Fear will only fuel the riots
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1640802,00.html
Britain and France must confront their own racism instead of trying to
score political points
Tariq Ramadan
Saturday November 12, 2005
The Guardian
The rioting in France has led to attempts in Britain to explain how
"the French system of integration has failed". This is the mirror image
of what happened in the summer when, after the bombing attacks in
London, French commentators pointed to the incipient collapse of
British multiculturalism. On both sides of the Channel, apprehensions
are being put to rest by scrutiny of the other side's shortcomings.
Comparing the two national methods of integration does not make sense,
because the British model is neither better nor worse than the French
one. Both countries, drawing on their histories and collective
psychologies, have over time developed specific integration mechanisms.
The British model allows diverse communities to develop, while the
French model relies on individual integration. In France, a sense of
full citizenship is encouraged, while in Britain citizens are able to
retain their previous identities. Each model has its merits.
Tariq Ramadan
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/33454f1c23ed8467
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