Violence calming in France

In the past week I have received countless phone calls and emails asking about the reports of rioting in Paris and around France. While it is a very serious problem and the government still does not seem to fully grasp the seriousness of the problem, I can say that for those living in most of Paris and anyone coming from abroad to visit the normal tourist destinations, the problems have been out of site to most. I watched a CNN report the other night and if I was planning to come to Paris from abroad I would have canceled the trip from the sound of things but really, this situation is limited to poor areas which are well outside of any standard tourist desintations. American travel warnings always seem to blow things out of proportion while ignoring everyday high crime rates in the US. Should there be caution? Sure. Panic? Absolutely not.

To that end, this is good and bad. Because the riots and torchings have been in poor out of the way areas, it makes it easier for most to rest safely and know that the riots are waning thanks to a heavy police presence and emergency laws. It's almost too easy to dismiss and go back to normal life and forget about all of this. Politicians are talking about recognizing the problems and making attempts to help but until affirmative action is put in place and we see business and politics representing the actual population and not just the white population, any success in limiting the hostilities will only be short-lived.

The US may still be working on racism but you can walk into an office and see different types of people. You can also look at community leaders and politicians who represent all communities, not just the white people. If you expect to see the same in Europe, despite substantial non-white populations, you will be sadly disappointed. This is the heart of the matter and this has to be addressed.