Be not afraid.
Just a small precision.
The origin of French slang word "Beur" doesn't refer to the butter but to the French word "Arabe" in "verlan"
The "verlan" is a french slang consisting in reversing phonetically the order of the syllables of a word. For instance, the word "verlan" is the phonetically reverse of the expresion "à l'envers" which means "inside out"
First, the word "Arabe" has been tranformed in "Reubeu" which is more or less the phonetically reverse of "Arabe". Then, people have used "verlan" one more time to transform the word "Reubeu" in "Beur".
Thank you, Arcturus for the clarification. Being a French-speaker yet having lived almost all of my life outside France has kept me ignorant of the constantly changing French slang. My naivete has led me to think that "Beures" was a derogatory yet indicative term to describe a people who were not white, not black, not red, yet not too brown either. In the U.S., hispanics call themselves the "brown ones".
Your comment reminds me of the kind of intelligent people that can be found on the internet.
Paris needs more hard-working, professional immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China and Russia and fewer hoodlums from North Africa. An instant way to solve France's demographic problems, all the while importing higher-quality immigrants for the "banlieues."
I very much enjoyed reading that post. It's nice to see some insight into the situation in France and the immigrant problem.
David,
Colonization seems to have had some unexpected liabilities for the colonizing countries. Regardless of the caliber of immigrants coming to Europe, the rigid French social system makes the integration of any immigrants very difficult. I would argue that the Vietnamese who went to the U.S. have fared better overall than those who went to France. The U.S. is fortunate to benefit fromt the most educated and skilled immigrants from Asia. The problem of France is not that the wrong kind of immigrants come, it's that the French system encourages immigrants to be tragically idle.
Bravo. I know there must be millions of French citizens who abhor the current state of their nation's lax immigration standards. Your insightful post confirms this. Of course, we'll never hear from these people if we rely on the MSM.
BTW, I always thought the French referred to these immigrants as Pied Noirs.
Oh, and I'm bookmarking your blog!
Thanks, Jal
As I recall, the "Pied Noir" (Black Feet) were native white Frenchmen who settled in North Africa when it was still a French colony during the late 19th and 20th centuries until the Algerian Civil War concluded in the late 50's. As Algeria and other former colonies acquired their independence, these French colonists did not feel welcome in their adopted lands that they had called home for several generations. They reluctantly returned to France to start over. My grandparents could be called "Pied Jaune" as they had grown up in French Indochina.
I welcome a more informed explanation of "Pied Noir" from others if possible.
You're right. Wikipedia has a fascinating account of the origins of the Pied Noirs. Hope this link works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-noir
Great post. It reminded me instantly of speading the winter in Avignon almost 20 years ago. When I arrived I was amazed that buses were parked along the outside city walls with signs for north African destinations. I guess they drove straight on down through Spain. I do not speak French, but needing directions I asked for help as best I could in a "tabac." My girlfriend, who is fluent in French later said it was a foolish thing to do because it was an "African" store. And when out drinking and otherwise being loud, the native French with us would say to be quiet as we passed a certain cafe. It was "African" and I guess there had been trouble with its patrons in the past. The "Africans" were feared, but quietly ridiculed as well.
"Paris needs more hard-working, professional immigrants from the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China and Russia and fewer hoodlums from North Africa. An instant way to solve France's demographic problems, all the while importing higher-quality immigrants for the "banlieues."
Wow. You want to just put better immigrants back in the same old hellhole?
The last thing the Europeans need is more immigrants. Countries where identity is based on blood or ethnicity should not have immigration. It's asking for trouble. Follow the example of Japan, Korea and Finland.
The most amazing thing about the story about the guy who cut in line is how clearly entitled he felt he was. If you're oppressed and victimized, are you going to march about with such a sense of entitlement? I can't help but feel the welfare state has a lot to do with his attitude.
Absolutely riveting account. I can feel in my bones the authenticity of both your reportage and your analysis.
Have you tried sending this to Instapundit? It should be read far and wide, and that's the best way to get noticed in the blogosphere and thence the larger world beyond. I'm also wondering whether you could interest someone like Neil Cavuto at Fox News in your story?
For Instapundit, send excerpt plus link to pundit@instapundit.com
Sissy,
Thank you for your kind response to my post. I didn't feel that my experiences were all that grave compared to others who fared a lot worse. Paul's Mirenghof of Powerline talks a little bit about what his wife's relatives in France had to cope with, mostly having to do with anti-semitism. It's true that I have never since have felt so threatened in public than I did in France, which is either a testament to my isolation from violent parts of America's cities, or that our underclass has a more peaceful temperament.
Feel free to link me on your blog. You can even vouch to Glenn Reynolds on my behalf. The more traffic I get, the more encouraged I feel to write.
"If you're oppressed and victimized, are you going to march about with such a sense of entitlement?" I think it is a symptom of over-compensated inferiority complex. Similar to the playground bully who tries to put everybody down to boost his self-esteem. Or the racist whom we called society's loser.
BTW, Cabrini Green has been dismantled. High price high rise condos are built in that gem of real estates. Inhabitants have been scattered to surrounding suburbs.
Architecture effects are overstressed by Architects 
http://www.bloncourt.net/index-4.html
This are photos of Portuguese Bidonvilles in France in 60's.
They worked hard and improved their lives. They didnt waited for state help.
And this "homes" werent gov. social rent blocs.
Just wanted to back up Arcturus regarding the origin of "beurs". I lived in France five years and became quite proficient at verlan! Otherwise loved your posting. I had similar experiences in France.
Here is, for you, a good link regarding Verlan - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verlan
Thank you Corbusier,
for a wonderfully informed article. It has brought up concerns that are occurring in my home state of South Dakota. We have "Cabrini Greens" of our own making. The native indians did not choose that emigrants would share their country with them, and when all was done, they were "located" on reservations which have become dysfunctional. One is in Shannon County, which is the lowest income county in the U.S. Native Americans are now the largest segment of the state penitentiary. Drug abuse, dysfunctional families and school dropouts are the common denominators in these enclaves.
It appears that the only solution is to dissolve the reservations. Unquestionably, the problems would disappear if the people had been integrated into the community. The community would not tolerate the "fear" response that Corbusier describes when people pass in front of a restaurant filled with young north African youths.
Creating enclaves of disadvantaged people simply propagates the disadvantages and sentences the young to unrewarding lives. Whatever our reasons for creating these enclaves, nothing can justify the harm they create.
Architectural Psychology
My previous post has created a question in my own mind which I will leave for the more talented to answer. How can architects answer the question of designing multi-family living that would be resistant to becoming a disadvantaged enclave? Perhaps it is impossible.
Perhaps we must return to the lessons of Pavlov's dogs. Behavior modification is common to all animals. Is there a system based on rewards that can induce attractive multifamily cohabitation?
There's really no way an architect can preempt the wrong sort of people to inhabit multi-family dwellings. The thought that architecture could single-handedly affect the behavior of a building's occupants in a positive way has gone the way of the dodo bird.
The only way to ensure that a multi-family housing will be pleasant to live in is in the property values. Multi-family, which means anything with more than one residential unit,can actually be extremely attractive. Just ask anyone who lives in those pricy condos or apartments in the fanciest areas of American downtowns.
What strikes me about the architectural debate about the French riots is how easily forgotten that architects rely on a client to accomplish anything. Architecture is part of the service sector, and what architects design is dependent on the client,whether a private developer or a government agency. 9 times out of 10, the client gets what he wants and overrules any enlightened suggestion by the architect.
Corbusier,
You make excellent points concerning real estate values and the client getting what he wants.
Perhaps we should look at this in reverse. "What can the client do to enchance the quality of life in a multifamily enclave?"
If the client has the power of deciding who lives in the facilties, he may wish that the residents value cleanliness, maintenance, beauty, and perhaps even artistic values. In the case of a Cabrini Greens, if incentives had been placed on the facility from the beginning, such as rent could be reduced or even eliminated if monthly "rental payment equivalents" were issued.
Ten percent of rent reduced for a 100% score on cleanliness. Ten percent on "plays well with others". Ten percent on dress and demeanor-- and so on. Attendance at association meetings could be rewarded. Grades achieved at school could be rewarded. Those that did not achieve a minimum grade would be expelled.
Architectural "upgrades" could be awarded (covered parking?)to those that maintained high scores for long periods such as ?.
How about once a year the most successful tenant is rewarded with a nice single home in the same complex?
The reason this is an architectural question is that whatever success the product produces, it will be the result of whomever provides a successful concept.
Think of every problem being an opportunity in disguise. Every problem describes a need that is not being fulfilled. Will this work for Cabrini Greens? Yes, if they start fresh with the proper incentives and are willing to expel those that do not cooperate.
May I congratulate you again on your very fine article both because it is, and also to utilize Pavlov's work to avoid a negative response to my comments.
Ray,
Maybe you should become a real estate developer. There a few enlightened developers out there who do think outside the box, but unfortunately they are a small minority and the law of finance prevents many creative ideas such as yours from getting out the gate. In addition to clients being responsible for what gets built,I should have added banks, since they don't give loans until they have seen the plans first.
Some architects are all into the "kit of parts" method of design where you can add or shrink a space following a clever module. They would love to allow people to customize their dwellings to make each a bit different from the other. There was a traveling exhibit years back at my architecture school showcasing fifteen different affordablehousing concepts that were quite inspiring,with theme of customization uniting each of these projects.
As a conservative, I'm all for government or society wanting to reward good behavior and punish the bad. Unfortunately the dominance of moral relativism and a vigilant ACLU would make your idea hard to implement. I can just imagine cases where one tenant wins a home improvement and the plaintiff accusing the owner of discrimination or being insensitive to the cultural mores of the underclass. Otherwise I would be one of your biggest boosters.
Having lived in large cities all my life, I've had little to no contact with Native Americans, and I only the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina. Do they have to stay in these reservations? Could they leave at any time and seek employment outside? Forgive my ignorance on this matter, but from what I saw, life in those reservations is pretty grim.
Thank you for your excellent points on the futility of filling affordable housing with the same low class of residents. I appreciate your compliments and such gratitude encourages me to find the time to continue writing.
Corbusier,
The native Americans are free to go wherever their hearts desire. However, in leaving, they would lose the free medical care, free housing and other benefits that allow them to stay there relatively free of expense.
I am a real estate developer in Rapid City, South Dakota. I have two hundred homesites coming online that are next to an 18 holo golf course and ten minutes from an excellent hospital. Beautiful weather and the scenic Black Hills are bringing many of the country's retirees to Rapid City. The crime is almost non-existant and prices are low. A lot is $45,000.
Now that I got that plug in, I want to say that a multi-family complex is like building a car. If you only have one part of it being engineered, say the engine, it will go nowhere. It needs wheels etc. and regular maintenance. It is a complex system just like a department store. People coming in are directed to those areas where the store feels will be most effective. Same with a casino.
Using psychology, it is important to make the people you deal with feel "right". Everyone must be right in their own mind. If I make you right, you will feel the urge to validate my opinion of you. If I make you "wrong", you will do something to invalidate my opinion.
I recently criticized a columnist at the Guardian and he made me wrong by blocking me from reading future Gardian articles.
We can achieve wonderful things, even in France by making these people right. I believe that you could give me a list within two hours. Reinforcing that would ultimately compell them to make you "right", to validate your opinion of them. How many ways can we think of that would involve these principles in architecture?
By education I am an electrical engineer. They say that engineers are frustrated architects. I know that I am.
Corbusier,
Sorry, my last post removed my name.
Ray
Corbusier,
I reread my previous comments and think that you may feel that I am unhinged. I think that a building or a building complex has functioning parts like an organism.
If form follows function, does it not follow that function should include that which interacts with the tenant(s)? Function may include a positive response to a tenant action. Or a negative one. For example those that apply graffiti may not use the rec room. Leaving the heat on too high for too long, turns off the waterheater. That is a simple quid pro quo, however it can be far more complex. Systems can be designed that give nice rewards to those that play ball. How about free cable for those that pay their rent on time? That is a dynamic system. I remember staying in a hotel in Paris one time and took the elevator to my floor. I dallied a little to long at the elevator and the hallway light went off. I had to feel my way to my room in the dark. They modified my behavior.
I am not familiar with your architecture, however, I would like to know more (especially after reading your article). Please list some references and I will do so.
Frustrated Architect
Ray,
I'm relatively young in the profession, so I can't claim any designs of my own just yet. As you can probably guess, I tend to prefer modernism over historicism when it comes to new construction. I recommend you read my other blog post about the subject at:
http://architectureandmorality.b...last-
laugh.html
Otherwise, my professional experience has mostly been associated with big multi-national firms, from office and hospitality to retail. I'm not crazy about multi-family design even if my firm devotes a sector to it. I would never want to live in such tight residential units knowing that I'm paying far too much for it.
You all seem to be praising this person! You cannot generalise based on your 2 encounters! I am currently researching all this for my A level french oral exam, and i think these youths are quite mistaken. Even if they are not, can you blame them? With everyone being in the frame of mind that they're currently in, no good they do will be recognised anyway. I think you and your friends are just arrogant, snobbish, intolerant and ignorant fools. I just don't understand it! The French came and colonised us, put us under such heinous subjugation, took away all our raw materials and made themselves rich. The few we have left we have to sell to you anyway to survive, it's this continuous vicious circle. France would not be the country it is today without all the 'help' it had forcibly taken from its former colonies! Now circumstances have reversed and these immigrants have left their countries to go to their mother land hoping for new and better opportunites and what do they face? ill-founded racism and despicable intolerance! faced with demeaning names such as 'beur'. God, it really does do my head in how unfair it all is! Whenever the name 'lePen' is mentionned to me all i see is red. He really pisses me off with his 'pure France' bullshit. In my opinion, France is just gleeful that it has a scapegoat to put it all on.
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