Another mass murder in France.
Few people were surprised, the French least of all.
Living under a permanent threat is now an accepted and fatalistic way of life in most parts of the world.
Due to its vast colonial legacy (especially in North and West Africa), France is particularly at risk. It now has one the largest Muslim population (close to 5 million) in Western Europe.
A mainly disaffected and restless community relegated to the suburbs and viewed suspiciously (if not with open hostility) by the French citizenry. An edgy community highly susceptible to be influenced by the siren songs of Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
And figures show an estimated number of 1800 of French residents (the largest in Europe) who joined ISIS and other jihadist networks.
Due to lingering ill feelings generated by the bloody Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) and often-blatant discrimination, Muslims failed or refused to be assimilated into the mainstream of French society.
Similarly the French establishment often glaringly rejected them; as usual religion was used to unite the downtrodden against their overlords.
Since 1905, when the Chamber of Deputies voted for the Separation of Church and State, the French government system has been based on “secularism” “the prohibition of religious influence in the determination of state policies.”
A laudable idea, but going against entrenched Muslim beliefs.
The explosive combination of high unemployment, rising income inequality and perceived discrimination created a volatile situation that can explode anytime, anywhere.
So-called “lone wolves” or radicalized creatures who hold a grudge against some individuals have increasingly exploited this situation to settle personal scores.
A state of affairs exacerbated by recent events and exploited equally by Muslim hardliners and Extreme-Right groups such as Le Front National and Conservative Republicans.
Defeating ISIS on the field won’t stop mass murderers; it might even goad them to amplify their actions. The war against extremism has to be fought by ALL nations on the field AND on the Internet.
Regardless of the number of soldiers on the ground, ruling bodies will have to subdue ISIS in cyberspace before declaring victory on the field.
The fight should not be us against them. It should be fair-minded, reasonable people (of all creeds) against murderous sociopaths.
Alain