I saw a comment this morning on a friend’s blog that angered me deeply and I definitely feel that it merits discussion. The gist of what was written was by someone who professes to “love love love Provence” but yet expressed disappointment after her most recent visit (she has made 12 to France in the past 20 years so is no neophyte) “to see that the country is becoming more middle eastern than french” (sic) due to the prevalance of an Arabic population, including at the local markets where certain stalls sold Arabic goods such as “hiqabs” (um, I guess that would be a cross between a hijab and a niqab?). She claims to be “not a racist but” (and don’t you love a modifier? As in “I am not homophobic but” or “I am not anti-Semitic but”) that when she visits a country she visits it “for its culture” and that she feels that France “has progressively gotten less French,” something that she finds “so sad.”
Right. Extreme right, actually. Marine le Pen couldn’t have said it better herself.
These are dangerous, divisive and yes, extremely racist comments. Can you imagine how it would fly if someone declared that they were terribly sorry but they could no longer visit the States because there were far too many Latinos? You would think them insane. I had to take the dogs for a brisk walk in order to calm down enough to respond properly. For while I am a foreigner, after ten years of living in Provence I have come to love it dearly and if there is one thing that I am fairly certain of: Provence is nobody’s bitch.
Let’s back up quite a bit, historically speaking. As the territory of Provence is stretched across the northern shores of the Mediterranean Basin, it has been a melting pot pretty much since civilization arrived in the form of the Greeks establishing trading posts in the 500s BC (earlier in more eastern areas such as Marseille). Then came the Romans (Italian), the Visigoths (German), the Franks (French-Roman-German), the Moors or Saracens (African via Spain)…this is all in pretty rapid succession. And with these conquerors, also came explorers from near and far. Remi has even floated an idea by that the Phoenicians were the first to start trade on the Rhone River. The Phoenicians! As what was then known as Gaul turned into France, the flow of immigration continued.
Now, let’s fast-forward to after World War II and Les Trente Glorieuses, the thirty years of rapid economic and industrial expansion, when recruiters from powerhouses such as Renault and Peugeot went deep into the North African countries on the other side of the Mediterranean Basin to find inexpensive labor to work in France. The consequences of both that action and what followed merits a very long discussion* – so I will just stick to my main point and say that the “Arabic” population – who are of mainly, as I mentioned, North African descent and so there is nothing Middle-Eastern about them – living in France have been here for quite some time (often three to four generations or as long as my paternal ancestors have been in the United States). Born and raised in the hexagone, this is “their” France as much as it is anybody’s and “their” culture is part of France’s as well. Of course, they aren’t always treated that way, nor were the Italian and Spanish immigrants who arrived in that same wave either. But they are here, this is their home. It is why when someone from the area speaks of being of pur race or pure blood, not only does it infuriate me but perplexes me as to their limited knowledge of their own region as there has always been a mixité sociale. Let alone “a perfect vision” of any culture reminds me of the Nazis that patrolled the streets outside my door not so long ago at all.
Can we return to the comment that started this discussion? I am wondering…which Provence do we think that this woman was referring to? Olive groves under blue skies certainly but what else? It is wonderful that so many people want to come and visit this amazing region from all over the world but…Provence does not belong to those tourists any more than it does to those of us who live here, really. We are just tiny pieces of the puzzle, quick blips in time that is always evolving, moving swiftly on. It is amazing that we have things of great beauty that stay – such incredible remnants of the past in our Roman masterpieces and Romanesque churches as well as such proud landscapes and traditions. But Provence is alive far beyond what one reads in guidebooks or in the tales of Peter Mayle. Even “his” Luberon doesn’t really exist in the same way as when he started writing the series in the 80s…already…Do you see what I mean? Are visitors coming with the hopes of seeing his Provence? Or Patricia Wells’ or Rick Steeve’s’ or Lawrence Durrell’s or Pagnol’s? Or are you coming with open eyes to find your own…to enjoy what is here…now?**
Remi and I had a good conversation with someone who was in the region for a week on business concerning the end of an excellent art exhibition in Arles. He had gone to Avignon on a day off and yet did not make it to the Centre Historique because he had become so fascinated by the North African community by the train station that he had explored that instead – the tea shops, the hair salons, the interactions of Mom’s picking their kids up from school. Granted, he is an artist himself but it was wonderful to see his finding the richness of diversity as worthy of being appreciated in its own right.
All of this doesn’t mean that certain happy clichés about Provence have disappeared or aren’t worth enjoying…on the contrary, the quality of living here remains as important as ever. On a gorgeous sunny day like today – even in winter – you can while away the hours at a terrace café with your face upturned while snacking on briny olives and sipping on a too sweet wine…there just might be someone whose skin isn’t white sitting next to you…and unless it is sported with irony, I highly doubt that they will be wearing a beret. I know that we all love Provence for its dreams – I write about them all the time – but let’s not forget that the realities can be, can be, just as promising too.
*Ok, so yes, we will need to have a long talk about the North African immigration, being Muslim (or not) in France, integration and racism as well as how much this is an issue in current French society. It is a big discussion and one that is hard to reduce down to a post size form. I also wanted to ask permission from Remi to tell his part of the story. He granted me that today over lunch so it will be a subject that I will need to work upon. But in the mean time, if you have not already seen Indigènes or Days of Glory in English, I would highly recommend it. You can find more information here.
**I do think that this post applies to more subjects than what is local to Provence. I have written a good bit here about expectations and certainly they pay a great part of our experience when we travel. It is worth thinking about what they are based upon. I will admit my part in ignorance – my Mom and I went alone to Egypt in 1992 and for my part I was looking for the glamour of “Murder on the Nile”! The truth of it is that we live in a global world now and that cultures are not frozen. So unless you are going to a very curated Club Med type beach vacation (for which I do not judge you in the least, please pass the umbrella drinks) or are taking a tour through Walt Disney World’s “It’s a Small World after All” be warned for chasing after a land that no longer exists or you very well may be disappointed. Nostalgia can do that to a person.
The other posts in the Contrasts in Provence series can be found: here, here, here and here.
Thank you for reading.
I could kiss you for this wonderful piece.
Well, dear Heather, you've said a mouthful. You are one good woman. Thank you so much for your important and beautifully written counter to an ignorant and racist comment. I swear, if I live to be 100, I will never understand why someone would not only feel the way the commenter appears to feel, but also think it's okay to tell others all about it.
Heather, intolerance seems to be the name of the game these days, and not just about religions and cultures. I firmly believe in the right of free speech. However, when a difference of opinion turns into violent action, I get upset. I believe in dialogue, which is what you have started here. Good for you.
Well spoken, yes. Thank you.
Thank you Heather, for addressing these important issues. I also read the blog responses from Ellie's post. The negative comments about the Middle Eastern and Muslim population in France was sad & surprising. We all enjoy the familiar in life, but diversity is part of living and growing. I'm sure that French people get tired of living with demanding Americans from time to time.
The fact that things are different in France from our American lifestyle is also a contributing factor in the desire to experience and live there.
I have lived in New Mexico for 38 yrs. and we experience some of the same complaints from visitors & transplants.
We have diverse cultures and our cities are not as "polished" as some in other states. Fact is, we love NM the way it is.
We all have a right to complain when things don't run smoothly, it's part of the process in dealing with the day to day. We should not, however, blame other races or their culture, for ruining our ideal European fantasy.
THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS!!! When I read that comment on the blog, I was gobsmacked. I wanted to respond, but I had no idea what to say. Thank goodness you said it for me. Like our dear Contessa Elizabeth has said…I hope that commenter READS YOU TOO!!!
THAT WAS BRILLIANT!
I hope the woman you are referring too READS YOU TOO!!!!!!!
I might add I have the fondest memories of the AFRICANS on the ITALIAN beaches selling their wares……They remembered me year after year……….."AMERICANA where have you been!"I knew them each my first name and of course was a CLIENT as much as I could be!
BRAVO………..GO GET A GLASS OF VINO NOW!THATS AN ORDER!!!!
XOXO
Amen, Heather. Interestingly, when we moved to Northern California from Southern California a few years ago we encountered a mindset in the rural areas that blew us away — all the problems in the State are caused by Latinos. Growing up in Southern California, Latinos have always been an important part of the fabric of California's identity in my mind — they are friends, family, and co-workers. They are Californian as much (no, let me clairify, more than) me. California was part of Mexico before it was part of the US. So sad.
Oh, what to say. Globalization is the key word here. I recently heard the same thing about London. We do have our misconceptions and must stay current on foreign affairs/cultures. Your post reminds us of that.
Excellent piece Heather and how glad I am that you wrote it. I am still muddling one in my head that I have yet to put to post about returning from my travels as an intolerant person – intolerant of those who have such opinions and notions as the person you wrote about. I've been writing about our travels in Egypt in December and have been amazed at the number of people who've been surprised that I found flourishing evidence of Christmas there as the notion they seemed to have had was that there were no Christians and when I pointed out the millions of Coptic Christians they still seemed to question it. Others – primarily Americans -, when I write of our experiences setting up a house in Greece seem stunned to find that many British and other Northern Europeans live there and travel there routinely to visit. The unspoken question in all of the responses seems to be, "Is it safe? I have certain preconceived notions about a place and you are shaking them with eyewitness facts and experiences that don't mesh with how I want to think about it." (Whew, you did it again. . .got me on my soapbox! I'll get down now. . .:-) and ponder that post.)