de Villepin
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Paris is burning, so we're roasting marshmallows!

I don't mean to be flip, but the coverage of the riots in France reminds me of those scary campfire stories you heard/told as a kid. Not that the riots aren't happening but the coverage makes it sound like France is a war zone. The media is putting the flashlight under France's face and creating crazy shadows that tend to be the scariest part of the campfire stories if you ask me. The shadows are pronounced under their scrutiny but daily life here isn't as scary as it sounds or looks.

We live in the Seine-Saint-Denis department but not in one of the cities closely involved in the rioting, so my reality isn't nearly as threatened as somebody living in Clichy-sous-Bois - True. I feel horrible for anybody that is living directly in the fire and I hope they are safe and remain so until the riots are resolved. But don't worry about every citizen in France (not yet anyway). I walk to the store, I take the bus to work (passing through rioting cities); I do see some after effects but I have not had reason to concern for my personal safety as of yet.

So far, I feel as if I don't step in the camp fire I will be okay.