What France Said About the 1992 L.A. Riots

I think this is pretty funny and ironic:

Back in the 1990s, the French sneered at America for the Los Angeles riots. As the Chicago Sun-Times reported in 1992: "the consensus of French pundits is that something on the scale of the Los Angeles riots could not happen here, mainly because France is a more humane, less racist place with a much stronger commitment to social welfare programs." President Mitterrand, the Washington Post reported in 1992, blamed the riots on the "conservative society" that Presidents Reagan and Bush had created and said France is different because it "is the country where the level of social protection is the highest in the world."

Full Article: The NY Sun

My how times have changed...doesn't look like the French model was so great after all.

[edit on 11/7/2005 by djohnsto77]

I have seen this all over the internet over recent days in various guises. Americans revelling in this current chaos. Revelling at the current suffering in France. Revelling in this which has claimed a life now. The destroyed property. The fear so many are experiencing.

Funny huh? I mean it's France right? They deserve it right? The French, immigrants, Muslims, the (insert stereotype here). They all deserve it right? Every damned one. JUSTICE!

Luckily I have also seen others (including Americans) who are just as sickened as I at such repugnant infantile gloating while people suffer.

Jak

[edit on 7/11/05 by JAK]

I don't think anyone is reveling at what's going on in France, just pointing out their hypocrisy and arrogance.

They've been criticizing us from this (and before) all the way up to Katrina disaster for everything, I think some turnabout is fair play.

Yes, right. Just pointing out... blah, blah... some are 'just taking the time to point out...'

Taking the time to offer comments who's sole intent is to point mocking fingers while sitting back sucking on freedom fries in some deluded sense of smugness only just shy of vomit inducing. The beautiful undertone of 'Well, well, well. Look who's suffering now... Not so smart at the moment are we?' permeating every word while people live in what must be a hellish nightmare.

Very tasteful. Still... Justice eh? Result!

Jak

Sadly the advance of the far-right Le Pen 'National Front' political party has a lot to do with this (and just as Britian has occasional trouble from it's 'far right' this is far more to do with people having trouble adjusting to a modern world they don't really like and where the old dominance and empire is gone), not so much the French socio-economic model.

It may indeed have been true that in 1992 such a thing was unlikely in the extreme in France (and it's hardly unreasonable to point out those observations were backed up by no such riots for another 13yrs).

Intrepreting those comments as smugness, hypocrisy or arrogance probably says more about the interpreter than what was actually said at the time.

Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
It may indeed have been true that in 1992 such a thing was unlikely in the extreme in France (and it's hardly unreasonable to point out those observations were backed up by no such riots for another 13yrs).

I find that a bit hard to believe, as I don't think anything has really substantially changed in French policy since then. Here, they credit France's socialist model as its saving grace, yet France is just as socialist now as was back then, if not more so -- despite some modest political gains by the right.

Conversely, the U.S. is just as conservative as it was back then, perhaps more so. Even Democrat Bill Clinton signed into law legislation that "ended welfare as we know it," making it much harder to continue to receive endless gov't benefits without working. Yet we've had no more riots like L.A. since then.

Originally posted by djohnsto77
I don't think anything has really substantially changed in French policy since then. Here, they credit France's socialist model as its saving grace, yet France is just as socialist now as was back then, if not more so -- despite some modest political gains by the right.

- It's obvious that this is the preception in the US but it is completely wrong.
The European economic model has been being curtailed for many years now and is much less 'socialist' than it ever was.

The state share of economic activity in France, Germany, Holland etc etc has been reduced for years (and they plan further 'economic liberalisation' in future too).

Conversely, the U.S. is just as conservative as it was back then, perhaps more so. Even Democrat Bill Clinton signed into law legislation that "ended welfare as we know it," making it much harder to continue to receive endless gov't benefits without working. Yet we've had no more riots like L.A. since then.

- Undoubtedly; but then I suspect that the regular 'normal' death toll in the US is sufficient deterrent to quell unrest.

I am not convinced that matters in the US are a hell of a lot better in the worst ghetto areas.
I would not be surprised to see rioting on a huge scale return there.

Originally posted by JAK
I have seen this all over the internet over recent days in various guises. Americans revelling in this current chaos. Revelling at the current suffering in France. Revelling in this which has claimed a life now. The destroyed property. The fear so many are experiencing.

Funny huh? I mean it's France right? They deserve it right? The French, immigrants, Muslims, the (insert stereotype here). They all deserve it right? Every damned one. JUSTICE!

Luckily I have also seen others (including Americans) who are just as sickened as I at such repugnant infantile gloating while people suffer.

Jak

[edit on 7/11/05 by JAK]

Well..................

Seeing how the French have repeatedly reveled and sneered at our misfortunes, Ill say fair is fair. If they cant take it, they should think twice before dishing it out.

The people who blamed the French policies instead of the rioters should be ridiculed just as strongly as the French pundits who blamed the US policies instead of the rioters.

I'm not talking about DJ or Skadi, I'm talking about those people who refuse to put the blame where it belongs, preferring instead to blame the Government and to blame French racism.

What will be the excuse when it happens in your country?

[edit on 5-12-2005 by AceOfBase]

I would find myself on Jak's side in this issue, but for other reasons. Many have a problem with the French culture because it's snobbish and very condescending. Yet, look at the immediate reaction when something blows up in their face. Many Americans start acting snobbish and condescending towards the French.

If we have such a problem with their culture, why would we behave in the exact same way? Rise above this, "well, now we're better than you" reaction that's so tempting. Ace has it right; it's the rioter's fault for the riots.

Originally posted by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
Seeing how the French have repeatedly reveled and sneered at our misfortunes, Ill say fair is fair. If they cant take it, they should think twice before dishing it out.

Remember the French response after 9/11? I guess not.

Why do Some so need to dump on the French. My experience in France was warm and friendly as long as I "tried" to speak French and not try and force English on them.

Yes, I see gloatting from the US because of the French riots. And the response of "well they did it first" is so lame. Let's show a little class!!!

[edit on 5-12-2005 by whaaa]

[edit on 5-12-2005 by whaaa]

mod edit to shorten quote

[edit on 5-12-2005 by DontTreadOnMe]

Slightly off-topic, did y'all notice what happened when dj asserted a view? The reaction was more on an emotional level than logical one. Rather than telling DJohn, "I disagree because of this," the reaction has been an attack on DJohn's character and personality.

It's a, "You're shouldn't hold that view because it's offensive," argument. Very interesting.

Junglejake - I've always thought that the French and the Americans can't get along because they're too much alike - too damn proud for their own good.

Skadi - after 9/11, French newspapers and magazines issued as a front-page title "We are all Americans".

'nuff said.

Originally posted by Otts
Junglejake - I've always thought that the French and the Americans can't get along because they're too much alike - too damn proud for their own good.

Skadi - after 9/11, French newspapers and magazines issued as a front-page title "We are all Americans".

'nuff said.

I also remember a smattering of other commentaries regarding everything from our "meddeling" in the middle east (France NEVER did that :@@ to serves you right attitudes.

Not to mention 9/11 wasnt our only misfortune that the French have snubbed.