Redemption for France over the Strike, Sarko's sacrifice, and my new favorite beer

Ok so there is hope for the French yet. My ticket which was set for me to leave tonight will be good tomorrow when I show up at the Montparnasse station and demand a spot on the next train to the Deep South of France. It will be a lot different there than in the city, a much needed change of scenery. Side note about the French media: The day of the large national transit strike, King Sarkozy declares that he is separating his wife. Donc, all of the headlines are focused on that rather than the fact that everyone had to walk, bike, or roller to work today. The worst part about the strike is that many metro lines were working but 1 train for every 3, so the wait time was 30 mins instead of 2. And yes I did have to walk the 40 minutes to school, was a pain although it was a very nice day. Miraclely I was only 5 minutes late for French class. After the strike and the hectic week I decided along with my drinking buddy to go to an Irish pub on the trek back. There I tried this beer (it is a goal to try as many different kinds as I can so that I know what imports to buy in the states) that is a French beer with malt scotch inside from the Scottish Highlands. I mean can it get any better? Was one of the best tasting, sweetest, light that camouflages itself as a dark beer. Who knew that when I went to the train station to barder for my ticket exchange I was able to speak fluent French? I was talking to other people about this in that I guess you feel more confident in the language with a few so it just flows more…Sorry no pictures of the strike because honestly I did not see that many people. I hid during rush hour, but here is a picture from http://www.bbc.com/ one of the best new sites on the planet, it won't be posted until Monday when my internet can handle uploading pictures...lame

Interesting Class Discussion for Once - Beware its obviously about politics given my program

I just wanted to pass along a discussion we had in class today because I think it’s really important. It may be political but it dips into the differences/similarities between France and America’s view of equality. So a few years ago, the French government banned girls from wearing headscarves in public school until either 16 or 18, doesn’t matter. Our teacher told us this and then told us to debate. In defense of the French gov, it was said that by doing this it protects children under a certain age from certain discriminations, like them being forced to wear them out of modesty both culturally and religiously. By doing this they are maintaining the rights of the girl and the rights of others. For the rights of the girls, it had been drawn to the attention of the French government/media that girls were being forced to wear them by their fathers and brothers and if they didn’t they were subject to ridicule and humiliation. This was especially the case in the banlieaus or the French suburbs which everyone knows are interesting places. For the rights of the others, it was brought up that the French state has the responsibility to provide a public place free of outside influences where everyone is the same in equality. Religious wear whether it be clothes or crosses or stars for Jews and Christians are not allowed so why not Muslim as well?

The French state recognizes diversity and has the freedom of religion in its constitution but doesn’t allow it to be shown in public schools or agents of the state. For example in France Muslim police women are not allowed to wear the scarves either because they are representatives of the state. They can in their private lives which the state has nothing against. The main theme is what is more important in a moral hierarchy: the state or the culture? Well I think its pretty simple you live in the state, you abide by their rules and nobody will cater to you because everyone is supposed to get equal treatment, although we all know in most democracies, some are more equal than others. Culturally for Mormons, polygamy is considered correct but is not allowed by the American government. I am not saying that Muslim women do not choose voluntarily to wear them; I would hope that everyone does. It’s just the mentality of coming to a nation and expecting to be catered to that I dislike. What shocked me the most is that most of the American students said that this would never fly in the United States because we champion diversity and religion and that the state doesn’t have the right to intervene and override your parents authority. My response to that: 1) France champions diversity a lot more than we do even though they are probably more openly racist 2) Our public schools now are too getting rid of religious symbols and what kids can wear to class promoting their religion. 3) The state has every right to intervene on behalf of the child’s welfare because not every family is as perfect and rich and functional as the very opinionated students in my class. Parallel-thing in America, the state steps in and gives children of Jehovah’s Witnesses blood transfusions even though it’s against their religion and they will be chastised. I think the main difference between France and America is that in America we find a better way to combine diversity and a public identity. Bottomline logic of the argument: You choose culture/beliefs and you also choose where you live; and if you are a citizen of a country, you have to abide by the same standards as everyone else. Saying this, maybe France is more democratic than the US because of its cohesion of diversity in the public sphere…but then again is that morally right?

Internet-Rugby-Strikes, nice triangle

This is a miracle, my internet works on a daily basis. So now I can waste more time on Skype, AIM, Facebook, and constantly checking my email/espn. Of course I don’t go a day without BBC or CNN because French tv here is soooo good. Spent the majority of friday planning my trip to Istanbul. We have plane tickets and now we have a place to stay that says they have hot water 24hrs a day. I didn’t know that was such a luxury, I mean I don’t think it gets that cold in Turkey. Yesterday besides sleeping and working, I watched the Euro Cup qualifiers and the semifinal Rugby match. The latter was more exciting even though France scored 6 goals in its win over the lonely Faroe Islands. We watched the England-France game on the lawns of the Eiffel Tower along with thousands of other people and as the game progressed the crowds got really rowdy. There were flares, people throwing stuff, and almost fights. I thought we were at a White Sox game or least one before the World Series. It didn’t get much better because France lost by 5 points due to some last minute kickings. It was a pity because my friend and I picked up champagne for the win and were told we couldn’t open it until the end. We never opened it sadly because I don’t think a bunch of sobbing girls wanted to drink champagne. Don’t worry it will be saved for another day like when the Cubs win the World Series…still mad about that but what can you do.

In France you go on strike, I saw a large demonstration yesterday for the health industry where several groups all were protesting different issues. It was a series of protests in one big protest. One of the main leaders was a syndicate that was called CGT which sported a bright red flag. Yeah I walked in a communist protest but wouldn’t be lying if I said I wasn’t scared…but then again its not like Stalin would come back from the dead and take away my right to property. Last bit on strikes, I found out on the #$%^in SNCF or national railway workers has planned a strike starting on the exact day I bought my ticket to go to the Pyrenees/Lourdes. So I have no idea if I can get a refund or if I am going there sometime before I leave. This country has a lot of great aspects and this is not one of them…or at least for tourists, it gives the people a lot of power if they can shut down the country’s transit system and if anyone knows me they know that I like when the government is afraid of its people. Cheers from across the Atlantic.