So... Who's "en colère" (angry) at the moment? This weekend I had a choice between a demonstration by the Palestinians and a couple of blocks away, one by La fédération des motards en colère (the angry bikers federation)! I chose to show you the second one. Mostly because it was definitely more jazzy and because it allows me to please Ama (you know, one of my visitors who's into hot gendarmes!)... BTW, if your wondering why bikers are angry it's because the police want them to respect the law : no parking on sidewalks and no weaving between cars. How dare they?!
The bikers in France scare us. Not because we think they are criminals but because they weave in and out when we are trying to cope with the traffic and because they drive and park on the sidewalks as we walk along. We have jumped out of the way of more than one of them. The composition of the photo is very interesting. The fires brighten up the whole scene.
ReplyDeleteLove the title of this photo. Can't totally tell cause of the smoke, but I count at least 1/2 a dozen hotties in uniform there!
ReplyDeleteI really love the way the French enjoy demonstrating when they believe their government are trying it on.
ReplyDeleteI wish us Brits were more like that and less "Lie down and roll over".
I am sure you aren't one of "those" bikers who dirve without respect to the law. Thanks again for a provacative photo.
ReplyDeleteThanks Eric for the bonus photo, much appreciated. This bench is not that hot actually, rather scary even, I would say. But the frighten part is coming with the job, isn't it?...
ReplyDeleteBtw, I am not the only one into hot gendarmes apparently (Soosha)... I am just the only one demonstrating. And as we are on a French blog: it's working!
qed, quod erat demonstrandum
Thanks Eric ;-)
How dare they! What are they burning anyway?
ReplyDeleteWell nothing like a good manifestation to clear the air ehhh??? Glad Ama got her fill of "hot gendarmes" but are they hot from the small fires or...????
ReplyDeleteBy the way Eric...loved the last two photos...St Germain and shopping in the Saturday "foule" on the rue de Rivoli...ahhh, la rentree! I miss it!! ;-)
No parking on sidewalks? Well, in Paris, that's totally stepping on individual freedom, and somebody should demonstrate! That's an original shot, too, with almost a theatrical composition to it. Well done, Eric, again!
ReplyDeleteThose French police do look fab in their uniforms ! Australian police never look that snappy.
ReplyDeleteYEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! HOT-HOT-HOT! SIZZLE! Love that enlarged gendarme shot Eric! I'm with Ama...must have something to do with our names...she's only one letter off! LOL! ;-) You guys are so funny!
ReplyDeleteIf I recall, they are also angry because they are getting too many tickets! What is the view from the other perspective? Was it noisy?
ReplyDeleteI just re-read my comment, and not sure I was too clear. "What was the view from the other perspective?" referred to the photographic angle, not necessarily the protesters' argument... however, that view would be interesting to hear also.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the sign say Eric? I hope you were careful.
ReplyDeletehahaha i join with the ladies in saying that i too enjoy seeing a "hot gendarme" occasionally.
ReplyDeletei also enjoy a moto ride with "un beau-gars" occassionally :-)
It seems you are having a lot of demonstrations every weekend in Paris!!! That's what I'd call free-speech...
ReplyDeleteHere also in Indonesia we see demonstrations every weekend...
ReplyDeleteThe freedom of speech... as long as with respectful
If you hadn't said what it was about I would have assumed they were angry at tennis because of "NON AU RACKET"... haha.
ReplyDeleteActually i seldom attend any kind of demonstrations in China for our politicial reasons....
ReplyDeleteBut i like those fire in the photo!
looks great!!!
To those who envy our habit to demonstrate at any purpose and think it is an interesting way of taking part in our nation's politics, I heard this interview of Pierre Rosanvallon, about his last book ("La Contre-démocratie") this morning on the radio. Sorry for the non french-speaking and… the maybe a little pedantesque reference !…
ReplyDeletehttp://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-culture2/emissions/matins/
Demonstaritions mean that the people and city are alive!
ReplyDeleteI think there are many perspectives for the same thing,How see it,the photographer,the city people,the tourists,the goverment,the journalists,the young people,the old people etc.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Regards from Thessaloniki,kostas and aquarius too!
I agree with Kostas but I wanna make a clear difference between demonstration (which can be even angry) and vandalism!
ReplyDelete> Kostas : "Demonstaritions mean that the people and city are alive!"
ReplyDeleteOf course ! Did I say the contrary ? That wasn't the idea… So here comes the time to justify/clarify thet thought. I'll try to make a little translation of the theme of Rosanvalon's book :
"Are we still democrates ? Immediate answer seems to be yes. But how explain that French citizens rejected every gvt since 1981 ? How understand this political consumerism ? Why does this distrust from people towards gouvernants seem to be the major trend in today's worlf ? Is distrust, or even anger, replacing the necessary vigilance ? "
If I may add something to be more understandable : Demonstration, yes, can be a necessary expression of democracy… is it enough though ?
I'll be back everyday, now that I've found a place where I can "visit" my favourite town.
ReplyDeletesee you soon, PARIS.
Hi
ReplyDeleteOne of the students from the school where I teach (in a 3rd world country) went to spend a semester in France. She was there during all the student demonstrations and was extremely entertained, especially since her exams were postponed. I wrote to her and told her I hoped people weren't burning tires the way they do here. She wrote back and said, "Oh, no, in France they burn the whole car!"
I love looking at your blog every day but this is the first time I've commented.
Non au racket!
Ruth
LOL Ruth! The problem with burning cars is that the people who actually need them destroy them to make a point. I just don't get that kind of demonstration at all.
ReplyDeleteOthers are quite motivating and inspirational. In the U.S. I would never think to demonstrate, but here, it's a little different.
It's always fun to see Paris demonstrators... it's too quiet around here sometimes!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see various reactions from all over the wolrd when it comes to demonstrations.
ReplyDeleteApparently in Indonesia it's almost as common as in France whereas in China people tend to think it's useless - if I understand what you meant Jing.
And the "anglo saxon world" (as if such thing exists!) seems to be more laid back when it comes to demonstrating.
But, of course, this is no relevant survey!
Anyway. THese are tires Luggi and you're, Debs, although I drive a motorbike I do not consider the law does not apply to me! (I do weave in and out and park on the sidewalk from time to time though, but I consider it's normal if I get a ticket for doing this.)
I really hope the police get their way on this one! I respect the bikers' right to demonstrate but really they are just too much sometimes. I hate it when they plow up onto the sidewalk so they can drive the wrong way down a one way street or avoid traffic jams - last I checked, sidewalks were for pedestrians!
ReplyDelete“BTW, if your wondering why bikers are angry it's because the police want them to respect the law : no parking on sidewalks and no weaving between cars. How dare they?!”
ReplyDeletehum … :-) to make it short :
- we're lacking more than 100.000 places for moto parking inside Paris
- 99% of motorcyles and scooters actually weave, most of them have never received any education for that (resulting in the "fear" of JohnnyParsons for example ;-) )
It's not a fantasy, just a fact.
And the FFMC (angry bikers) demonstration is the last action in time of a 5 years negociation asked by the FFMC in order to define together with City Hall and Police a framework of “good practices” for parking and weaving (this type of agreement exists in Barcelone & in the Netherlands). In this particular case, the demonstration took place because the negociation has been "on hold" for more than 1,5 year.
Reality is not exactly what you intent to show, Eric ;-)
Anyway, if you want the longer version (sorry guys, a google translation, so might not be 100% understandable) :
http://tinyurl.com/nc66w
Sorry, this one will work better and go directly to the post ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/s4bw4
Entièrement d'accord avec Machin. Eric, isn't it a little bit too easy to feel annoyed with people because they demonstrate about problems you personnaly do not have? I am not parisian any more (thank God), but it's the same everywhere:
ReplyDelete1-no parking places
2-bike insurance twice the price of car insurance (i own both and have maximum bonus on both)
3-i do not weave but get honked at whever i'm driving in the middle of a line (as if i was driving a car) or on the right side of a line to give room to cars. Isn't life unfair? lol
Anyway nice shot, thanks Eric!
Yeah moreover, just try to park your bike on a regular spot (the ones used by the car) and just wait. in 5 minutes, 3 car drivers would have try to move your bike themselves because "this is a car spot, dude!", you would have been insulted by 10 people yelling "how do you dare to take a full spot with your bike!"...
ReplyDeleteAnd I know what I am talking about it, it happened to me 4 years ago!
So I sincerely think it's quite a good cause...