Paris will save us
Paris - the cosmopolitan capital. Here you can get to know many different ethnicities through art, culture and literature. This is where we succeed in France. By creating space to cultivate some of the conditions for a different background. New perspectives, approaches, tastes and attitudes. In the debate about immigration, it's easy to forget that many French people of ethnic backgrounds other than French are successful as citizens of this country. If you are a French citizen, i.e. a person with a French passport, you are seen as French, no matter where you come from. Other countries and contingents can learn from this. Perhaps there's something to be said for the words liberté, égalité, fraternité - freedom, equality and fraternity. Values that are strong in French culture.
France's immigration challenges shouldn't be underestimated, and it's the extreme cases that get the most media attention, but it's easy to forget to focus on the areas where France is succeeding. Such as the number of personalities who have given a voice to others or contributed to cultural exchange and literary unity.
Franco-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani has published several critically acclaimed books. On 6 November 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Leïla Slimani as his personal representative to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Gallerist Kamel Mennour, originally from Algeria, came to the country empty-handed and now represents more than fifty artists with galleries in Paris and London. Maiwenn Le Besco, an actress and director with roots in the Maghreb (Algeria) and Vietnam, is making a name for herself and is currently working on the film DNA (2020), about a woman who experiences an identity crisis when she encounters her Algerian roots.
There are many successful minorities in France, often representing modern and secular values. Although France faces major challenges in terms of integration and religious radicalism, there is no doubt that most Muslims in France also feel French. In 2019, demonstrators held posters reading 'French and Muslim, proud of our identity' as they marched in Paris to protest against Islamophobia.
The Muslim Council CFCM (Conseil français du culte musulman) has published a presentation and document denouncing female circumcision, forced marriage and virginity certificates for brides. Progress for both Muslims in France and for the Republic. Muslims who want to can finally free themselves from old dogmas and values that make it difficult to adapt to the country without abandoning the practice of their religion.
One sometimes wonders whether France is in crisis with Islam or vice versa. The point here is that both parties have the right to make diplomatic reactions, while at the same time both parties must understand that there is give and take. The key question is whether Islam is compatible with French values or whether the relationship triggers a collision?
France should continue to spread as much as possible of what can be called cosmopolitan thinking, where the focus is on the world and sees a united France despite different ethnicities. A society that includes and lifts up both citizens regardless of race, faith and identity. They can in turn influence radical people with a more balanced religious attitude. Diversity and multicultural cultural exchange from different parts of the world are key, and can be passed on universally.
Not least, it is important to continue to hold on to secular values. As stated in an interview with teacher Nicolas Pottier in the Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet: "When I was at school in the 1990s, it was never a problem that religion should not have a place in school. We never discussed whether or not texts or topics offended the pupils' beliefs and thus could not be included in the teaching.Everyone accepted that the school was a place where religion should not be involved. But there are many more discussions in school today",he says.
He also points out in this interview that "secularism in schools has helped Muslim pupils away from radical environments. Such an attitude in the future can safeguard interest in inclusion and diversity. Also equality. But then equality must also be about the shared democratic values that emphasise inequality as a positive force. On the other hand, believers must also renounce that which is not compatible with the values needed to form communities, in France and across borders. And in the end Parisian cosmopolitan thinking would save us.