I'm surprised no one has posted about this so far, since we have at least one Hatraqien Parisien here. For those who don't know, several of the districts in northern Paris have had riots for the past several days. Each day there are reports of hundreds more cars set on fire, and general mayhem and destruction, though surprisingly little loss of life. It actually reminds me of the gang atmosphere depicted in the film "La Haine," which is an incredible piece of filmmaking by the way.
So, anyway....Choobak, comment ca va? I know you must not be affected directly by the riots very much, or we would have heard from you about it. But I'm wondering what it is like living in the same city that has these riots going on. Of course, from what I hear, you have been floating in the clouds for the past several weeks, so for all I know, you may not know there's anything going on Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Choobak may just be one of my favorite people ever. Glad you were thinking of him, Brian.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I'll second that. Choobak seems to me to be a person who has "gotten his chicken", so to speak.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I saw on my custom Google a news story that headlined "Paris is burning", but when I clicked the link, it errored out and couldn't reach the domain. I never investigated further. So I guess I wasn't paying any attention. Thanks for bringing this up for us to check out.
FG
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
The BBC news site has several articles about the riots, as well as pictures, if anyone's wanting more info about this. This is the latest one, I think, and it has links to their other articles too.
I haven't read all of them yet, but it sounds like a very scary situation. Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: I'll second that. Choobak seems to me to be a person who has "gotten his chicken", so to speak.
Yeah, he does.
(I love that term.)
Posted by Brian J. Hill (Member # 5346) on :
I was in a big hurry when I wrote my previous post. I skimmed the last couple of pages for threads related to "riots" and "Paris," but I guess I just missed the previous thread. C'est la vie.
Oh, and thanks for the BBC links, Nell. I can't believe I started a current events thread without providing proper linkage. I should have to do some kind of penance to the Gods of Proper Thread Starting.
Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
I'm here !!!! Sorry i missed the thread !
I want to reassure you : I'm ok ! In reality, i live in a very calm town. But when we cross the iron way, we arrive into Clichy, the town where the riot began. The pseudo origin of the riot is the death of two young people by electocution. It's horrible. But the reality is not because of a badness of a guy or the authority. The reality is that this two guys went up a wall with cutting a barbed wire, breaking a door where you can see the symbole "Warning : death risk".
Sorry, i pursue the story later, i need to go...
to be continue Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
So i continue. This two guys go into an electric transformator box. And they died.
So all people from the suburb (we say "cité"). Don't understand why Authority don't reconize a fault.
In fact, there is many gang who use this pretext to make a riot.
I have a friend who is a national cop at clichy, he is ok, but i have not more info.
The reality of that is that the dialogue is not here. And there is there will always be people who want to destroy order. And there is many influansable people who follow this attractive guys.
Personally, i think the TV and Media don't help to calm them. This personnes need recognition. And the only way they have is to go to TV and Papers. Like the model of Reality shows like Brothers is watching you. TV is a symbol of going up in the society.
And when there is a riot, TV is here. I believe It is the way for them to feel important.
And I think there is some people who need to express a discomfort.
I think This is not finished...
But don't be affraid for me. I'm tall, big and strong. And i practice Karate. And i am not in the riot.
I try to send you more info.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Take care of you.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
You, too, Anna.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
quote: But don't be affraid for me. I'm tall, big and strong. And i practice Karate.
Good, good, good.
quote: And i am not in the riot.
Even better.
Take care, Chooback!
--Enigmatic
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I was under the impression that the rioting is continuing becuase of poverty and unemployment in the areas where the rioters are burning stuff.
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Bumping this thread because I couldn't find any others on the topic.
This seems to be flaring up more and more quickly, and the news is reporting that the riots could be spreading to Belgium and Germany as well as the 300 towns in France (story)
I know others here are keeping tabs on this, any thoughts? Will this get any worse before it gets better?
Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
My feeling about that is that this riot in north of Paris is leaded by a group who manipulate young suburb people. But now, this is becoming bigger than this group would hope it. I don't heard about same riot in Belgium or Germany, but in France after being born in the suburb of Paris, it is gaining the other big town. I'll try to heard more about.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Freaky deaky... Be well Choobak and other French folk.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
I've heard from a friend who did some research that is was about a wealth gap between those in Urban Paris and suburban paris which had been building up until this "fuse that lit the keg".
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
That's part of it. Then there's the discrimination and intolerance that unfortunately are apparently rampant against immigrants and children of immigrants. *sigh* It's kind of like what went on in some places in America in the 60's, from what I understand. Like the Watts Riots, and other similar incidents. Eventually things got better with a lot of work from civil rights activists (although obviously, there are still problems, and what's won for one group doesn't always ensure equal rights and treatment for other groups; the prejudice seems to shift.) Except that in France right now, they're turning more and more toward violence instead of trying to find another way.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Does this have any connection to the recent (within 6-9 months) fires that burned down a couple overcrowded, un-protected tennament homes killing many of the poor/Immigrant/Islamic Nationals?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'd be pretty pissed too if there was a 50% unemployment rate for my age group and it didn't look like the government was much interesting in helping and didn't care.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
It's sounding like the riots are not slowing down... over 1,400 cars and several buildings destroyed and now the rioters hit central Paris itself.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Are they catching some of these rioters? Video taping them? Yesterday I heard something on the radio along the lines of, now we're going to start arresting these youths. That made it sound like they weren't arresting before. *snort* Boys will be boys you know.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
I hope that there aren't people in this thread that are trying to excuse the rioting.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
As Dolto said : understand everything, not excuse everything.
Posted by Chases Fire (Member # 8835) on :
HI,
I am new here, I love France for it's culture not to mention great food, and hate to see all this going on.
Very sad.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I keep reading this thread as: "Riots in Paris--Choobak, how could you?"
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Glad you were thinking of him, Brian.
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C'est la vie.![[Monkeys]](graemlins/monkeys.gif)
I should have to do some kind of penance to the Gods of Proper Thread Starting.
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