reply to post by Saracen1
That is just plain false. There were some arabs that took part in the war, and their impact was nothing near as effective in saving France as that of
the allies.
They were also the first generation, that recieve respect, because they made an effort to integrate and be part of the country- today, the old ones
are not part of the movement of violence happening today.
The young ones reject the notion that they are french and claim the french are their enemies.
These enemies provide them with free housing, welfare, and all kinds of perks to allow them to keep up their culture. Look at any of the very nice
apartments buildings provided them- the building is covered in satelite dishes at each balcony- they get those free so they can watch TV from home in
arabic.
In Paris, despite it beign against the law, they are allowed to take over entire streets, block them off, have their own security forces to keep
non-muslims out, while they pray in the street. That means if you are french and LIVE on that street, you cannot leave your apartment, nor get to it,
during those hours.
The older generation is less extreme muslims, and don't have women covered in burkas anyway. It is the new arrivals and that second generation that
have had a rise in fundamentalism.
When this law was being created, it was brought up within the context of finding some way the arabs would have to make an effort to recieve their
welfare- that a woman would have to show her face when at the welfare office or picking up her check. Afterall, without seeing the face, how would you
know if you have given three checks to the same woman??
If anything, I would say this law is too passive, it is a lame attempt after having made too much effort to welcome them and make them comfortable and
being walked on. The people would rather not have to call on other countries to save them, as what happened in the past when efforts to be fair and
friendly with the Germans allowed them to be taken over, they are trying to avoid that eventuality.
Though this other poster called me an Islamaphobe, I have friends who are Muslim, and they also see reason for this law (not that we have much hope it
will be effectively put into usage).
On another board, I am also in a debate in which there are claims no woman willingly wants to wear a burqa, I know that many do, and I respect and
understand that (hey, we hide behind make up don't we? We wear high heeled shoes that limit our movement, and many are into confining dress like
corsets....) but that is not the question with this law. It is an attempt to ask the extremists to make a little effort at integration, since they are
given all the freedoms (and more- if the french tried to take over and block streets without getting any permit, they would be ousted! They don't get
free satelite either

)