I'm trying really hard to understand the situation in France, but it's gone a tad bit beyond me. The young people are upset that they have no jobs, no social programs, and that they are discriminated based on their poverty level - even to the point where they are turned down for jobs based on the address listed on their resume - apparently companies don't want the poor who live in certain areas working for them - which continues to perpetuate the low income level.
But the riots? To demand rights via violence - this I do not, and most likely will never understand, despite knowing full well that so many of our fundamental rights were fought in the trenches of war. I suppose it's nothing I've experienced and therefore cannot understand. Any my relatives who did fight to secure our rights have long since passed and spoke of war before I was ever old enough to understand.
What happened to the two young men was truly unfortunate, and I know now that of course people are claiming they weren't being followed, which is a very natural lie to tell, although it of course may be true. I just don't get why those who are sad with their government resort to burning the property of those who are living their own day-to-day. I would never condone violence, but it might make more sense to me if some of the action being taken was against government houses, buildings, etc. - but burning schools? Where the youth may actually have the opportunity to learn, to make something, to gain and education that will one day result in a job - this I don't get.
Yet, I speak from an American perspective, one where I have personally seen the values of education and was born in to automatic privilege and knew that school would give me all that I need in life. I suppose I have not lived the life that I would have needed to in order to undersand this sort of riots. And I can't say that I'm dissappointed in that. I appreciate all that I have, but I would prefer a better understanding of it all.
But the riots? To demand rights via violence - this I do not, and most likely will never understand, despite knowing full well that so many of our fundamental rights were fought in the trenches of war. I suppose it's nothing I've experienced and therefore cannot understand. Any my relatives who did fight to secure our rights have long since passed and spoke of war before I was ever old enough to understand.
What happened to the two young men was truly unfortunate, and I know now that of course people are claiming they weren't being followed, which is a very natural lie to tell, although it of course may be true. I just don't get why those who are sad with their government resort to burning the property of those who are living their own day-to-day. I would never condone violence, but it might make more sense to me if some of the action being taken was against government houses, buildings, etc. - but burning schools? Where the youth may actually have the opportunity to learn, to make something, to gain and education that will one day result in a job - this I don't get.
Yet, I speak from an American perspective, one where I have personally seen the values of education and was born in to automatic privilege and knew that school would give me all that I need in life. I suppose I have not lived the life that I would have needed to in order to undersand this sort of riots. And I can't say that I'm dissappointed in that. I appreciate all that I have, but I would prefer a better understanding of it all.