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They can also exist if others think of them that way. Plus I think you are wrong to believe that the ethno-racial sense of community doesn't exist in France. Which isn't to say that the various other identities - geographic, class, and plain old French aren't there. Multiple identities can exist, in fact are the norm.

PS - Citing a political work of fiction isn't necessarily the best evidence since it reflects the vision and agenda of the creator, however, note that in the film the three characters in addition to being poor project dwellers, are all ethnic/racial minority children of at best semi-assimilated immigrant parents.

by MarekNYC on Mon Apr 16th, 2007 at 04:47:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
There are some ethno-racial communities in France. Armenians, Corsicans, Turks, Correzians :). What I'm saying is that they are not associated most strongly with what is happening in the suburbs. It's more of an identity created by common destiny - not class as there is little class consciousness and is clearly related to youth (a few of those rioting youth will end up in real criminal careers, most will settle down and never really revolt again) and lack of hopes (the schools in the projects don't offer much hopes of social progression). They do not want to change society as much as being allowed to join in.

Thus insisting on "immigrants" helps the xenophobic talking points of Sarko and Le Pen, and is not really grounded in reality. In fact, during the riots, the projects in the north also rioted - but there the poor people weren't from immigrant parents.

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Mon Apr 16th, 2007 at 07:13:39 PM EST
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