There is an excellent article on the Beeb's website explaining how the French really do need to do well in the coming competition. Yes it is only football, but it can have far deeper social implications for the country. Maybe the UKIP leader should read it and talk more about bringing people together rather than dividing them. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-be776de1-2c1e-4dac-a67b-86571d02d67d
Company I worked for had a large office just round the corner from the Stade de France, not a very nice area and not a lot of social cohesion. Women could not carry their lap-tops on public transport or walking to the office. I did not see much coming together around that stadium.
It is a dreadful area w_y, one that neither you or I would wish to live in. Unfortunately there are a number of areas around Paris where the people living there have little hope of a job, or improving their lives. I suspect that no country has yet found the answers about how to get people to live alongside each other or we would not see the likes of the FN here or similar parties in the UK. I just think that even if it is only football bringing some together, it is better than some politicians trying to drive wedges between the population to suit their own agendas.
There was a follow on discussion on 5-Live last night on that article, very interesting. I did not remember the France v Algeria game in 2001 (I think) where the Algerian fans invaded the pitch and called Zidane a traitor. I don't know if young men from Algerian descent fell anymore French than in those days? A few years ago I read up quite a lot on the OAS - many people would be shocked to hear of people being executed by firing squad in France in the 1960's. I suspect that even if France do well, there will be trouble with the visiting fans and the locals - England in Marseille is just asking for trouble after last time. Add to that the Russians & Poles (maybe the Germans?) and it's a recipe for trouble.
Afternoon all from a sunny, hot and humid day in Bandit Country. Out for a nice dinner tonight for birthday celebrations...
Entering the supermarket this afternoon I found that all of the staff has been issued with French football shirts and had blue, white and red flags painted on their faces. Mind you there were a number of rather large ladies who really shouldn't have been wearing them.
Morning all, rather grey and cloudy here at present, but some sunshine and maybe a shower forecast for this afternoon. Visitors coming in time for a visit to the best restaurant in town and to see some of the locality. Sunday dinner in a French restaurant is one of the pleasures in life as they always seem to have families joining together for a noisy gossip, creating a great atmosphere. Enjoy your day.
Wet here, although the rain seems to have stopped for now. The strange thing looking at the BBC weather forecast behind the red button, we're supposed to have fog until at least 1.
