Confronted with such brutality, too many members of the press and the intelligentsia have chosen to play an ambiguous role. They engage in reflexive "Third Worldism," justify the riots as a reaction against French colonialism, and display a pernicious fascination with the violence of the lumpenproletariat and contempt for an open society. It is ironic, because the principal victims of the rioters are the little people, workers of all origins who live in the same apartment buildings and have watched as their cars and other belongings go up in smoke. Where is the indignation of the majority of the French against these insurgents who terrorize the weakest members of our society? Why have groups of citizens not banded together to peacefully protect public and private property?Those are good questions. But one must look beyond today's France for the answers. There's a long history of acquiescence in brutality, which includes this:
ARMISTICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES AND FRENCH PLENIPOTENTIARIES, COMPIÈGNE, JUNE 22, 1940
Also known as the surrender of Vichy France to Nazi Germany.
(Hat tip to Occam for the pointer to the surrender document.)
