there4eyeM
unlicensed metaphysician
- Jul 5, 2012
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Yes and no; they don't shoot people (though they are armed and definitely shoot back), but the police, especially historically, have had more authority than in the U.S. The French have a kind of schizophrenic attitude toward power and authority;they detest it superficially, but embrace it in many matters. And, in all forthrightness, it is like many areas of American inner cities. One would have to be blind and from another planet not to realize that the overwhelming percentage of crime is, and criminals are, young black men. There may be all the explanations in the world for how it comes to be this way, but the statistics are clear. As a cop in such an environment, working day after frustrating day, one would need to be a sociologist of saintly demeanor not to become a little disabused of objectivity. Cops are just people, after all.
This excuses no abuse of power. Law enforcement is there to serve the people and are paid by taxes. They are ultimately at the service of citizens. Unfortunately, the French are not superior to other people and the police fall into the same pitfalls as in America.
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