Letters: Dec. 5, 2005

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RE your reporting on violent  protests in France [Nov. 14]: The rioters, who are mostly Arab or black, may also be French, although they say they don't feel as if they are treated like "real" French citizens. But what is a French citizen? My country is in the middle of a deep national identity crisis. The population doesn't know what it wants, and the politicians don't know what to offer voters. The cause of the riots goes beyond economic and social problems. France is a radically changing society, and it needs something or someone to give it direction. French citizens need a reason to respect our laws and authorities. We need a reason to come together.

JOHN-EDOUARD SILVA Paris

France has absorbed waves of immigrants from many countries. Those newcomers came from a broad spectrum of the economic and political landscape, yet eventually most of them assimilated into the French population. Why is that not happening with the Muslim community? Muslims were welcomed and provided with government assistance that they would never have received in their own Islamic countries. Although it is incumbent on governments to provide adequate education and job opportunities to minorities, it is also the responsibility of Muslim communities embedded in the West to start asking themselves the hard questions about their failure to assimilate. Until then, there will be little hope of any change.

JOSEPH PALAZZO Laval, Que.

Before we Americans look down our noses at the French for allowing extreme inequality to fester for so long, we should pay attention to what TIME said: if those problems aren't addressed, "the rage and resentment inflaming the streets will surely continue to smolder." That is true not only of France but also of certain parts of Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles and any number of other U.S. cities. We will be forced to confront the same inequalities. It's a question of when, not if.

NEEL BLAIR Chicago

God and Science

While I applaud Nobel-prizewinning physicist Eric Cornell's evenhanded call for moderation in the intelligent-design debate [Nov. 14], I long to see an article that examines the causality of the controversy and suggests how it might be resolved. Among my friends who are adherents of the doctrine of God-inspired intelligent design, the issue isn't one of conflicting scientific theories but of a desire to make science work for them in the effort to live a purposeful and successful life. We need to focus on finding a solution rather than repeating the same arguments for 100 years.

RICK DOSSEY Carmel, Ind.

Cornell says there should be no theology (or intelligent design) taught in science classes and no science in religion classes. Not many high schools, however, have religion classes. In my high school years, I remember struggling to reconcile religious teachings with the theory of evolution. I think religious students would be more comfortable if they were told that science looks at things differently than religion does, and that although they will learn about evolution in science class, it does not mean they must give up their religious faith. There are truths in both.

SUSAN ZIMMER Bonita, Calif.