But if the President himself --that is, France's highest authority-- speaks and is not heeded THEN we're in trouble. Hence Chirac's cautious, seemingly reluctant, comment on the current unrest. Of course, many are frustrated with such a diffident attitude by the President --especially a President who casts himself as a Gaullist and heir to General de Gaulle.
If Chirac thinks the rioters will listen to him, I've got news for him. The rioters are growing tired so it looks like a respite will emerge soon. When that happens, Chirac better get his act together, or the riots will mostlikely start anew next spring/summer.
But then again, the riots, so far, have not turned into a bloodshed similar to the Algerian crisis and, therefore, don't call for a larger-than-life statesman à la de Gaulle to overcome them. To be sure, the French riots are worrying, baffling, spectacular --yet bloodless....
Well using rubber bullets helps. Nonetheless, the potential for bloodshed is still great.
ted |
