Manuel Valls speaks out
"These last few days have emphasized many of the... challenges we have to face," Valls said.
"These last few days have emphasized many of the... challenges we have to face," Valls said.
"To that we must add all the divisions, the tensions that have been brewing for too long and that we hardly mention... territorial, social, ethnic apartheid in our country."
He added that people face "social misery and discrimination on a daily basis due to having the wrong name, the wrong skin colour, or even simply for being a woman".
"We cannot look for excuses - we have to look at the reality of France in the face," he told reporters.
That reality, he said, included mass unemployment, long-term unemployment, youth unemployment, and parents' anxiety for the future of their children.
Valls added that the iconic "I am Charlie" slogan that has spread across the world isn't the only message France can share.
"France is about the freedom of expression everywhere, but also defending other values we hold dear: peace, respect for people's beliefs, and an open dialogue between religions," he said.
Val says so Manuel Valls has identified the problem, now what can be done about it? Changing hearts and minds is not going to be easy and blaming someone different to yourself for the countries problems has for some always been the way. How do you change that mind set if not by everyone speaking out.
My mother had many good qualities but she was racist, hated and was scared of gypsies, did not like Roman Catholics, not sure about her feelings about Jews but probably did not have a good word to say about them. She was a product of her parents and the times, but look at me, the next generation. Minds can change and then you have to try to change the world.
Hate and fear bring war.
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