she barks at her own shadow.

A lot of mess and fuss about nothing.

First I doubt if you were a boy second I'm sure you ignore a lot about Europe and maybe you know nothing more than what you have seen in documentaries, especially about Paris. As a boy -if boy you are- you should update your knowledge and vary your sources of information.

Both of you and your mother Anne Applebaum should know that France has its own African immigrants who participated in its liberation as well as in its development. People from the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania) who have lived and/or were born there in France met up with problems similar to those encountered the Afro-Americans. They were and still are considered 2nd class citizens. They were and still suffer discrimination and segregation. It is not Sharia law question; it's the way you look at this sample of Humans.

Islam phobia is the tree that hides Neo cons intentions; racism and deep grudges against all that isn't I would say "Pale faces"