ributed to the fact that cultures are in stark contrast in many aspects.While driving to dinner in downtown Lyon, my grandparents ask me if I ever see burnt cars on the side of the road back home. I answer a little put off, that no I didn’t think that I ever have. Curious, I ask why they would pose this question. They told me that around Christmas time ever year, it is common for young people to burn cars on the street overnight. They told me that it wouldn’t be unheard of for over a thousand cars to be set aflame on the night after Christmas. Naturally, I was shocked to hear this because a crime of this nature I don’t think would ever be allowed in the states, let alone in mass. This has become a national occurrence across all of France, and is leaving a lot of people distressed. In my opinion it’s crazy that people have to fear getting their car razed in their sleep, during what is supposed to be a time of peace. This led me to wonder why something like this would ever come to be a tradition in the eyes of the youth. The answer lies in one of the biggest, and most unspoken problems in France today. Just like in the states, rampant immigration is an issue in France. The investigations have shown an overwhelming percentage of immigrants of North African descent as suspects of these cases of arson. This issue has become unspoken due in large part to consistent rioting and demonstrations from these immigrating communities have left government officials reluctant to attack the issue, but also France has intentionally created a haven for struggling immigrants. There have been little efforts to confront this issue of immigration in France, until recently. I have decided to make this topic a series of posts, in which I will elaborate on issue, explain differing viewpoints on the topic and the roll the government is playing in all of this.
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