Eddie Scarry

My wife and I left Paris this morning, just before riots were set to begin across the country. The original plan was to get an uber to the airport later in the day, and enjoy the last morning in the city before flying home. We were warned by multiple people to call an early uber, because riots would make it impossible to get to the airport. We weren’t sure what to expect, as France is always “protesting” or rioting — but I’m not sure we expected what we’re seeing right now. The most jarring thing about it is that all the normal French people know. Every normal citizen is aware that their city will burn, and they brush it off. Their government obviously knows as well, but they do nothing to protect their historic buildings and places, or their culture. There did not seem to be any protective fencing or riot preparation whatsoever. Everyone in France knew it would burn and they let it happen. It’s particularly appalling because if you take tours of historic places in France, whether it’s Notre Dame or a 12th century chateau that makes wine, you will hear the same thing: “It’s remarkable that we were able to recover anything from the French Revolution, but so much was lost.” Everything sacred was burned or melted down for scrap because they didn’t care about western civilization, either. Now, the enemy is different, but the goal is the same. I heard Muslim teenagers in Bordeaux scream “allahu akbar” at a family fair, I saw hordes of Muslims gawk at Catholic Churches; in Paris, they own the city. France, and the West, will fall unless that enemy is removed.