2007-03-28 04:02:34 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ France ➔ Other - France
the reason people riot is usually when they're pushed to the extreme by their living conditions, that they see no other way out, and that they resent society in general, and the police in particular.
the young french people who did that not long ago are mainly the children and grandchildren of african migrants who came to france to find work, and got treated like dirt once they'd worked themselves to the ground.
now these young men (mainly men, yep) know it's difficult to find jobs if you're called mohammed even when you're very qualified, because even though racial discrimination is prohibited by law, it still exists in the majority of companies. so they end up thinking that it's not worth their putting effort into school, because whateve they do, they'll get rejected.
you probably don't know but in france, a policeman can stop you on the street and ask to see your identity card, because you're required by law to have it with you at all times.
i'm french, i'm white, and it's never happened to me.
it happens to these guys on a daily basis. i guess you can say they're a bit fed up to be discriminated against, so if a young car thief gets killed while being chased byt the police, their bottled up anger is let out, hence the riots.
on a lighter note, french people tend to have a bit of a temper on them, and that's why they go and demonstrate when they're not happy with something. unfortunately it doesn't always stay peaceful.
2007-03-28 04:24:40 · answer #1 · answered by misspimousse 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The French DON'T "always" riot but street demonstrations or "manifestations" are a time honored method of expressing one's political opinions.
In several decades of regular visits to Paris I've rarely made a visit where someone wasn't demonstrating about something.
When I was there last Spring it was students concerned about a change in the labor laws. The manifestations were generally peaceful although there were a relative handful of troublemakers who tangled with the police.
I see this as an expression of the vibrant democracy that exists in France and the fact that the average Frenchmen is more informed about and involved with his or her country and its domestic policies than, for example, the average American.
The French have a healthy passion about issues that affect them and don't hesitate to band together to make their opinions known.
2007-03-28 12:50:33 · answer #2 · answered by Rillifane 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
because it looks bad on American TV!! Us medias love that.
I guess showing this, feeds our superiority complex and make people feel safe in the US.
Oh yeah we are way better here, where the police doesn't use violence, where everybody can own a gun and do justice ( to provide to the lack of police activity), where politician can fire Judges without being accountable.
Maybe this is what we are lacking here, a bit of riot and demonstrations, just to let the persons who are decision makers know that the people of America is watching and cares.
Oh yes, we could that by voting! but more than 50% of Americans don't!!!
2007-03-29 14:05:52 · answer #3 · answered by cb0257 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know in France, we often prefer to demonstrate and then discuss. OK, normaly it should be the opposite.
As for the riots, it is more often outsiders who only come to have a fight with the police. Nothing else. They like that : fighting, destroying others property, hurting people...
2007-03-28 21:07:18 · answer #4 · answered by kl55000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do people ask imbecilic questions based on sweeping generalizations and their personal spin on newspaper headlines? French people don't "always riot". I'm almost annoyed with myself for even dignifying your idiocy with a response.
2007-03-28 11:53:09 · answer #5 · answered by David 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we prefer fresh and we don't riot, we demonstrate. I don't like it especially but use the right words, riots are very rare.
2007-03-29 05:28:35 · answer #6 · answered by fookine 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's a bit stereotypical and racist. When was the last time you saw a French riot.
Remember we had them not so long ago in the UK.
2007-03-28 11:10:16 · answer #7 · answered by Mark J 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
its "new" "french" people, always the same putting mess but we can't even tell who they are....laws are strict for us , you understand me?
by the way, you make me smile ; theses guys don't need to drink to fight unlike you; go in Brit bars on saturday evening, you shall have plenty of action (not oriented against police though)
2007-03-28 11:10:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
the better thing for you would be to come in France !!!
2007-03-31 10:14:45 · answer #9 · answered by Paulinchen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are much more liberal than Americans and speak their mind.
2007-03-28 18:09:34 · answer #10 · answered by Qu'est ce que tu penses? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋