Is Paris Burning?

I don't know if those of you who get your news solely from blogs have noticed, but Paris is now entering its ninth day of riots and general civil unrest. Proximate cause was the electrocution death of a couple teens who fled police into a power substation, but the ultimate cause is poverty and bigotry. Most of the rioters are immigrants from African muslim countries, and rightwing elements in the French government seem to be fanning the flames by their rhetoric. Stories here and here.

If misery really did love company, I'd enjoy this proof that we're not alone in our ignorance and apathy at dealing with poverty. But come on, people, this is Paris!

The title of this post is taken from the book of the same title by Larry Collins and Dominique LaPierre, about the liberation of Paris in WWII. "Is Paris burning?' is the question Hitler put to his commander in the area, a question that required an affirmative answer. Years later, right-wingers apparently restore burning Paris to their agenda.