I only wanted something else to do but hang around

Here's the first post I've seen on the France riots that I felt gave me a convincing sense of perspective; it's from a blog called the European Tribune. It begins:

One of my aunts lives in one of the cités in the suburbs where the "new Intifada" is taking place - the new "Baghdad on the Seine". Her building suffered a fire yesterday night, started by the usual suspects in the neighborhood (they blew up two motorbikes in a local on the ground floor), ignored for almost one hour by the police and firemen. The solidarity of the inhabitants helped to evacuate everybody, and provide temporary shelter while the fire raged. Most people went back home the same evening as the fire was doused eventually.

A few cars were also burnt in the neighborood, but hardly more than usual. It's one of those things that happen and that you don't really worry about if you live there. This week, it goes on TV if you do it, so of course more are tempted to do so (last night saw 1300 cars burn, up from 900 the previous night), including in provincial cities. There is no coordination of anything, it's just mostly copycats by bored kids who are suddenly getting a lot of attention.

Read the whole thing. This may be a third "trival comment about a story that's not at all trivial," but I couldn't help thinking of "Suburbia" by Pet Shop Boys when I read the above.

It's on the front page of the papers
This is their hour of need
Where's a policeman when you need one
To blame the colour TV?