"Inspired by Barack Obama, the French first lady and other leading figures say it's high time for France to stamp out racism and shake up a white political and social elite that smacks of colonial times."
A French self-made millionaire with immigrant parents named Yazid Sabeg penned a manifesto inspired by the political change in America. The manifesto is subtitled "Oui, nous pouvons!" which is the French translation of "Yes, we can!" used throughout President-elect Barack Obama's campaign.
While Obama is extremely popular in France, minorities are exceptionally scant in French political office.
In France, the lower house of parliament (France has two levels of Parliament. The Upper Chamber, chambre haute, is the French Senate and the Lower Chamber, chambre basse, is the French National Assembly.) has 555 members from the French mainland; just one is black.
America, by contrast, is doing much better. The House of Republicans has 435 members and five non-voting delegates, 42 of which are African Americans (including two non-voting delegates from the U.S. Virgin Island and the District of Columbia). There is currently one African American member of the Senate...but he just got elected President of the United States.
Of course, that is just comparing African Americans. Including all minorities, there are 16 women in the Senate currently (which is an all time record), 3 Hispanic Americans, 2 Asian Americans, 1 Arab American, and 13 Jewish members.
The House of Representatives is historically diverse at this time, too. 27 Hispanics, 4 Asian Americans, and 1 Native American. There is also one gay man and one lesbian. There are 2 Muslims (a first), 2 Buddhists (also a first), 30 Jews, and 1 Atheist.
Hopefully, American will continue to become more progressive, egalitarian, and tolerant of diversity. I also hope other countries will follow France in working towards the same goals. Winds of change, baby.
No. Not the Scorpions Winds of Change. I know you were thinking it. Don't lie.
A French self-made millionaire with immigrant parents named Yazid Sabeg penned a manifesto inspired by the political change in America. The manifesto is subtitled "Oui, nous pouvons!" which is the French translation of "Yes, we can!" used throughout President-elect Barack Obama's campaign.
While Obama is extremely popular in France, minorities are exceptionally scant in French political office.
In France, the lower house of parliament (France has two levels of Parliament. The Upper Chamber, chambre haute, is the French Senate and the Lower Chamber, chambre basse, is the French National Assembly.) has 555 members from the French mainland; just one is black.
America, by contrast, is doing much better. The House of Republicans has 435 members and five non-voting delegates, 42 of which are African Americans (including two non-voting delegates from the U.S. Virgin Island and the District of Columbia). There is currently one African American member of the Senate...but he just got elected President of the United States.
Of course, that is just comparing African Americans. Including all minorities, there are 16 women in the Senate currently (which is an all time record), 3 Hispanic Americans, 2 Asian Americans, 1 Arab American, and 13 Jewish members.
The House of Representatives is historically diverse at this time, too. 27 Hispanics, 4 Asian Americans, and 1 Native American. There is also one gay man and one lesbian. There are 2 Muslims (a first), 2 Buddhists (also a first), 30 Jews, and 1 Atheist.
Hopefully, American will continue to become more progressive, egalitarian, and tolerant of diversity. I also hope other countries will follow France in working towards the same goals. Winds of change, baby.
No. Not the Scorpions Winds of Change. I know you were thinking it. Don't lie.
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