The riots in France come as no surprise once the facts behind them is known. What is viewed as racial or cultural unrest, theses riots may actually be the beginnings of a possible European civil war. The riots were ignited when two African youths were electrocuted in an unfortunate accident. And have since, spread to Brussels and Germany.
The European birth rate is declining and as the baby boomers reach the retirement age, there is a shortage of young workers to fill the gaps in the work force. To replace the retirees, France and other European countries have been encouraging immigration from their former colonies with the intention and promise of a better standard of living and integration to the host’s country’s society while keeping their home culture intact.
The integration is not working as plan.
Most of the immigrants are living in Stalin-like no-man land neighborhoods, where the police fear to enter and patrol. Unemployment is high and they do not feel that they are part of the French culture. They may be French citizens, but they are not of the French culture but still have the nationalism fervor and cultural bonds to their homeland. In France, 10% of the immigrants are Islamic.
A majority of the rioters are second generation Algerian Muslims, young men in their late teens and early twenties. All Muslims revere the Islamic hero from the Second Crusades, General Saladin. When the Muslim men feel they are threatened or in a frustrated situation, the men will rally in a frenzy fellowship in the name of Saladin and may call for revenge or Jihad.
The media has been reporting the declining number of vehicles burnt as an indicator the riots are subsiding. But that may be a false indication as the number of available target vehicles available is less than at the start of the riots. You can not burn a vehicle more than once.
Let’s hope this is not the start of a cultural revolution as it will have ramifications in the United States.