Cheese and whine: Lessons from the French

Cheese: 1 a: a food consisting of the coagulated, compressed, and usually ripened curd of milk separated from the whey.

Not being one to shy away from shining the light on a piece of irony, I just happen to find it amusing that France is a country largely celebrated for a product that is basically the result of a bacterial process.

I also happen to find some humor (albeit on a more base level) in the recent French riots.

France has basically been the butt of almost all manner of euro-weenie jokes for as long as I can remember. Classics like "Why are the streets of Paris lined with trees? Because the Germans like marching in the shade" still prompt a burst of laughter from most who hear the joke.

And, as I have noted in this column before, the French are a nation of people largely interested only in what could benefit them on the international scale. It is also a country rife with hypocrisy. One of the most recent examples would be the cries of "foul" (and, no that would not be the cry from American tourists) cast at President Bush. Never a country to steer away from the wimp-opinion, France has been the front-runner of the international Anti-Bush crowd. But, too few people think to ask, or know, about France's shady deals with Saddam Hussein, and French President Jacques Chirac's alleged underhanded exploitation of the Oil for Food scandal.

But, I feel like focusing on something else. Indeed, there are many things to look at where France is concerned - most of them being how NOT to be - but, I feel it is important to look at the country's most recent problem.

For those who aren't aware, France is burning - literally. A rash of riots started recently and the violence has escalated. And, while the "unbiased" media keeps referring to the rioters as "youths" they keep leaving out the part of the actual issue: the youths are mainly Muslim.

Now, I am not saying the religion of Islam is largely the cause for the rioting; and I am not saying that all Muslims are violent. I am, however, saying that the tactics of appeasement at-large from the French have only served to fuel the fires burning in the streets of Paris.

There have been political theories offered recently as to why the Muslim youths in France have been rioting. Some view it as a socio-economic statement about what is "fair" in regards to the treatment of the lower class. Others take the view that the youths are merely "disenfranchised" about their status in life.

I have a different opinion. It's pretty simple to understand.

The French-Muslim youths are rioting - get ready for this - because they can. It is that simple. There is no agenda. They aren't making any great political statement by burning down a daycare or blowing up cars. It is mob mentality at its worst; and the French appear to be increasingly more impotent in how to deal with it. Is anyone really surprised?

I could get into all of the "ifs, ands, or buts," but I won't. As far as I am concerned the whole situation is nothing more than sheer criminal opportunism. But, maybe it is opportunism from French nationals who know the history of their country. After all, France is more well-known for waving the white flag than for having war heroes.

But, there is something larger at play. France has the largest Muslim population of any European country. France has also been well known for its stance of appeasing any who would try to intimidate and gain power through fear.

France is well-known for putting itself out there as taking the moral high ground by looking for peaceful alternatives. In fact, Chirac has recently said the situation needs to be dealt with a "spirit of dialogue and respect." This from the leading cheese-eating surrender monkey. But, is it surprising that the French would be hesitant to use force?

Sure, I could go off on a rant about how the "peaceful" religion of Islam has called for and seen millions of killings of Jews and Christians. Just a couple weeks ago, three Christian girls were decapitated in Indonesia by Muslim extremists.

But, to do so would be unnecessary because the only ones who view Islam as a peaceful religion are mainly those who know little to nothing about the religion or its history. I would rather, instead, look at the issue of France giving in to the pressure put forth by the radical thugs.

Apparently, France has learned nothing from its own history. Apparently, France seems to think believing its own rhetoric, despite history lessons that teach contrary to the church of appeasement, is a good thing.

And, if jihad does break out in France, just who do you think will be called upon to lend the hand of military might? You guessed it: Us. And, if we don't help, we will be branded as traitors. Even if we do help, they will complain that we weren't helping fast enough.

France, basically, is guilty of wanting to have its cake and eat it, too. I, for one, feel we have dealt with them and bailed them out long enough. The time has come to let them sleep in the bed they made; and it should serve as a lesson to the rest of the world in regards to what happens when you negotiate away any real power and let a weak government step in and take control.

France may not learn from these recent lessons; but we certainly should.

Jonathon Dawe can be reached via e-mail at jbdawe@dailystatesman.com