Analysis and commentary - Essay Example

France’s Identity discussion France’s debate over the identity of its citizens has raised much concern among its citizens. The position taken by France’s president that the debate is a healthy discussion that teaches citizens what France identity entails has not been welcomed by a section of some politicians and other Muslim leaders. Those opposed to the discussion claim the discussion is odd, cynical and aimed at promoting the integration of traditional Franco-French values or immigrants (Erlanger).

On the other hand, its proponents claim that the identity policy enforced by the government is out to promote the French shared qualities and values which includes; fraternity, liberty, equality, secularism and liberty.The discussion is healthy in the sense that it makes the whole world aware of Mr. Sarkozy’s way of handling racism issues. It is evident that he is concerned with making the French people be acquainted with their right place in their country (Lebovic, Bringing the Empire back Home: France in the Global Age 45).

They are made to understand that being France entails a lot, and is a collective responsibility for everyone to understand all that being a French citizen entails. Lebovic asserts that most French citizens born of both French parents do not support the idea of immigration since they consider immigration to be the source of competition for national resources (Bringing the Empire back Home: France in the Global Age 8). Jean Marie Le Pen has been portrayed as a politician who is promoting racist politics in the sense that he out rightly opposes Mr.

Sarkozy’s immigration policies. His statements have polarized the immigration debate; thus making people try to define who is French and who is not. Lebovic asserts that Le Pen opposed immigration from the word go, despite the efforts made by Mr. Sarkozy’s side to make him understand the importance of immigration and national identity policies (True France: The wars over Cultural Identity, 1900-1945, 34).In conclusion, the France’s identity debate should be treated as a matter of importance and urgency.

Those opposed to the immigration policy should clearly analyze how the immigration policy affects the life of many French citizens who are not French citizens by birth before going against it. Works CitedErlanger, S. ‘France Debates Its Identity, but Some Ask Why’. New York Times, 29 November 2009. Web. Lebovics, H. Bringing the Empire back Home: France in the Global Age. Duke University Press. 2004. Web. Retrieved 6 May 2012 from http://books.google.com.tw/books$1id=qjJ80SH0cWAC&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=falseLebovics, H.

True France: The wars over Cultural Identity, 1900-1945. New York: Cornell University Press. 1992. Web. Retrieved 6 May 2012 from http://www.google.it/books$2id=xg9niVC-DR8C&pg=PA56&hl=zhCN&source=gbs_quotes&vq=%2212.+Roland+Barthes,+Camera+Lucida:+Reflections+on+Photography,+trans.+Richard+Howard+(New+York,+1981),+82,%22\