Europe & France...heading to a cliff? ... Trumproofing the world ... Albania's migrant solution ... In Africa, a junta-democracy clash ... heading off Olympic crime ... Chappatte's cartoon castle
Superb roundup, David, and the interview w/ Brian Ross was excellent.
One of the details of those (excellent) European cartoons mystified me. The one with Meloni dressed as a Roman centurion, in EU-blue colors, not Roman military garb, with the Boot about to crush her. It's true that Dame Victory is a European cliché for Republicanism, French-style. Still I wonder who the Lady is facing, and whose boot is above her. Any suggestions? Other than that, I agree entirely with your take on Macron's historical precedent, the amassing of left-and-centrists as a bloc against a rightwing takeover. European Parliament is always a canary in the coalmine on the Continent. It can be exploited in politics as one. Finally, one facet that few take into consideration these days, is the difference between 'today's immigrant crisis' and the whole issue of foreign-born immigrant population. Both France and Italy have complex rapport with North Africa and its postwar contribution to the European workforce. A post-colonial fact. I myself witnessed race riots in south of France against Algerians, and a near-riot in Turin, against dark-skinned men whom the mob called Tunisini. Meloni's comments on the region may be deeper. Back in the 1980s, you'll remember this, well-meaning Paris folk were whispering about 'the browning of Northern France'. After that, they celebrated the Beurs. After that, there was Islamic fundamentalism, and the rest is current affairs.
I DO admire and appreciate how carefully you read Unleashed each week, Walter !
Not sure that's supposed to be Meloni....simply a character representing 'Europe' (much like Marianne!)
As for migration ... yes indeed !!!
Superb roundup, David, and the interview w/ Brian Ross was excellent.
One of the details of those (excellent) European cartoons mystified me. The one with Meloni dressed as a Roman centurion, in EU-blue colors, not Roman military garb, with the Boot about to crush her. It's true that Dame Victory is a European cliché for Republicanism, French-style. Still I wonder who the Lady is facing, and whose boot is above her. Any suggestions? Other than that, I agree entirely with your take on Macron's historical precedent, the amassing of left-and-centrists as a bloc against a rightwing takeover. European Parliament is always a canary in the coalmine on the Continent. It can be exploited in politics as one. Finally, one facet that few take into consideration these days, is the difference between 'today's immigrant crisis' and the whole issue of foreign-born immigrant population. Both France and Italy have complex rapport with North Africa and its postwar contribution to the European workforce. A post-colonial fact. I myself witnessed race riots in south of France against Algerians, and a near-riot in Turin, against dark-skinned men whom the mob called Tunisini. Meloni's comments on the region may be deeper. Back in the 1980s, you'll remember this, well-meaning Paris folk were whispering about 'the browning of Northern France'. After that, they celebrated the Beurs. After that, there was Islamic fundamentalism, and the rest is current affairs.