Paris and Her Banlieues—Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4415018.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4405790.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4413964.stm
Views of police:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4405620.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6096706.stm
Views from the Banlieue:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2006/11/30/paris_riots_feature.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4412590.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6091344.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4440422.stm

The Paris riots of last years were some of the biggest civilian uprisings in France’s History. They involved a large proportion of city populations over a huge area, often corresponding to several arrondisements, and occurred in almost all major cities, from Paris to Toulouse. The riots were so destructive and well organized, that they were referred to by police officers as ‘urban warfare’.

The riots were sparked off by the electrocution of two teenage boys at a local power station, which triggered the expression of many years of simmering anger against the French government and the police. This led riots which paralyzed France for a period of around half a month, the torching of over 8000 vehicles and buildings, and disruptions of law and order in many states.

Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité?
A quick glance through the articles and other sources makes it clear to us the problems faced by the residents of the Banlieues. The everyday life in these areas is marked by an absence of police to enforce law and order, a lack of good schools, and a soaring unemployment rate.

The situation is so bad that many of the famous rap songs that originate from these troubled neighbourhoods deal with the common perception that the residents have been neglected and rejected by France and the French ethos. Also, evident in the lyrics is a mournful, sad depiction of the trials of everyday life, of poverty, lawlessness in their environments and a hopelessness and disillusionment with the government.

This is also exacerbated by the explicit racism of many people in the French public. While not similar to the apartheid policies in South America, The general aversion to immigrants, especially Africans, is made painfully evident to them, especially for young job seekers. This discrimination is extended to other citizens who live in the Banlieues, even if they are of the white majority, and this policy, while not written down, is an unspoken rule among many French employers. The lack of good schools there reinforces the notion that those born in the Banlieue have no future. There is also a marked absence of police–public contact with the Banlieue, and they are particularly hated by the young.

While this problem has existed for a long time, and the French government has tried to help the residents, some of its rhetoric is inflammatory, helping reinforce the image of the Banlieue resident as an exile in his own country. To help the residents of the Banlieu, much more must be devoted to her residents, including money for law and order, housing projects and above all, good schooling, and the equality that is central to the French ethos must be extended to them. The testimony of the two Banlieue residents paints us a portrait of two 15-year old brave young women who attempt to stand up to their current order. These people deserve to be helped. Indeed, these French also deserve Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité, the qualities essential to the French republic.