France: How to celebrate national day after weeks of violent protests? | DW News

France is holding events to celebrate its "fete nationale" or Bastille Day. President Emmanuel Macron will preside over a military parade, with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his guest of honor. But the day of unity comes as France is divided over the reaction to the police shooting of a teenage driver. The killing and the protests that followed have exposed fault lines. DW's Sonia Phalnikar reports from Paris.

For more, we speak to our correspondent Sonia Phalnikar. We ask her: The Bastille Day - the national day of France - is taking place in a particularly tense moment for the country. What is the atmosphere like?

#france #nationalday #police

Follow DW on social media:

[szyszak]

That politician who said that she’s worried about her children to be killed, should try to tell her kids not to steal cars, sell drugs etc. Then they are gonna be safe.

[academicpresentations]

Germany and France should show some spine against people who don’t want to adopt culture of host nation.

[presidentxijinpingspoxdoct]

France used to be unified when it was full of French people. Now, not so.

[ENTJ]

I am not European, I live in Europe(to study only), but my take is this.... when you go to Rome, do what the Romans do. Yes do not change your identity(am an orthodox Christianity follower which is not popular in Europe), belief, or way of thinking, but respect and treat your host country for the chance it gave you more than your birthplace could. If you do not like it, pack up and leave. Who are you to dictate how the native people have to change to your religion and culture? Fighting for equality is one thing, making fun of the host country for their religion, and how "sinful" they are is a very huge hypocrisy to which your supposed religion failed to teach you.

[thomasthomasphilp]

Indian PM should adress the issue of months of riots going on in France. Human rights is also another issue to be questioned by Indian PM

[reaperone]

why not? those people that joined the riots are not from france.

[ilSaponara]

If an immigrant commits a felony of any kind, they should be deported and banned from ever entering the country again.

[Andrew_Mannstein]

No. It is impossible to unite those who don't want to be part of France.
Even though they will happily take France's welfare. This is your problem.

[Wampenschlampen]

Instead of arguing in the comments, I think people should appreciate that the automatic English translation renders "Bastille Day" as "Busty Day". Now that's a celebration I can get behind!

[anthonyahola]

Quit bitching about racism. It makes it worse. Stereotypes dont come out of thin air. Stand up and go to work. Be a decent human being and an asset to society.

[amadisdee]

Moi, j'ai visite la France 1000 fois dans ma vie. Je suis LATINO et je n'ai jamais recu un mauvais traitement. Une fois j'ai vecu qs. mois a Paris, j'avais des amis incroyables, j'ai fait des amis dans la communaute...je comprends rien. Ce type qui a ete tue? Desole. Il etait un bon-a-rien. Et du detritus comme ca, on n'en a pas besoin. S'il s'etait comporte civilement, il n'aurait pas perdu la vie.

[rrni]

"the police is not racist" says a former policeman, and then follows it with being super racist.

[blackduck]

Logic of france – when yellow wests are rioting and looting that fine, when pension reform protestors are rioting and looting that fine – when riots because of systemic racism that an emigrants fault and some imaginary enemies of the state! Ppl demand white france! And slap on top slogan Liberté, égalité, fraternité French for 'liberty, equality, fraternity' - national motto of France.

[avpthegreat]

Wow they even stole our slogan from USA

[itwillhappen]

How? By inviting Modi and Indian troops to Champs Elysées.
Next year, Macron will also invite 1000 Indian gods to be displayed during the march. That is how Macron can unite French after riots.

[Derain_]

Idk what these guyz think the police would do when a random teen starts to drive recklessly creating risk for other people when asked for driver's licence.

Wonder if this would have happend if the teen hit any person on the way before.

[vapeurdepisse]

He was a thug and got what he deserved

[brendanoconnor]

Lady, your son is not going to get shot, unless he is engaging in serious crime, stealing car's etc. Simple really!

[blackduck]

Can anyone explain me why there were so many Republics in france? Which specific republic they do celebrate today? There have been five republics in the history of France: French First Republic (1792–1804); French Second Republic (1848–1852); French Third Republic (1870–1940), French Fourth Republic (1946–1958), French Fifth Republic (1958–present)
They change republic to the Empire, back and forth so many times I’m confused.

[Lululululee]

oh god. How do they let guys like the one saying "police are not racist" and proceed to say something racist af be the ones speaking about this issue. This just makes it way worse from an outsider perspective.