[LK44-40]

What is really amazing to watch is that the police will not raise their sticks when an apprehended rioter is resisting.

I believe that Sarkozy issued instructions to the cops telling them that their first priority is to protect the demonstrators.

These demonstrations are perceived to be essentially a "student" show with unions joining in and "banlieue youth" (Moslems) trying to turn a legitimate demonstration violent.

The French are insanely sentimental about "students." There is almost a cult of education in France and most people seem to buy into it. If you graduate from the right schools, your education is so respected that you are guaranteed a top leadership job in government or business for life, even if you are ineffective. It is a bit like becoming part of the nobility.

[eraser2005]

"If you graduate from the right schools, your education is so respected that you are guaranteed a top leadership job in government or business for life, even if you are ineffective. It is a bit like becoming part of the nobility."

Kind of like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.....

[bill1952]

The French are insanely sentimental about "students."

so were the Iranians.