Recently we have witnessed riots in the suburbs of Paris. The fact that someone has the need to go and burn a school or library where perhaps his younger brother goes to is quite disturbing. It poses many questions. Nevertheless, the media coverage does not help the whole situation. Why are these often perhaps desperate youngsters labelled as Muslims? Is it the case that all these rioters are only Muslims or does this problem of French suburbs have something to do with religion?
It seems that France suffers the “post-colonial syndrome” (Cesari). Many immigrants in France are from the former French colonies. Even though they are often third generation immigrants and “may have little to do with an ‘Arab’ or ‘Algerian’ way of living” (Cesari) they seem to be separated from the French society. We became used to hearing about them as Muslims. Unfortunately, this is simplification, because not all these immigrants are Muslims, and further, this labelling seems to have a negative tone. Media are again following the same trend as we already saw in so many cases. They don’t inform us why but only what and with inaccuracy. It seems that instead of analysing the whole situation they offer their audience another sensation – Muslims again try to destroy our Western way of living.
The web site “Media Matters” which monitors and researches the “misinformation” in media shows us an alarming example of comments about these riots. Although Nicolas Sarkozy – today the French president – seemed to be more careful about his comments than in the case of 2005 riots, some journalists seemed to make no change in their comments. “Media Matters” shows us CNN Headline News show where Glenn Beck and his guests make some sensational comments. Beck in his show several times calls for labelling these rioters as “Muslim kids”. His guest Steve Emerson – “terrorism expert”—is says: “If we can’t label enemy…as radical Islamic fundamentalism, we’ve lost the battle” (“Beck invoked purported ‘reconquista’ movement”). I would like to know which battle he talks about. It seems that France needs to solve the problem of excluded immigrants rather than label someone as “radical Islamic fundamentalist” and win a “battle” over him.
“Media Matters” suggests that Emerson, guest of Beck, has a “history of peddling misinformation” and further suggests that “his priority is not so much news as it is an unrelenting attack against Arabs and Muslims” (“Beck invoked purported ‘reconquista’ movement”). Why is such a person a guest of the CNN Headline News Show? It seems to me that Emerson ideas such as “multiculturalism has essentially taken the morality out of any culture” (“Beck invoked purported ‘reconquista’ movement”) does not belong to any reputable media.
We may ask why someone gets angry about media labelling rioters just by age. It is a fact that the only thing these rioters have in common is their age. Yes, some of them are Muslims, but not all. Furthermore, being Muslim is not what makes these “youngsters” protest. It is rather their life situation. Are not these rioters just youngsters? It seems that some, as for example Beck, have still the need to incorrectly label them as “black and Muslim children of immigrants” as did Los Angles Times article (“Beck Invoked Purported ‘reconquista’ Movement”).
Works citied
“Beck Invoked Purported ‘Reconquista’ Movement in Discussion of Rioting in France.” Media Matters. 29 Nov 2007. 14 Dec 2007. <http://mediamatters.org/items/200711300002>.
Cesari, Jocelyne. “Ethnicity, Islam, and les Banlieues: Confusing the Issues. Riots France. 30 Nov 2005. Social Science Research Council. 24 Nov 2007. <http://riotsfrance.sscr.org/Cesari>.
