Note to the French: After 1,000 cars are burned, you are allowed to shoot people. I mean, seriously. They’ve now doused and burned an old woman on crutches, burned a nursery school, youth center and businesses, burned ambulances and public buses….and they are all still walking the streets? Gosh, I am glad I live in America. Michael Spencer at BHT

There will (be) people out there who will say – nothing justifies the rioting and vandalisation that is taking place. Of course one could say that but I do not think it is particularly helpful or constructive as the rioting is happening and there are reasons why it is happening. What is taking place in France today has been brewing for the past 30 years. People and especially young people who are constantly and incessantly faced with racism and marginalistion in their daily lives whether on the streets of the US, Europe, Palestine, apartheid South Africa, or Bolivia will eventually take to the streets. The riots are the outcome of a culmination of experiences and incidents over a period of time, they are not simply happening in a vacuum of nothingness. France will have to face the reality of this otherwise it and Europe will sink into further violence as communities become even more polarised. –Sokari Ekine at Global Voices Online

For half a decade, French Arabs have been carrying on a low-level intifada against synagogues, kosher butchers, Jewish schools, etc. The concern of the political class has been to prevent the spread of these attacks to targets of more, ah, general interest. They seem to have lost that battle. Unlike America’s Europhiles, France’s Arab street correctly identified Chirac’s opposition to the Iraq war for what it was: a sign of weakness. –Mark Steyn

I spoke to Eldest Daughter, who is in Paris, on Thursday. She called me about a matter unrelated to riots, and I asked her, “What’s this we read about riots in Paris? Are you OK?”

“Riots? . . . (long pause)Oh, yeah, I saw something about that. I’m fine.”

That’s all I could get out of her. I’m glad she’s safe and seemingly oblivious to any problems. Please say a prayer for her safety anyway–and for a mother’s peace of mind.