The international community would probably respond to the emergence of an apartheid state with opprobrium and ostracize Israel, regardless of American protests. Moreover, conflict within such a country would be bound to spill over its borders, possibly sparking a major regional conflagration.

Equally harmful are the government s sensitivity to its own policy failures and the stigma attached to a disease that is often sexually transmitted. Indeed, information is so limited and the stigma so strong that ordinary people and sometimes medical personnel often ostracize AIDS patients.

Indeed, after the violent episodes of the last year, France s immigrant communities have a very different message to deliver Without us, you would not have had this World Cup success. Do you believe you can continue to ostracize the communities from which your soccer heroes come?