I just thought I would share some comments from a couple of folks in France who’s letters were just published in a weekly trade magazine. I have left their names out for work related reasons.

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your question, which illustrates how strong the effect of the
media is, particularly abroad, when it shows an epiphenomenon - even if it is
real in the ghettos where it is happening which incites a totally exaggerated fear or at least some questions. We are happy to be able to respond completely positively.

No don’t worry: No tradeshow was affected nor should any be. It is a matter of riots in certain neighborhoods around urban centers, those infamous ghettos which one finds in American Cities too. Elsewhere life goes on as usual.

Dear Editor,

Here is the full story.
As usual, the media showed only one thing: There was a civil war in France and Paris was burning. it reminds me of the time when there was a lot of crime in Washington, D.C. When I spoke to my friends from D.C. They all told me that it happened only in one area, and that it was peaceful everywhere else. Same here! Paris is a safe city and the rioting happens only during the night in poor suburbs where, in any case, I wouldn no recommend anybody go during the night, rioting or not!

On our side, we met only one issue. One of our Canadian customers had to stay in a hotel in Aulnay-Sous-Bois for a show held at the end of November. This city is where many car dealers and large stores burned- One Renault dealer lost more than 6 million Euro and 250 cars in one night - so they asked us to quickly find another hotel for 30 people.

I guess they are right. Afterall it only happened in “the Ghettos” and 6 million Euro ($7 mil dollars) worth of cars burned in one night at one dealership is no big deal.

C’est la vie.

A few folks are still covering this story including Michelle Malkin, Uncle Sam’s Cabin, Atlas Shrugs, A Blog for All, Geopolitical Review,

Open Trackbacks: The Political Teen, Don Surber, The Florida Masochist, Bright & Early, Big Dogs Weblog, Jo’s Cafe, Adam’s blog, Basil’s Blog, Euphoric Reality, Third World County, The Land of Oz, Stuck on Stupid, Cao’s Blog, GM’s Corner, THM’s Bacon Bits,