Is France a more violent nation than Australia? Just recently they have had industrial relations reforms suggested there, the same ones that came into place here 2 days ago, and they have erupted in violent riots. Rioting got so out of hand that it required many water canons and armed police to disperse crowds. Is France, as a nation, more violent than Australian or is it just that they feel more passionately about topics that we appear to be very laid back about?

In Australia the reforms were not greeted with arms wide open but we protested in quiet demonstrations, marches and I believe at one stage there was a media campaign launched against the government. I've just noticed recently that the french have made the news for their 'loud' protests to new laws (ie the laws regarding overtly religious symbols in schools elicited a similar response which continued into late last year). Whats going on? Maybe the French are just more passionate than us...but what does that say about both groups as nations?

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