Let Them Eat Cake

The violence in the streets of Paris continues as tempers flare and the government sends in the police to make arrests and control the outcome. The spark of the riots was literally due to two students who died at a power station in Clichy-sous-Bois, north of Paris. They were electrocuted after trying to escape a police chase. Apparently, the police are not claiming responsibility for their actions. Regardless, it’s often a simple misunderstanding that starts major conflicts because some people are already feeling angry.

In France, the land of fine cheese and wine, political protests are part of its history. The revolution beginning in 1789, had a similar start. It was a reaction to the changing face of the country: a call to rule by the people instead of the monarchy. Other causes included the changing economic face of the nation and the growing separation between the rich and the poor.

Today, it’s a similar scene: a growing resentment of the ruling order, a rising number of poor people and, most importantly, the struggle of the ethnic class. Like the outdated feudalism of the 18th Century, the people, especially those who are Muslims, are looking for equality. They want economic fairness and racial equity within the existing system. The riots of the past couple weeks are symptoms of the greater problem.

Civil disobedience is a better method of political protest. In fact, a recent march of 1,000 people last Saturday proved to the world a growing number of local residents want change. It took some courage to march through the very territory where all this is happening. On the other hand, one can understand why the pent up anger is fueling these riots but that doesn’t excuse the perpetrators.

France has a long history of practical, political ideas. What it needs now is a little reason over passion.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.

November 7th marks an important birthday. In 1879, Leon Trotsky was born Lev Davidovich Bronstein. He died in Mexico in 1940.