France Riots: Ambivalence and Augmentation

In just a bit over a week of time, France's ambivalence toward rioting students has led to augmentation.  Explosive augmentation of students on the street, a metamorphosis in demographic which now includes a greater number of adults roaming about in packs, augmentation in violence and arson,  and now the entry - stage left - of union activists and activities.  There is an overall augmentation in crime.  And a government ambivalent to the powder keg, allowed for augmentation.

France should have taken their cue from us - and our mismanagement of the Antifa and Black Lives Matters movements. (For our part, the acceptable embrace of our Constitutional right to peaceful assembly which  then seemed unable to recognize that when peaceful assembly crosses over into criminal activities in the public square, there is the need for a law enforcement response.)  

In our case, it was not our ambivalence which did not allow us to properly arise to the occasion, but our neurosis which seemed unaided by logic.  We were unable to properly dissect the animal dynamic. Peaceful assembly and violent protests are two different animals.  The one can be petted.  The other must be de-fanged.

We allowed Ferguson, Missouri to be looted and torched before finally coming to our senses and availing ourselves of the legal means to quell the unrest.  We also allowed Antifa malcontent and maladjusted young adults to be jacked up by agitation propagandists, with more than a few earning substantial paychecks from their benefactors to peddle this particular grievance industry.  And for too long, we humored the animal.

It would seem logical that order of operations requires that the streets first be cleared. Restore public order. Without apology. And then there is the secondary need to address the concerns of the population and provide concrete solutions.

As with all problems there is immediate and ultimate responsibility.   The immediate responsibility resides with the human catalyst.  That catalyst must be taken care of efficiently and without undue brutality.   But the ultimate responsibility belongs to the government.  Identify the protest leaders and remove them from the mass.  The herd will go home. But then identify the leadership within your government which can properly care for your own "We the People".

Unrest which is treated with ambivalence always achieves gain of function - in potency, violence, and criminality.  Take care of this situation, France.   And feel free to reach out and seek advice from our law enforcement agencies on management of urban disturbances.  We have learned from our own mistakes.