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TODAY'S EDITORIAL
November 13, 2005

France's cultural problems, and ours
    The Paris intifada is disturbing enough, but press coverage about the event has largely been a disaster of another sort. Much of it has been of the "West Side Story"/Marxist variety: The rioters are "depraved on account that they're deprived."
    Tony Blankley's expertise about the "Islamist threat in France" (Op-Ed, Wednesday) is therefore a relief to read, though his facts are disquieting. But really, why should anyone be surprised at the current conflict?
    The French are reaping their grim reward for welcoming into their communities millions of people from what has historically been an enemy culture because of a belief in leftist, multicultural dogma and postmodern pacifism.
    The leaders of radical Islam in Europe see "disaffected youth" as fertile ground for terrorist recruiting. Gangs of angry young men with time on their hands are trouble anywhere, and doubly so when militants may be channeling their rage from the local mosque or Web sites around the world.
    The French government may believe it is responding with appropriate moderation in order not to inflame the rioters further. However, if France looks hopelessly weak on CNN, it must also appear so to Islamist leaders. That's bad news for all of us in America who don't want to defend Western civilization alone.
    Here at home, France's meltdown should make Washington get serious about closing the borders and reducing immigration generally so that assimilation can begin to work again. The Hispanic gang members of MS-13 are no less disaffected than their French counterparts and are at least as dangerous. It remains to be seen whether Washington can face that much reality and develop the political will to match.
    
    BRENDA WALKER
    Berkeley, Calif.