Close Your Eyes and Pretend All's Okay

Seventeen days after it started the rioting in France goes on. Apparently Chirac and Villapin and Co. have decided to declare victory over the disturbances by attempting to have "dialogue" with the arsonists. But isn't that the French way? You know the old joke: Why are trees planted along the Champs Elysees? So the German soldiers can march in the shade. It's somewhat reminiscent of Louis XVI trying to have "dialogue" with the Jacobins.

At one time in France it used to be the norm for government buildings to have busts of Marianne prominently placed. Marianne was the anthropological representation of France in the same way the Uncle Sam is of the United States or Jack Bull (and whatever happened to the great Jack Bull?) was of Great Britain. Over the years the image of Marianne changed. In the late 50s and 60s the image of Marianne was based on Bridgitte Bardot. During the 70s the image of Marianne was based on Catherine Deneuve (a step down in your correspondent's opinion). I don't know who the model for Marianne is now. But I suspect that within the next ten years Marianne, if represented at all, will be represented by some unknown woman wearing a chador. And then we'll know that France has become Gaulistan.

Mark Steyn has a few words to say about the current "disenfranchised youth." :Telegraph Opinion Early skirmish in the Eurabian civil war Check it out and laugh through your tears.