The riots that spread across France in recent days tempt Americans to rely on an easy, and incorrect, analysis. These were not caused by Islamic factions that align themselves with terrorism. They instead appear to be manifestations of an underlying social unrest that has struck parts of the United States from time to time, as well.
That social unrest has to do with large groups of immigrants who feel they have little chance to improve their lives because of roadblocks that include inferior schools and deeply held prejudices.
As is often the case, the trigger had little real relevance to the riots themselves. In this case, the violence started after the accidental deaths of two teenage boys of African descent who were trying to escape police in an electrical substation. That caused a lot of pent up anger and frustration to boil to the surface nationwide. It was a stark reminder of the 40 percent unemployment rate in the nation's suburban slums, a rate that probably is even higher among young eligible workers.
The spreading violence has forced government officials to acknowledge that France has not lived up to its ideal of egalitarianism. It has led some opposition leaders to urge American-style affirmative action programs. But those kinds of reforms seem ineffective. After all, they didn't stop similar riots in the United States after the Rodney King verdict, and they didn't stop the spread of anarchy through impoverished areas of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
The only real answer is to improve opportunities throughout society. That involves punishing racism, bringing disadvantaged schools up to the levels of schools in affluent areas and finding ways to empower young workers and entrepreneurs. That may be a tall order in France, where there is little cultural history involving immigrants who work their way to the top. It's difficult even in the United States, where immigration plays a significant part of the national identity.
Utah could learn from the French unrest. Large waves of Hispanic immigrants are making homes along the Wasatch Front. Many of these are legally documented workers. Many of them are illegal, having made their way here in search of a better life. They are not going away, and their American-born children soon will form a new layer of citizens expecting to be educated and given opportunities similar to those granted all Americans.
If they are allowed to languish in hopelessness and unemployment, similar unrest could erupt here one day. France seemed to be caught unaware. The United States, with its long-held ideal of equality and its history of racial strife, ought to do better.