Well, I had hoped my first post after the weekend would have been about my wonderful weekend, but that will have to wait for later since la Poste has done such a good job at pissing me off lately!
On September 2, Lionel and I had a meeting at the Poste to open a joint account and for me to open a new checking account and a savings account with them (so I can eventually close out my Societe Generale account and we will have all our accounts in one bank). It went well and we opened the accounts, or so we thought. And thought. And thought. Until I spoke to my banker yesterday (he had been trying to call me for a week, but we were playing phone tag). My checking account is not open.
So, my checking account is not open, and the incompetent idiots at the Poste waited 3 weeks to inform me of this, after I had already sent in my last paycheck from my old job (August pay AND vacation pay!) and after I had giving my RIB to my new job and they transfered my September pay into my not-open bank account!!!!
Why isn't it open, you might ask? Well, because when we met with Mr. I'm-an-idiot Banker, we had to delcare how much we make a month and all this stupid shit so they could get an idea of our expenses and our overall financial situation (this is France, they ask the stupidest things in order to open an account...). And since this is France, I also had to give them one of my pay stubs. Knowing how France LOVES the most recently printed documents, and nothing over 3 months old, ever, not even birth certificates (cause that makes sense since I was born 27 years ago......but more on that later), I brought in my most recent pay stub from July. Unfortunately, I didn't really think about how my average monthly earnings and my July pay stub don't really match up since I earn my money per hour and in July a lot of my students were on vacation so I didn't make a lot. But I had explained to him my situation and that the amount I told him was an average of all of my months. Unfortunately, that seems to have gone in one year and out the other because even though he promised me that my account would be open 5-7 days after our September 2 meeting, it is not open for the very reason that he sent our papers into the financial center and they refused to open my account until I provided them with a pay stub showing the EXACT amount that I had verbally declared. Great.
So, Lionel and I have been making a million calls and basically I have to find a pay stub with that amount on it and get it to them, and then my account will be open in 2-3 days. I was assured that it would be ok, even if the pay stubs were old since the last time I made that exact amount was in January (well beyond France's beloved 3-month deadline). We have also been assured by the financial center that the received my check from my old job and it is being held until my account is open. However, what worries me the most is that they do not see anything about a transfer from my new job, though they transferred my pay on Saturday, and they have not received the money back in their bank account since my account wasn't open to receive the money. So, for the moment my September pay is lost and I'm not at all happy about it. And trust me, the Poste will be paying it back to me if it is never found because this is entirely their fault and what the hell kind of bank tells you your account will be open in 5-7 days and then doesn't open it!?!?!?!
What really pisses me off is the fact that the stupid banker didn't mention it to me when we were meeting with him and I could have run home to dig out a different pay stub for him. And it also pisses me off that they waited 3 WEEKS to inform me that my account didn't exist yet, as if I wouldn't have had any transactions to make in those 3 weeks. And, the one that makes me the most angry...why the hell do they care how much money I make per month and how my husband and I spend and budget our money!?!?!?! They are a bank!!!!! They should just be happy that we have chosen to put our hard earned money in their care! Of course, now I am SERIOUSLY doubting that decision, and I'm very tempted to just keep my account at Societe Generale and transfer all my money back there and close my account with the Poste. Why would I want to trust my money to people who are so stupid they can't even manage to open a damn account???
Ok, I'm better now. Sorry for the rant, but I am EXTREMELY frustrated and stressed by this right now and I just had to get it out! My recommendation...NEVER bank with La Poste!
An American living her life in two languages, first in Paris, then in Cincinnati and currently in Bordeaux, and talking about all the trials, tribulations and successes along the way.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jimmy Buffett
Friday night was one of my favorite events of the year...my annual Jimmy Buffett concert. This year I went with Amy and Marybeth, and as usual, the concert was amazing!!! The music was, of course, great. The hoards of crazy American Parrotheads (Jimmy Buffett fans) were fabulous and it was a lot of fun to see what crazy stuff people were wearing this year.
Amy, Marybeth and I in front of L'Olympia with Jimmy Buffett's name in lights and decked out for the concert!
Before the concert we met up for margaritas in the area, because you can't listen to Margaritaville without having had some margaritas, and we really didn't expect to find them at a French concert hall. Then we headed over to check out the action in front of the hall before the start of the concert and to enjoy a quick beer with some other crazy Americans. We threw on our "Jimmy Buffett" outfits (we were decked out with leis, grass skirts, shell bras, etc), met up with some people I had met at last year's concert and even got our pictures taken for a magazine.
with some friends from last year, dressed and ready to go!
margaritas before the show
The only downside was the location...L'Olympia. While I had originally been excited to see that the concert was moved to L'Olympia (it was at La Cigale last year) because it is closer to my metro and my apartment, I ended up being quite disappointed. For a concert hall that has been in the business since 1888 (making it the oldest music hall in Paris), it really wasn't well organized or prepared for this concert. I mean, they ran out of beer 30 minutes into a 2 hour and 45 minute long concert! Haven't they ever heard of studying the audience and preparing in advance??? They actually had to go out and buy beer in cans to serve (which resulted in a completely unexpected 1-hour line for a drink)! But, despite the lack of beer, Jimmy Buffett was incredible and I had a great time with Amy and Marybeth. We sang along at the top of our lungs and danced like crazy and enjoyed a very decent view of the stage. Basically, the concert was fantastic and I'm glad I got to see him again this year! His Paris concerts are definitely his best!
Jimmy Buffett performing
the concert
Jimmy Buffett and Antoine (a well-known French singer) singing Chansons pour les Petits Enfants
After the concert we headed over to O'Sullivans at Grands Boulevards for some drinks with some of the other concert goers and then we called it a wonderful night! As usual, a great time!
having a great time at the concert
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Pity party pour moi
Well, it's happened...Jasmin has officially left France to return to the US and start her life there. Which means that I have one less friend in France today than I did yesterday. She was one of my closest, if not my closest friend in France, and I'm not quite sure what I am going to do without her.
I've known for awhile that she was going to leave. At first she was just thinking about it, but then in June/July she officially bought the plane ticket for September 22, and that's when I knew it really was going to happen. However, even with all that time to prepare for it, it was still very hard to say goodbye Tuesday evening (I even cried...).
I know that in the end it's the best for her. She wasn't truly happy in France, and she was dying to be closer to her family. And now she is going to be able to start her "real" life with a real career and she will be able to see her family often. I know it's best for her, but I can't help but be selfish and throw myself a bit of a pity party for the next few days as I deal with the fact that I have one less person here in France that I can turn to every day, at any moment. I'm happy that she is going to be happier, but I'm devastated that she isn't here any more. I know we are going to stay in touch and that we will remain friends, but it will be hard to not have her here to do things with and to talk to over coffee or a glass of wine.
Since I've arrived in France I've tried really hard to find myself a few good, close friends who I can rely on, who can keep me sane and who I can have fun with. And every time I make the effort to find a very good friend, they leave. Laura left after our year as assistants. But Marybeth was still here. Then I met Jasmin and we really clicked. We had lots of fun together, could rely on each other for anything, had very similar situations, en bref, it was perfect. And I really didn't think she was going to leave France. In fact, when I met her, she had no intention of leaving. But that changed, and now she has left too. Luckily Marybeth is still here, but she is leaving to return to Canada at the beginning of November. I'll still have my Russian friend, but she is very busy being a good, dedicated Russian wife and so I'll be lucky if I see her once or twice a month. And there is Julie, my French friend, but she doesn't live in Paris so I can't see her very often. And my new American friend, Amy, and perhaps that will work out well, but I don't know her that well yet, and chances are she will be leaving France next year unless she finds a job.
For now I will enjoy every last minute that I have with Marybeth and I guess I might be spending more time with my husband's friends. I can also spend more time with my husband, but when I want to go do things, it's going to be rough since I know I can't rely on him for actual activities, only watching TV at home.
It definitely looks like I am going to have to get out there and really make an effort to meet new people, make some new friends and hope that I can find someone else who I really click with and who can become a very close friend! But I'm really gonna miss you Jasmin, you can't be replaced!
Jasmin and I getting some wine
Jasmin was the one I could talk to about anything, the one I would go to whenever I had a problem. She would always listen and I always knew she could give me good advice and that most times she could completely relate. We could complain about students and jobs together, complain about France, talk intelligently about American politics, have tons of fun together, even when doing nothing at all, we would text each other all day while we were on the metro traveling between teaching jobs, she basically got me my new job, we would shop together, go to Bercy Village together, travel together (when we had the money, of course) and I would see her at least 2-3 times per week. She provided me with entertainment and with things to do since my husband is more of the stay-at-home kind. And now she is gone, and my life in France is going to change drastically (however, my wallet will be much happier).
Jasmin at the Super Bowl party
Jasmin and I at the Chateau de Chantilly
I know that in the end it's the best for her. She wasn't truly happy in France, and she was dying to be closer to her family. And now she is going to be able to start her "real" life with a real career and she will be able to see her family often. I know it's best for her, but I can't help but be selfish and throw myself a bit of a pity party for the next few days as I deal with the fact that I have one less person here in France that I can turn to every day, at any moment. I'm happy that she is going to be happier, but I'm devastated that she isn't here any more. I know we are going to stay in touch and that we will remain friends, but it will be hard to not have her here to do things with and to talk to over coffee or a glass of wine.
Jasmin and I visiting wine cellars in Vouvray
Since I've arrived in France I've tried really hard to find myself a few good, close friends who I can rely on, who can keep me sane and who I can have fun with. And every time I make the effort to find a very good friend, they leave. Laura left after our year as assistants. But Marybeth was still here. Then I met Jasmin and we really clicked. We had lots of fun together, could rely on each other for anything, had very similar situations, en bref, it was perfect. And I really didn't think she was going to leave France. In fact, when I met her, she had no intention of leaving. But that changed, and now she has left too. Luckily Marybeth is still here, but she is leaving to return to Canada at the beginning of November. I'll still have my Russian friend, but she is very busy being a good, dedicated Russian wife and so I'll be lucky if I see her once or twice a month. And there is Julie, my French friend, but she doesn't live in Paris so I can't see her very often. And my new American friend, Amy, and perhaps that will work out well, but I don't know her that well yet, and chances are she will be leaving France next year unless she finds a job.
For now I will enjoy every last minute that I have with Marybeth and I guess I might be spending more time with my husband's friends. I can also spend more time with my husband, but when I want to go do things, it's going to be rough since I know I can't rely on him for actual activities, only watching TV at home.
It definitely looks like I am going to have to get out there and really make an effort to meet new people, make some new friends and hope that I can find someone else who I really click with and who can become a very close friend! But I'm really gonna miss you Jasmin, you can't be replaced!
Jasmin with the silver monster in Tours
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
3 years and counting!
After catching up on some other blogs I read (Amber and Ksam) I realized that it's scary to think about...but on September 19 it had been 3 years since I arrived in France to do something I never wanted to do (teach English) so that I could spend time living with Lionel and testing our relationship to see if it could really work. I guess that in the end it was a good idea since we got married and all, but it's hard to believe that it has been 3 long, difficult years battling with French administration and doing a job I don't particularly love, just to be able to have a life here with my Frenchie.
At least at this point I can finally see some successes and hope that a decent amount of the worst is behind me. Here's hoping that my future in France will hold even more success, happiness and less French administration!!!
At least at this point I can finally see some successes and hope that a decent amount of the worst is behind me. Here's hoping that my future in France will hold even more success, happiness and less French administration!!!
Une semaine de ouf
Well, I haven't posted in awhile, and it's because I've been quite busy! It started two weekends ago, and there is no end in sight!
The craziness started with a going away party/barbeque at my apartment for my friend, Jasmin's, imminent departure (more on that later). After a very fun and late night of French and American food and drink, the rest of the weekend and all of last week was crazy because my friend Julie was staying with me while visiting from Angers and we were trying to spend as much time together and also with Jasmin, all while I was working and trying to settle in at my new job!
This weekend wasn't much better since it was Jasmin's last weekend in Paris and she had a few things she wanted to be sure to do on Friday night with all her friends such as visiting Nicolas at Bercy Village one last time and having one last night with wine along the Seine. We ended up having a huge group for Bercy Village and then the quais, so it was quite fun, despite a little mishap with Marybeth's bag which was almost stolen (it's already been stolen 2 or 3 times in less than a year!).
Even though Julie left on Saturday and I didn't really do anthing else exciting over the weekend, I was very busy getting a million things done that I have been putting off (some of which has been put off since the end of my vacation) such as cleaning, organizing papers from the old job, getting everything really set up and organized for the new job (I've kinda been flying by the seat of my pants for the last few weeks because I haven't really had time to get organized how I wanted), etc. We also had to drive up to Jasmin's apartment last night to pick up a bunch of things, such as books and clothes, that she is leaving to me since she can only bring two suitcases back with her to the US. I also inherited her eliptical machine...so here's hoping it motivates me to work out and get into shape and at least lose some of the extra pounds I picked up in the US!
Not to mention this week is busy with work, Jasmin's last days, ANOTHER strike on Thursday, a very exciting concert on Friday night, and then Cambridge Day on Saturday! Since I still haven't gotten all my stuff organized, I will have that to work on Sunday as well as housework, paperwork for work and tons of mail to go through concerning our new bank accounts (did I mention I opened a new bank account at La Poste - actually a checking account and a Livret A (my first Livret A in France) - and Lionel and I also FINALLY opened our joint account at La Poste).
I'm glad I have had a lot to do and I'm glad things are going well so far with my new job, but I'm ready for things to calm down a bit. Unfortunately, there isn't really an end in sight, but I'm sure I'll get through it all! Maybe I'll be able to relax around mid October!
The craziness started with a going away party/barbeque at my apartment for my friend, Jasmin's, imminent departure (more on that later). After a very fun and late night of French and American food and drink, the rest of the weekend and all of last week was crazy because my friend Julie was staying with me while visiting from Angers and we were trying to spend as much time together and also with Jasmin, all while I was working and trying to settle in at my new job!
This weekend wasn't much better since it was Jasmin's last weekend in Paris and she had a few things she wanted to be sure to do on Friday night with all her friends such as visiting Nicolas at Bercy Village one last time and having one last night with wine along the Seine. We ended up having a huge group for Bercy Village and then the quais, so it was quite fun, despite a little mishap with Marybeth's bag which was almost stolen (it's already been stolen 2 or 3 times in less than a year!).
Even though Julie left on Saturday and I didn't really do anthing else exciting over the weekend, I was very busy getting a million things done that I have been putting off (some of which has been put off since the end of my vacation) such as cleaning, organizing papers from the old job, getting everything really set up and organized for the new job (I've kinda been flying by the seat of my pants for the last few weeks because I haven't really had time to get organized how I wanted), etc. We also had to drive up to Jasmin's apartment last night to pick up a bunch of things, such as books and clothes, that she is leaving to me since she can only bring two suitcases back with her to the US. I also inherited her eliptical machine...so here's hoping it motivates me to work out and get into shape and at least lose some of the extra pounds I picked up in the US!
Not to mention this week is busy with work, Jasmin's last days, ANOTHER strike on Thursday, a very exciting concert on Friday night, and then Cambridge Day on Saturday! Since I still haven't gotten all my stuff organized, I will have that to work on Sunday as well as housework, paperwork for work and tons of mail to go through concerning our new bank accounts (did I mention I opened a new bank account at La Poste - actually a checking account and a Livret A (my first Livret A in France) - and Lionel and I also FINALLY opened our joint account at La Poste).
I'm glad I have had a lot to do and I'm glad things are going well so far with my new job, but I'm ready for things to calm down a bit. Unfortunately, there isn't really an end in sight, but I'm sure I'll get through it all! Maybe I'll be able to relax around mid October!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Cambridge Day
For those English teachers out there...if you are in the Paris area, or even want to travel to Paris for the event, Cambridge Day is September 25 in the 13th arrondissement. It is an all day event which is free for all teachers.
There are 4 different sessions of workshops, as well as an opening and closing speakers, lunch, and coffee breaks during which you can explore some of the most recent Cambridge titles, as well as some of their most popular titles, including the option to buy them from Attica bookshop (who will have a stand there). Also (and very interesting in my opinion), all online registrations receive a free copy of the 25th edition of English Grammar in Use (one of my favorite English grammar books) and all attendees recieve a copy of English Unlimited.
Workshops include:
For more information and to register online, click here. Hope to see you there!
There are 4 different sessions of workshops, as well as an opening and closing speakers, lunch, and coffee breaks during which you can explore some of the most recent Cambridge titles, as well as some of their most popular titles, including the option to buy them from Attica bookshop (who will have a stand there). Also (and very interesting in my opinion), all online registrations receive a free copy of the 25th edition of English Grammar in Use (one of my favorite English grammar books) and all attendees recieve a copy of English Unlimited.
Workshops include:
- The impact of the recession on business English
- Blended learning - innovation in English language teaching from Cambridge
- Teaching effective communication in the modern world
- Assessing all 4 skills with BULATS
- Doing business wiht a spoken corpus: grammar in action
- The technical English toolbox - equipping engineers with the language they need most
- Unlimited technology to teach - and learn
- Designing a programme of financial English, based on needs - and means - analysis
- Collaboration in ESP and Business English course design and delivery: ideas, models and experiences
For more information and to register online, click here. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Sarko, son of Petain?
Immigration has recently been a major topic of discussion in the United States, especially during elections and with the new Arizona laws. But it is also a topic that is often debated here in France, especially recently during Sarkozy's presidency with the discussions of national identity, and most recently, with Sarkozy's new anti-crime proposals.
I've been hearing a lot about the new anti-crime proposals, which were announced in July, and I must say that I am actually shocked by this latest affront on immigrants in France. When you hear the term "anti-crime proposals," you think these are proposals that are intended to fight crime in France. However, I would more accurately label these proposals "anti-immigrant proposals."
One of these proposals would revoke French citizenship from any naturalized immigrant guilty of certain crimes such as polygamy or attacking a police officer. I just find this idea appalling; the fact that Sarkozy things France should be able to give out citizenship and then take it away if they decide they don't like the person's behavior. Can you really do this? Does France have the right to declare someone a citizen only to later decide they no long want that person? Can, and should, citizenship be taken this lightly?
According to Sarkozy this is possible, it should be done, and it would appear that he believes this is only logical. He seems to believe that French citizenship is a privilege, going so far as to say "one must earn French nationality and be worthy of it. Anyone who fires on an agent enforcing order no longer deserves to be French." However, why should a naturalized immigrant who has worked hard to become French be treated any differently than someone who was born in France to a French family and therefore automatically is French? If "one must earn French nationality and be worthy of it," shouldn't this apply for those who are born French too? In fact, they haven't even done anything to earn French citizenship, and they very often don't show themselves to be worthy of it either. If I go through the trouble to become a naturalized citizen, I think that shows an additional dedication to being French that natural born citizens have never had to show, and often do not feel. If Sarkozy is willing to take the step of revoking citizenship from naturalized immigrants, it seems only logical that the same will eventually be proposed for natural born citizens. Once one is French, one is French. It shouldn't matter how that Frenchness was obtained. If one can lose their Frenchness for commiting a crime, it should apply to all citizens, not just one group of citizens. Natural born citizens commit the same crimes as naturalized immigrants, therefore they should be expected to uphold the same laws. If these proposals are ennacted, natural born citizens should also risk losing their citizenship seeing as Sarkozy said that "anyone who fires on an agent enforcing order no longer deserves to be French."
To me, it seems that allowing this proposal will eventually lead to a number of other affronts on immigrants in France and that this is a very risky move for a country that already has so many other immigration problems. This proposal will only further highlight the separation between natural born citizens and naturalized citizens in France, which in the end will almost certainly lead to more crime, rather than reducing crime.
I'm just shocked that the French president would take citizenship so lightly. Once citizenship is earned, it is supposed to be final. Saying that it can be taken back is dangerous. If France wants to better control who receives French citizenship, they should make additional regulations and requirements for obtaining citizenship in the first place, but once it is obtained, it should not be able to be revoked. Once someone has been chosen, they should not be able to be considered undesireable. Why should I ever take the time and use the energy to get French citizenship if I believe that one day it can be taken back? By making it possible to revoke citizenship for certain crimes, the doors are opened to coming up with additional reasons to revoke citizenship from naturalized immigrants, and eventually French citizenship will lose its appeal and its value.
In my opinion, a better way to control or even prevent immigrant crime, especially attacks on police officers, protests and violent riots, would be to look for ways to close the gap between immigrants and natural born citizens, rather than looking for ways to make this gap wider and further highlighting the extensive immigration problems that exist in France. Immigrants are already treated very poorly and often find themselves struggling to find jobs and to be treated equally and this proposal would only make the situation worse. Once someone has earned citizenship, they should be treated as equal to natural born citizens, not as being forever inferior. Whatever happened to "liberté, egalité, fraternité?"
Perhaps Sarkozy should remember his roots, after all he comes from an immigrant family. His father was born in Hungary and fled the country in 1945, eventually settling in Marseille in 1948. However, he didn't ask for French citizenship until the 1970s, remaining in France as a "stateless person" until this time. I think Sarkozy's background should encourage him to be more understanding and accepting of immigrants and their situations, but instead he seems to have forgotten this background, often adopting anti-immigrant policies. I also think it is interesting that his father lived in France for such a long period without citizenship, only remaining with the legal status of being "stateless" which is the same status of the Roma people who Sarkozy works hard to expel from France (just recently having expelled 8,300 Romas). His father was able to remain here with this status, why should the Romas not be given the same rights. After all, had their been a "Sarkozy" in office when his father was here, perhaps he would have been expelled too, and Sarkozy would never have had the opportunity to become President of the French Republic.
Overall, I must say I am extremely dissappointed in Sarkozy's constantly anti-immigrant policies, and in my opinion these most recent proposals may be his biggest and most shocking affront ever on immigrants. What do you think? Is citizenship really something that can be given and taken away? Does this go against the most basic French values of liberté, egalité, fraternité? What would this mean for the future of immigrants in France? And would these proposals somehow devalue French citizenship?
I've been hearing a lot about the new anti-crime proposals, which were announced in July, and I must say that I am actually shocked by this latest affront on immigrants in France. When you hear the term "anti-crime proposals," you think these are proposals that are intended to fight crime in France. However, I would more accurately label these proposals "anti-immigrant proposals."
One of these proposals would revoke French citizenship from any naturalized immigrant guilty of certain crimes such as polygamy or attacking a police officer. I just find this idea appalling; the fact that Sarkozy things France should be able to give out citizenship and then take it away if they decide they don't like the person's behavior. Can you really do this? Does France have the right to declare someone a citizen only to later decide they no long want that person? Can, and should, citizenship be taken this lightly?
According to Sarkozy this is possible, it should be done, and it would appear that he believes this is only logical. He seems to believe that French citizenship is a privilege, going so far as to say "one must earn French nationality and be worthy of it. Anyone who fires on an agent enforcing order no longer deserves to be French." However, why should a naturalized immigrant who has worked hard to become French be treated any differently than someone who was born in France to a French family and therefore automatically is French? If "one must earn French nationality and be worthy of it," shouldn't this apply for those who are born French too? In fact, they haven't even done anything to earn French citizenship, and they very often don't show themselves to be worthy of it either. If I go through the trouble to become a naturalized citizen, I think that shows an additional dedication to being French that natural born citizens have never had to show, and often do not feel. If Sarkozy is willing to take the step of revoking citizenship from naturalized immigrants, it seems only logical that the same will eventually be proposed for natural born citizens. Once one is French, one is French. It shouldn't matter how that Frenchness was obtained. If one can lose their Frenchness for commiting a crime, it should apply to all citizens, not just one group of citizens. Natural born citizens commit the same crimes as naturalized immigrants, therefore they should be expected to uphold the same laws. If these proposals are ennacted, natural born citizens should also risk losing their citizenship seeing as Sarkozy said that "anyone who fires on an agent enforcing order no longer deserves to be French."
To me, it seems that allowing this proposal will eventually lead to a number of other affronts on immigrants in France and that this is a very risky move for a country that already has so many other immigration problems. This proposal will only further highlight the separation between natural born citizens and naturalized citizens in France, which in the end will almost certainly lead to more crime, rather than reducing crime.
I'm just shocked that the French president would take citizenship so lightly. Once citizenship is earned, it is supposed to be final. Saying that it can be taken back is dangerous. If France wants to better control who receives French citizenship, they should make additional regulations and requirements for obtaining citizenship in the first place, but once it is obtained, it should not be able to be revoked. Once someone has been chosen, they should not be able to be considered undesireable. Why should I ever take the time and use the energy to get French citizenship if I believe that one day it can be taken back? By making it possible to revoke citizenship for certain crimes, the doors are opened to coming up with additional reasons to revoke citizenship from naturalized immigrants, and eventually French citizenship will lose its appeal and its value.
In my opinion, a better way to control or even prevent immigrant crime, especially attacks on police officers, protests and violent riots, would be to look for ways to close the gap between immigrants and natural born citizens, rather than looking for ways to make this gap wider and further highlighting the extensive immigration problems that exist in France. Immigrants are already treated very poorly and often find themselves struggling to find jobs and to be treated equally and this proposal would only make the situation worse. Once someone has earned citizenship, they should be treated as equal to natural born citizens, not as being forever inferior. Whatever happened to "liberté, egalité, fraternité?"
Perhaps Sarkozy should remember his roots, after all he comes from an immigrant family. His father was born in Hungary and fled the country in 1945, eventually settling in Marseille in 1948. However, he didn't ask for French citizenship until the 1970s, remaining in France as a "stateless person" until this time. I think Sarkozy's background should encourage him to be more understanding and accepting of immigrants and their situations, but instead he seems to have forgotten this background, often adopting anti-immigrant policies. I also think it is interesting that his father lived in France for such a long period without citizenship, only remaining with the legal status of being "stateless" which is the same status of the Roma people who Sarkozy works hard to expel from France (just recently having expelled 8,300 Romas). His father was able to remain here with this status, why should the Romas not be given the same rights. After all, had their been a "Sarkozy" in office when his father was here, perhaps he would have been expelled too, and Sarkozy would never have had the opportunity to become President of the French Republic.
Overall, I must say I am extremely dissappointed in Sarkozy's constantly anti-immigrant policies, and in my opinion these most recent proposals may be his biggest and most shocking affront ever on immigrants. What do you think? Is citizenship really something that can be given and taken away? Does this go against the most basic French values of liberté, egalité, fraternité? What would this mean for the future of immigrants in France? And would these proposals somehow devalue French citizenship?
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