International News, part un

Here at Matcha Monkey, I've been wanting to introduce a new feature for a while, inspired by the Daily Show's (or maybe it was the Colbert Report?) "Un-American News." Although I live in Japan and can't speak Japanese, it turns out I'm not bad at French. Occasionally I take breaks from staring at the wall to read Le Monde online. As you can imagine with a French newspaper sometimes the stories are nothing short of absurd. Last fall when all the rioting was occurring for example, Le Monde ran a story about how the American news media was grossly over-reacting to the riots. It went something along the lines of this: "Those Americans...All it takes is some burning cars and a few people hanging out in the streets and the next thing you know they have graphs and experts to analyze it all." Since nothing exciting has been happening in my life recently, I've decided to bring you a translated excerpt from Le Monde. This one isn't very funny, but I thought it was interesting. So to the 2 people (on a good day) who read this blog besides me, enjoy.
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En 2005, les opinions racistes ont gagné du terrain en France

Le sondage réalisé par l'institut CSA (sur un échantillon représentatif de 1 011 personnes interrogées en face à face du 17 au 22 novembre 2005) montre une banalisation du racisme. Un Français sur trois se déclare raciste, ce qui marque une augmentation de 8 % par rapport à 2004. Et, sans doute plus inquiétant encore, 63 % estiment personnellement que "certains comportements peuvent justifier des réactions racistes". En 2005, on assiste "incontestablement à la levée d'un tabou", s'alarme la CNCDH.

La banalisation du racisme se reflète aussi dans une "démobilisation sensible" des individus dans la lutte contre le racisme. Ils ne sont notamment plus que 32 % (-18 points) à se dire prêt à signaler un comportement raciste à la police. On assiste à "une vraie tendance au repli sur soi, à une indifférence croissante face aux manifestations de racisme, dans lesquelles viennent se combiner des peurs (tendance anxiogène) et des craintes d'une communautarisation ", relève le rapport qui note un doublement des personnes citant les "Français" comme victime du racisme.

Aussi cette banalisation du racisme va-t-elle de pair, sur fond d'un malaise économique et social croissant, avec une progression des préjugés xénophobes. Une majorité de Français (56 % soit + 18 % par rapport à 2004) estiment ainsi que le nombre d'étrangers est trop important. La radicalisation s'exprime tout autant en ce qui concerne le nombre d'immigrés, jugés à 55 % (+9 points) trop important.

Aussi observe-t-on, un net recul (-11 points) de ceux qui considèrent que les travailleurs immigrés "sont en France chez eux puisqu'ils contribuent à l'économie française". Et plus encore de ceux qui soutiennent que "la présence d'immigrés est nécessaire pour assurer certaines professions". Les avis sur cette question n'ont d'ailleurs jamais été aussi partagés (48 % contre 49 %). Alors qu'en 2004, dans un contexte marqué par de nombreuses agressions racistes et antisémites, l'attitude était plutôt à l'indignation, au soutien aux victimes des violences et des discriminations, et à la demande de sanctions accrues contre les auteurs de ces actes, en 2005, ce sont les immigrés qui sont perçus comme une menace.

Taken from Le Monde, 3.21.2006

In 2005, racist opinions gained ground in France

The poll conducted by the CSA institute (from a representative sample of 1 011 people interviewed in person from November 17th to 22nd, 2005) shows that racism is becoming more common-place. One French person in three describes himself as racist, an 8% increase from 2004. And, without a doubt even more worrisome, 63% agree that "certain behaviors can justify racist reactions." In 2005, we are witnessing "an incontestable lifting of a taboo" warns the CNCDH.

The spread of racism is also reflected in a "demobilization of sensitivity" of individuals in the fight against racism. Notably, not more than 32% (down 18 points) said they were ready to report racist behavior to the police. We are witnessing "a real tendency to keep to oneself, a growing indifference regarding signs of racism, in which are combined fears (anxious tendencies) and fears of a communautarization," revealed the report, which also noted a doubling of people citing "the French" as victims of racism.

Also, this spread of racism, founded on growing economic and social problems, goes along with an increase in xenophobic prejudices. A majority of French people (56%, an 18% increase over 2004) think that the number of foreigners is too large. This radicalization is also shown by reaction to the number of immigrants, which was judged by 55% (up 9 points) to be too many.

There was also a decrease (of 11 points) in those who considered immigrants workers to be "at home in France because they are contributing to the French economy." And even more so with those who agreed that "the presence of immigrants is necessary to assure certain jobs." The opinions on this question have never been so split (48% to 49%). Whereas in 2004, in a context marked by numerous racist and anti-Semitic attacks, the attitude was one more of indignation, supporting the victims of this violence and discrimination, demanding increased sanctions against the perpetrators of these acts, in 2005, it is the immigrants who are viewed as a threat.