French crisis
On the evening of 13 November 2015, the single deadliest terrorist attack in French history occurred. Multiple shooting and grenade attacks occurred throughout the night; among the locations targeted were a music venue, sports stadium and an ethnic restaurant. Dozens were killed during a siege at an Eagles of Death Metal concert inside the Bataclan. French president François Hollande evacuated from a football match between France and world champion Germany at the Stade de France, slated venue for the UEFA Euro 2016 Final, after suicide bombers struck. ISIS claimed responsibility, and Hollande named the Paris attacks .In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris at least 132 people were killed, many have said it’s time to close the door on the refugees coming out of Syria and Iraq. Over half the governors in the United States have said they won’t accept Syrian refugees, Eastern European nations are steeling their resolve against the plan to rehouse refugees proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and in France Marine Le Pen’s right-wing, isolationist National Front is looming large ahead of regional elections on Dec. 6—and the next French presidential election in 2017.
But this isn’t just about refugees. Yes, one of the attackers may have come from Syria via Greece. But six of the eight identified thus far are actually French citizens and most of them grew up in Europe. The problem is really about France’s ongoing cultural existential crisis.
On the evening of 13 November 2015, the single deadliest terrorist attack in French history occurred. Multiple shooting and grenade attacks occurred throughout the night; among the locations targeted were a music venue, sports stadium and an ethnic restaurant. Dozens were killed during a siege at an Eagles of Death Metal concert inside the Bataclan. French president François Hollande evacuated from a football match between France and world champion Germany at the Stade de France, slated venue for the UEFA Euro 2016 Final, after suicide bombers struck. ISIS claimed responsibility, and Hollande named the Paris attacks .In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris at least 132 people were killed, many have said it’s time to close the door on the refugees coming out of Syria and Iraq. Over half the governors in the United States have said they won’t accept Syrian refugees, Eastern European nations are steeling their resolve against the plan to rehouse refugees proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and in France Marine Le Pen’s right-wing, isolationist National Front is looming large ahead of regional elections on Dec. 6—and the next French presidential election in 2017.
But this isn’t just about refugees. Yes, one of the attackers may have come from Syria via Greece. But six of the eight identified thus far are actually French citizens and most of them grew up in Europe. The problem is really about France’s ongoing cultural existential crisis.