So France is a staunch Secular Republic huh? Some say even a fundamental secular state (since the infamous headscarf ban). It's been 200+ year since the Revolutionary experiment started. It was supposed to be for the people, by the people.

But now it's been ten consecutive nights of rioting (from writing this). If the youth haven't got anything else to do, no jobs, no recreational facilities, no dependencies; why not burn cars, and destroy shops.

Nicholas Sarkozy has been dubbed the future of the French political establishment, some say even being groomed to become the President one day (I read it somewhere a year or so ago). So therefore it's appropriate to deduce that his handling of the riots, the disenchanted poor children of foreigners, and how he conducts himself, what words he'll use in speeches, how he says them, and how he presents himself, regarding this situation is of great importance to him, the governing party he belongs to, the french people, Europe, and the world.
Whatever the outcome, it will be of huge significance.

My better half, currently (though temporarily I hope) in New York, has been following the events for quite some time, and she thinks this rioting in the french suburbs could become THE defining moment for the 21st century "West" and it's relations with people (at home), descendants of foreigners.

Here are a few commentary links she was intrigued by:

Paris autumn - Riots in the capital have left France floundering: www.timesonline.co.uk
WHY PARIS IS BURNING: news.yahoo.com
Paris riot suburb residents comment: news.bbc.co.uk
Clichy's 'les miserables': news.bbc.co.uk
The other side of Aulnay: news.bbc.co.uk

Her concern regards the spill over affect this can have in neighboring countries. Though, places like Germany and Austria for example, have slightly different constitutions and rules regarding citizenship. Britain has had a taste with the Oldham riots, and the Netherlands has had Van Gogh and Pim Fortuyn murdered, naming just two prominent examples in heavily mentioned in the media.
I'm sure everybody and their mothers will have something to say about this, and they will surely be written and read.

Is it just an act of a stubborn youth making noise to be heard, or is it a formerly ticking bomb that is now exploding? Both, either, or neither?
Could this situation, clearly based on economic and social issues, bring religion into the foray? (I hope not.)

This entry is a source of news and commentary links, generally for readers/conversationalists of this "Articulations" village readers (but specifically for me), so if you like deposit here please.