The rage burning through France

Re “Chirac Vows to Restore Order as

Riots Grow Across France,” Nov. 7

There has been much conversation of late about our failure to rely sufficiently on the advice and consent of our putative ally France. I wonder how tolerant we Americans would be if our president failed for 11 days, as Jacques Chirac has, to publicly respond to a countrywide uprising of armed, politically oriented, unassimilated hooligan arsonists.

Perhaps our brand of political wisdom is not so deficient after all.

WILLIAM R. SNAER

Lake Arrowhead

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The echoes of 1968, both in the French riots and in those during the Americas Summit in Argentina, are unmistakable.

Given the global context in which these events are taking place, I see no reason to believe that America itself is immune (as though anyone living today could still believe that America is immune from anything).

While the anger of the poor makes itself felt on the streets of cities across France, those who persist in thinking “it can’t happen here” are invited to consider recent events in New Orleans.

MARK C. EADES

Oakland

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So after decades of cozying up to the Arabs and hectoring Israel for defending its people from violence, France winds up with an intifada in its own backyard. Who says there is no poetic justice?

GIDEON KANNER

Burbank