Regarding the riots in France, I think the main question is: Do these people want to be French?
The mythocrats on both sides assume an answer based on their ideology, but no one is taking the time to really think this thing out. This question matters because it determines everything about how you should go about solving the problem. It says whether you need a heavy-handed approach or not. It says what you need to do about immigration and assimilation.
It’s a legitimate question to ask. And it’s a legitimate question to ask all immigrants of all countries.
You can run in little circles all you want about how this problem came about, but you’ll never solve the problem until you answer that question.
You’re right that’s a legitimate question, and it’s also a good one.
One answer: http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-institutions_government/banlieues_3051.jsp