‘Where is the French Obama?’
It’s already a cliche to say it, but the impact of the Obama campaign just keeps on going.
It seems that some in France have begun to wonder why minorities are so poorly represented amongst its political class.
Guy Numa writes for France’s Rue 89 newspaper:
“There is something hypocritical in the ‘Obamania’ that is sweeping France: Obama, Black, young and un-cunning, is the archetype of that which the French political class invariably fails to produce. This is typical for France, where one likes to extol the merits of recipes from abroad without doing anything to concoct them ‘at home.’
So how poorly represented is France’s minority population?
“How to explain that a ‘phenomena’ like Obama still hasn’t occurred in our country? It’s been 160 years since France definitely abolished slavery, and yet one must note that the effective integration of “minorities” in the economic and political sphere is infinitesimal. In the National Assembly, the large majority of Black members represent the overseas territories. Out of the 577 elected MPs, there is just a single exception: George Pau-Langevin [She is the MP for 21st district of Paris].”
By Guy Numa, Professor and Researcher at Paris-Dauphine
Translated By Sandrine Ageorges
July 22, 2008
France – Rue 89 – Original Article (French)
There is something hypocritical in the “Obamania” that is sweeping France: Obama, Black, young and un-cunning, is the archetype of that which the French political class invariably fails to produce. This is typical for France, where one likes to extol the merits of recipes from abroad without doing anything to concoct them “at home.”
The impact of the Black Senator’s candidacy on France is hardly ever discussed – and can even be characterized as silence. How to explain that a “phenomena” like Obama still hasn’t occurred in our country? It’s been 160 years since France definitely abolished slavery, and yet one must note that the effective integration of “minorities” in the economic and political sphere is infinitesimal. In the National Assembly, the large majority of Black members represent the overseas territories. Out of the 577 elected MPs, there is just a single exception: George Pau-Langevin [She is the MP for 21st district of Paris].
Where is the French Obama? The courageous Christiane Taubira had merits in her time. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm generated by her candidacy didn’t reach beyond the first round of the 2002 presidential election.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. election.
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8 Responses to “‘Where is the French Obama?’”
My mom is from france and I was raised to reject racsim and bigotry. To see people for themselves and not the color. Certain words were banned in our home and it was known they were the worst words to ever say.
That is why it is so strange to read about the bigotry in France towards blacks. I never suspected this until it began to be reported several years ago here in America.
I don't know if it is because there were not that many blacks in France by the time my mother left, if it was because she was from the countryside and not Paris that the bigotry did not reach or why my mother did not have this view and taught us the same.
I do hope France learns from Obama and looks at their own problems and that with their bigotry they are not only doing wrong but, also keeping those who could do so much for their country from being able to do so.
I do hope France becomes more enlightened in this area as they are in others.
Among themselves, the French have complained about their political class for decades. Almost exclusively, and regardless of political party, they are all educated and trained in the same schools. Consequently, they approach politics and social conditions with the same kind of thinking. There is a lack of inovative, fresh ideas, as the same people circulate through varous government positions.
The intelligentsia are another and quite separate class of thinkers, and the two seldom mix in the formative years, or even later.
What it means to be French is concieved quite differently than how Americans define what it means to be an American. To be French is more a question of lineage, and one can live in France for a lifetime as a citizen but still not be truly French in the eyes of ethnic Frenchmen..
Frenchmen shouldn't feel too bad, though. Look at the xenophobia that is part of our immigration problem. Neither should they imagine that Obama's candidacy isn't hampered by his race.
We are also hypocrites, because while embracing new citizens in the abstract, we also cling to measuring true Americansim by how far someone's ancestors antedate the passengers on the Mayflower.
It's the same way in America. You have Americans that are born here and see themselves as native Americans. You have the Native American Indians (some) that feel they are the true Americans, and you have naturalized citizens that are still not accepted or thought of by native Americans as actual citizens of this country. The same bias exists in just about every civilization. Have you actually spoken to any French that specifically feel a certain way, other than perhaps how Brigitte Bardot feels about the Muslims? Perhaps in a specific region? Any opinion polls or tallies? The French shouldn't feel bad and don't. Any more than I feel bad about questioning where Barack Obama was actually born and if he is legally running for president. They are simply questions about validity and the need for answers.
As far as immigration goes, it's not only xenophobia, runasim, it's about foreign criminals infiltrating our border. So far, you have decided that non-supporters of Obama are primarily focused on race. That's not going to work when you're talking about a candidate that is black and white.
Half past-
“Have you actually spoken to any French that specifically feel a certain way,”
Yes. One of my life-long friends married a Frenhman. We are in constant touch and visit back and forth wth all the relalives involved. The political class is one of their top gripes, and the maybe-Frrench status of my friend is a constant in her life.
At the same time, they have no contact with, no understading of, and no interest in the French Muslim population. They can not really be French', you see, ever..
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“So far, you have decided that non-supporters of Obama are primarily focused on race.”
No. I said xenophopbia was one PART of our immigration problem, Xenophobia refers to strangers and not their race.
This has zero to do with Obama.
You do me and yourself a great disservice by interpolating to bizarre extremes from an opinion about one narrow topic, as it was preseted in the post.
“You do me and yourself a great disservice by interpolating to bizarre extremes from an opinion about one narrow topic, as it was preseted (sic) in the post.”
Interpolating? Extremes? I was giving one example as you have given one example. You said it was about lineage with the French as if there was no other nationality that thought about heritage and true citizenship. How is my saying that this bias applies to just about every other nation a disservice?
“Yes. One of my life-long friends married a Frenhman. We are in constant touch and visit back and forth wth all the relalives involved. The political class is one of their top gripes, and the maybe-Frrench status of my friend is a constant in her life.”
What region of France does she live in and who said they had to know anything about Muslims?
“we also cling to measuring true Americansim by how far someone's ancestors antedate the passengers on the Mayflower.”
You realize here that you also said that true Americanism is often perceived based on lineage? You are not being hypocritical so much as you are contradicting yourself.
“Frenchmen shouldn't feel too bad, though. Look at the xenophobia that is part of our immigration problem. Neither should they imagine that Obama's candidacy isn't hampered by his race.”
Contextually, this doesn't make sense. I don't think they care that much about Obama's candidacy as much as the media bias wants us to believe. Maybe your friend does because she was born in the U.S. Xenophobia exists in every country up to a point, so it is not an exclusively American trait. “Narrow” appears to be a key word here.
Half past,
Okay. let me explain this slowly.
IMHO, the difference between France and the US is one of degree andd nuance.
Pointing to both differences and similarities is not a contradction; it's a description.
In America, the children of many groups, though not all, can become just plain Americans, like the Irish or other Europeans.
Among the many Frenchmen I know (and, of course, I can't claim to know all of them), someone's foreign ancestry can never be totally erased, unless it's a Belgian one, perhaps. My friend is accepted and loved but she remains somewhat of an exotic bird, not truly French, in spite of 35 years of citizenship. The people I know live in Paris, the Dordogne Valley (near Bergerac), and in La Rochelle, near the Atlantic coast. I hope my credentials are satisfactory,. If not, tant pis.
As to: “who said they had to know anything about Muslims?” No one said it.
I was, again, pointing to a difference in degree or kind. Most Americans I know, have bothered to find out something about Muslims in America, their countries of origin, the differences among them, etc. To the French I know, their Muslim population is just a mass of interchangeable people, about whose lives or cultures they have no interest. Muslims are a mysterious 'they' to them. This surprised me, as the French have had an extensive history in Algeria and in literature, have had something of a romance with Arab cultures. .
Contrary to what you claim, the French care very much about Obama and all American elections. .They were as well infomed about the '06 elections, as any American. And, they have their favorites. How the French government sees it, is another matter, about which I have no insider knowledge.
I quite agree that my comment was 'narrow', as it was a casual observation, not intended as an in-depth treatise. It's possible you are better informed and more knowledgable, in which case it's odd that you deigned to analyze my humble offering.
Chacun a son gout, I guess.
Runasim
I have a question for you. Everyone here knows Im an oilman. Managed to get 3 years of college under my belt with a degree in geology before heading out to the oil fields. Im just sort of a rough guy who has worked really hard all his life.
I'm curious as to where you went to college and what did you study?
“In America, the children of many groups, though not all, can become just plain Americans, like the Irish or other Europeans.”
How does one become just plain American? No one is invalidating your comment, just challenging your perspective. You say your comment was a humble offering that doesn't need to be analyzed. My only question is what do you really mean?
“What it means to be French is concieved quite differently than how Americans define what it means to be an American.”
“Quite differently” is not the same as “one of degree andd nuance.”