An interesting article in the New York Times of May 5, 2006, entitled, "In French Bid, Immigrant’s Son Battles Reputation as Anti-Immigrant," sheds light on one of the more polarizing figures of immigration in France. Nicolas Sarkozy, who is running for president this term has had a track record of stern, conservative political motions (a la Rudy Giuliani), and was universally reviled--and was an outright instigator of the riots that followed--by immigrant communities in France last year when he labeled the immigrants who were causing problems in the outskirts of the city "scum."
It's certainly easy to dislike Sarkozy.
But this article does well to point out that Sarkozy himself is an immigrant, and that his gestures toward the immigrant communities have not been as hard-line conservative as they immediately appear. The article states: "His record includes a number of efforts to improve the status of members of the country’s minorities, most of whom are Muslim. He encouraged the creation of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, which gave Islam a voice in France. He appointed the first prefect in France who is both foreign-born and Muslim. He has even argued for relaxing rules that restrict government support for building mosques." He even does something that his Socialist opponent does not: he supports affirmative action.
This record notwithstanding, immigrants have promised to riot in the streets if Sarkozy is elected. There is an extremely tenuous balance in France between Muslims and Christians, and it is one that is not made easier by the quick-tempered reactions by anyone who even associates passingly with either side. But it does make one wonder, too, how productive it would be for a man who--in spite of all the good he may want to do--has the potential to make judgments quickly, forcefully and without deliberation. Even if he himself at some level identifies with them. One thing is sure: France wants a new direction. The question is how much and how quickly--and this is exactly what we should be concerned about.
It's certainly easy to dislike Sarkozy.
But this article does well to point out that Sarkozy himself is an immigrant, and that his gestures toward the immigrant communities have not been as hard-line conservative as they immediately appear. The article states: "His record includes a number of efforts to improve the status of members of the country’s minorities, most of whom are Muslim. He encouraged the creation of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, which gave Islam a voice in France. He appointed the first prefect in France who is both foreign-born and Muslim. He has even argued for relaxing rules that restrict government support for building mosques." He even does something that his Socialist opponent does not: he supports affirmative action.
This record notwithstanding, immigrants have promised to riot in the streets if Sarkozy is elected. There is an extremely tenuous balance in France between Muslims and Christians, and it is one that is not made easier by the quick-tempered reactions by anyone who even associates passingly with either side. But it does make one wonder, too, how productive it would be for a man who--in spite of all the good he may want to do--has the potential to make judgments quickly, forcefully and without deliberation. Even if he himself at some level identifies with them. One thing is sure: France wants a new direction. The question is how much and how quickly--and this is exactly what we should be concerned about.
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