disturbing article

[laurel]

This appeared on the Wall St. Journal website today. I'm terribly concerned, not only because my husband is Jewish, but because of the authorities' handling of this situation.
I know that there are awful things happening every day all over the world, but planning a trip to Paris seems kind of depressing to me now...

[laurel]

online.wsj.com/article/SB121745263179998311.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

Here's the link, sorry...

[sunshine817]

Laurel, I'm sorry that this is bothering you so...it doesn't change the fact that this stuff still goes on, and it's still repugnant.

This isn't at all to minimize the situation, nor to brush off the reaction of others.

But I hope that it might help to put it somewhat in perspective to gently draw your attention to the large orange word at the top of the page -- Opinion. That single word relieves the writer of any duty at all to report things any way other than the way they see it. (Doesn't mean that this particular piece is wrong or that they're distorting the picture, just that if it's an opinion, it doesn't HAVE to be accurate.)

It might also help to remember that the owner of the Wall Street Journal is Rupert Murdock, who built his fortune on supermarket tabloids, and now also owns Fox News (who SWEAR they're fair and balanced). His media outlets are pretty regularly taken to taskfor being slanted and sensational, and there's only rarely any more than a half-hearted protest.

I pray that these are the case with this story -- it sickens me to think that this is true.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Sunshine is right, I think - and don't forget that Fox "News" was the source of the ludicrous "terrorist fist jab" nonsense as well, which certainly was not a high point of "journalism."

Really, I hope you can put this out of your mind as being something specific to Paris or France - I don't know where the truth lies as to this incident, and it does seem well documented that the attack was brutal and unprovoked, but at the same time this particular writer seems determined to fan the flames and escalate the conflict and controversy. But it also sounds as though, viewed at least somewhat objectively, the authorities actually are doing their job to investigate and prosecute as appropriate. I can see, however, why it leaves a very bad taste in your mouth.

[Happygoin]

Sunshine and Becky said it better than I ever could. Rupert Murdock has a well-documented reputation for sensationalism and yellow journalism.

Certainly not to make light of the issue, I don't think I'd put much stock in the slant of the story. I would guess that the intent of the story is to inflame.

[Anne]

I agree very much with Becky's last paragraph . The author doesn't even try to sound objective . The Jewish boy has indeed been beaten to coma, no doubt about that, but the question of who did what and for what reason has been unclear with many conflicting versions from witnesses or neighbours for quite a long time, so to pretend that the media have tried to "camouflage" responsibilities is just ridiculous, for a while they were just reporting whichever new version came up .

But he also says quite a few things which are very true .
Yes, there is high hostility from Muslims towards Jews, much more so since things flamed up in Palestine . But I think that Muslims also resent Jews very much for being perfectly integrated in French society, while many Muslims aren't . Anyway, many are after economic integration, not social one . The author is right about them hating the French as well, the "sales Gaulois" . They now rule the banlieues, where even non-muslim girls have to wear baggy clothes in order not to be assaulted for dressing like "w.ores" . Football matchs between France and Algeria or Morocco in the past years have always begun with the Marseillaise being copiously whistled (meaning booed) by spectators who for the most part are now French because they were born here and who would never even consider going back to live in North Africa . And talking about those "French", the author is right when saying that it is forbidden to mention the ethnie or religion of delinquents, and I can understand some very good reasons for this, but a consequence is that when the authorities or media report anti-Semitic aggressions without being able to mention the religious or ethnic origin of criminals whose nationality is French (which is ridiculous, since religion and ethnies ARE the reason for these aggressions), people around the world then say "French are anti-Semitic", which is NOT true . Yes, we have the odd néo-Nazi morons like in many other places of the world, but that's it, French would not assault Jews, I hate this confusion .

[luckyluc]

Oh some people LOVE the confusion ! They live for that. I have quite a few friends who are jewish and send me a chain email about France and it intolerance toward the Jews, of course after less than 1/2 hour of facts checking most of it is turn out false or badly interpretered at best. THere are racists everwhere, what are we to do? My friends are Jewish AND gay so between the racists and the homophobes even home would not be safe! ! Let not give this article more attention that it deserve...

[Shoesy]

Our dear Phread , who lives in Paris, is Jewish, and I've gotten the impression that she feels very comfortable being who she is where she is.

[laurel]

I've been a WSJ subscriber for many, many years and Murdoch has been its owner for about 6 months. There has been no change in the news coverage or the editorial direction IMHO> The press is not lacking outrageous misquotes, mistakes, plaigierism and outright fabriction that have been published by non-Murdoch publications. Be that as it may...you may believe the article or not, as you wish, obviously.

I fully understand that this piece has a definite point of view and it's meant to cause a reaction - exactly like the thousands of pieces printed in French newspapers during the Dreyfuss Affair, on both sides. Exactly like the thousands of pieces printed about Guantanamo. Exactly like the hundreds of pieces from the London Times extolling the virtues of Herr Hitler and the vices of Winston Churchill. Sometimes that's the function of the press.
Thanks, guys, for your interesting and informative comments.

[suzanne]

This is indeeed disturbing. However, it can and does happen just about anywhere. This particular incident took place in an area not frequented by tourists, or most of us for that matter. I do love the Park Butte Chaumont (sp) which is in that area. After reading one of Cara Black's books that took place in the area I learned that there has long been a large Muslim community there.

I think that Anne has it right. I have heard the same sentiments expressed by others that I've conversed with in Paris. The coffee bar in Galleries Lafayette has been a good source of education on French politics as seen threw the eyes of the locals for us.

[denise]

Dear laurel...this is a very disturbing article and I can understand how it has cast a shadow over your plans for a trip to Paris.
I know nothing of French politics, Judaism or racism but I read this part of the article.

.>>During the July 13-14 French independence holiday some 600 cars were burned and over 200 people were arrested, the vast majority of them in the Parisian banlieue. The thugs attacked the police with baseball bats, firebombs and firecrackers; one policeman lost an eye. The Champs de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower has become a contemporary battlefield. Students celebrating there after they finished the baccalauréat exam were assaulted by a mob of 300 so-called "youths" who attacked the graduates and the police with equal rage.>>

Certainly we spent quite alot of time at the Champs de Mars "at the foot of the Eiffel tower," both during the celebrations and later in the week...We saw NO evidence of this "battlefield" We did not even see any increased police presence, (which you would have thought there would be, if there had been any previous violence of significance.)
People of all nationalities. (Jewish and Muslim included) were strolling and lying in the sun relaxing and having a good time. Surely the residents would have stayed away from this area if there was any possibility of danger.

In all my travels over Paris that week I did not notice alot of burned out cars and certainly there was nothing being reported on the local news about these arrests.
I can only speak as I find.
Denise
love from england

[Anne]

Denise, cars burning in the banlieue have become so common, especially on New Year Eve or on Bastille Day, that the media hardly report them anymore . But the media did very much report the fights between youths and the police which ended with several casualties on Bastille Day this year . All this happens in the banlieue, not in Paris, that's why you didn't see any of it .
And students who celebrate every year the end of the baccalauréat on the Champs de Mars got indeed attacked this year on the night of June 20th to 21st, it was really bad .

So all the facts are true, as in much of the rest of article . But as in much of the article, I have a problem with the interpretation of these facts : to call the Champs de Mars "a contemporary battlefield" because there have been fights there one night is totally ridiculous, and indeed neither the residents nor the police seem to be expecting trouble there anymore ...

[denise]

Dear Anne...I'm sorry I didn't mean it to sound like I thought the reports were untrue, I was trying to say that if I had read that particular paragraph and had not been in Paris over the holiday I would have a completely different (and frightening) impression of Paris. Not knowing, as most people, where the banlieue is.
We left on the 21st, but to describe the Champs de Mars as a "contemporary battlefield" is as you say not only ridiculous but alarmist.

I was just trying to reassure laurel that Paris is still as safe a city as it has ever been for tourists and not to let it throw a cloud over their planning.

Do not believe everything you read in the press. I was married to a journalist for a long time and I know how events are twisted for a story or reaction.

For example, I live in an area of England which is known for gun and knife crime and a tourist reading the press reports would think it was very dangerous place to visit.
The weekend we left for Paris there were three people killed in knife attacks here, this was reported in the national press and TV.
Despite this the police say that the incidence of knife crime is low. The statistics are that violent crime rates are 19 per 1000 of the population in Bolton as opposed to 18 average in UK..... Hardly a great difference.
( I was probably statistically safer in Paris! )

I do not say this as a sheltered middle class woman for, in the course of my job, I not only go to white middle class homes but into ethnically diverse areas and socially deprived areas where these gun and knife crimes often occur.

Whilst I am aware of this I do not let it interfere with my life as with most of the population who live in these areas.

Denise
Love from England.

[andi]

I have been meaning to add this statement since I got back from Paris, I even wanted to mention it in my trip report...........

I wear a gold Star of David necklace that is approx 1.5 inches in diameter around my neck, it was my fathers and when he died in South Africa 10 years ago I asked if I could have it as it is the one thing I remember most about him. Neither I or my father are/were Jewish, the necklace is just something that we both adored. Three times during our trip I was purposely stopped to ask about the necklace, each time the people openely stated that it was beautiful and where did I get it?
I never once felt any animosity, it was all genuine good nature.

[joan1]

It is a horrible incident in that aritcle,, but I come from a small city, and bad things can happen anywhere, I just assumed in a city of 10 million that there will be more bad things .. Paris is a large city, with a lot of " haves and have nots" , whether it be economic or socail advanatages ,, those who feel they are in the " have not" group in any country can become very resentful.

Racism does exist in France( hey as it does in my country also, everywhere really) , mostly subtle and not acted on, but I do believe there are these bad incidents.

I also believe you cannot believe everything you read.

[cigalechanta]

First of all, the wall street journal appeals to those with predudices, and is an alarmist paper

[laurel]

Dear Cigalechante: "First of all, the wall street journal appeals to those with predudices, and is an alarmist paper"

Each to his/her own opinion - but clearly you're not a WSJ reader. It is nothing of the kind and gosh, if this weren't written by a very enlighted individual I miight be insulted at being referred to as prejudiced.

[sunshine817]

I think it's past time to let this slip away into the cracks in our virtual pavement.

[cigalechanta]

Alot of the famous in Paris are Jewish like BHL, Bernard Henri Levy, as are alot of the film stars so not to worry. We have jerks in Ma. who put signs on the churches or gravesites. Hate mongers are everywhere. You won't have a problem in Paris.

[joan1]

Sunshine, it is best to keep things in the light, no hiding in the cracks,, we are all civilized here and an open discussion should not be a problem.

My friend today asked me about racism in Paris, I looked at her and said, " I am white , how would I know, no one treated me badly" ... I was not being flip, I meant that.

If I was black or chinese or native , then I could perhaps tell someone how I was treated in Paris and if I felt I was discriminated against or treated badly. As it is was I could only tell her I saw no overt rascism, but I am not so dumb as to think that means much.