Paris thoughts

Submitted by John Schwartz (Germany), Nov 8, 2005 at 09:20

Hi Daniel,

Isn't it possible that these riots are a failure of the political and social systems and have little to do with the Islamist issue. Remember in the 60s when American cities burned-no one was blaming the Islamists for this.

I wonder if we are not giving the Islamists too much credit. There is a real danger here, though, and that is this: if these youth are denied entry into the European system and the French system, then the Islamic "system" will be the only refuge (expression of pride) left to them - kind of like prisoners taking up Islam while in jail since they have lost everything else.

What do you think?

John Schwartz

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