideals and its motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". One stereotype that I always heard about is that Muslims don't like Americans or anyone that is not French, and this not true at all. I could see why the Arabs may feel how they feel. Here in America we may be a lot more nicer in regards to allowing different religions. I believe the French people should respect everyone and every religion.

Unknown said...

Further Study and Extra Credit

After reading the article, France's Ideals, Forged in Revolution, Face a Modern Test , I learned a lot about one of France's modern dilemma's (given this article was written in 2015). Basically, what the article is discussing, is that France, with it's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity., is having trouble implementing these ideals when it comes to the youth Muslims residing within the Paris suburbs of Clichy-Sous-Bois. After an electrocution of a young Muslim boy, after small trouble with the French law, riots broke out in this suburb in retaliation of the punishment upon the boy. France, since the French Revolution, has had the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity embedded within French life; however, the Muslims do not believe the French welcome them and their practice of religion enough in their country. Cartoonists in the newspapers depict the Muslims and their heritage negatively, and the youth are mistreated. The Muslims view the state's values as foreign, and only a "declaration" of values. The Muslims have not experienced these French values, whatsoever. This is a modern dilemma for France, to uphold their values. Will Muslims be valued one day in the future? Hopefully soon. France should work towards becoming "enlightenment fundamentalists".

Marjan said...

I think this is so true that everyone should have a chance to practice own’s religion, and people should not be judged base on their race, religious or background. On the other hand, when a terrorist action takes place some where people get angry and they make decision based on their anger. They do not think about the source or the root. I think if muslims or other religious feel government do not respect them and do not let them to practice their religious it can be one of the reason to lead them to a radicalism. All people should feel that they have the freedom not just saying there is freedom is enough.

Marjan said...

I think this is so true that everyone should have a chance to practice own’s religion, and people should not be judged base on their race, religious or background. On the other hand, when a terrorist action takes place some where people get angry and they make decision based on their anger. They do not think about the source or the root. I think if muslims or other religious feel government do not respect them and do not let them to practice their religious it can be one of the reason to lead them to a radicalism. All people should feel that they have the freedom not just saying there is freedom is enough.