Dylan was playing in France again tonight, at a place called Amneville, near the border with Germany and Luxembourg. So it seems he escaped the nasty goings-on in the Paris area, though of-course the news on this ninth straight night of rioting is that the violence by those “disaffected” Muslim youths is spreading to other French cities.

Tonight’s set list from Pagel:

1. To Be Alone With You
2. The Times They Are A-Changin’
3. Things Have Changed
4. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
5. If Dogs Run Free
6. Highway 61 Revisited
7. Positively 4th Street
8. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
9. Shelter From The Storm
10. Down Along The Cove
11. Make You Feel My Love
12. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
13. Chimes Of Freedom
14. Summer Days

(encore)
15. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
16. All Along The Watchtower

Dylan has no show scheduled for tomorrow night. Sunday, he will be back in Germany, at Erfurt. Then to Prague on Monday.

In terms of commentary on the riots, I liked the editorial in today’s New York Sun: Intifada in France. Some extracts:

If President Chirac thought he was going to gain peace with the Muslim community in France by taking an appeasement line in the Iraq war, it certainly looks like he miscalculated. Today the streets of the French capital are looking more like Ramallah and less like the advanced, sophisticated, gay Paree image Monsieur Chirac likes to portray to the world, and the story, which is just starting to grip the world’s attention, is full of ironies. One is tempted to suggest that Prime Minister Sharon send a note cautioning Monsieur Chirac about cycles of violence.

…

It’s a barely kept secret that Mr. Chirac led the opposition to the Iraq war out of fear of how his Muslim population would react. This fear is a big part of why France portrays itself as America’s counterweight and why it criticizes Israel at every turn and coddled the terrorist Yasser Arafat right up to his death. This doesn’t elicit thanks from Muslim radicals in France. It turns out to project an image of weakness. Unsurprisingly when faced with some unhappiness they believe they can pressure the French state into submission.

A number of observers of the French scene have looked at population trends and suggested that France is on its way to becoming a Muslim country (one that would, let it be noted, be armed with hydrogen bombs). Some react to this by suggesting a halt to immigration and even expulsion. The better approach is to impose law and order, more speedily to reform the burdensome welfare state, and start integrating the Muslim community. France could also help itself by dispatching troops to help battle the radical Islamists in Iraq, thereby sending a message to Muslims at home and abroad that France is on the side of those Muslims, the majority no doubt, who want to live in peace.

Chances of any of the good advice in that last paragraph being taken by the current crop of clownish and corrupt French leaders?

Well, I’m no expert, but I think we’re pretty safe going with: zéro.

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