■"France Is Cast as the Villain in Ivory Coast: Whoever the Enemy, Ivoirians and Their Neighbors Stand to Lose," by Lydia Polgreen, New York Times, 21 November 2004, p. A10.

The Ivory Coast was an island of relative prosperity and stability in postcolonial Africa largely on the basis of France's continued economic and social and political connectivity to the country. That has frayed in recent years, and as the economic situation worsen and social stress rises to the point of violent outbreaks, the French are naturally scapegoated, along with all those immigrant workers who served the upper classes when times were good.

The latest wave of violence began Nov. 5 when the government strafed a French military camp, killing nine peacekeepers and an American aid worker, and the French retaliated by destroying much of the tiny Ivoirian Air Force. The events seemed destined to deepen a crisis that had already pitted Muslim against Christian, northerner against southerner and Ivoirians with deep roots here against those whose parents and grandparents immigrated here seeking work. But France is being made into the bogeyman.

Let the disconnecting begin. Let the diversity flower. Let the bloodshed flow.

Yes, the homogenizing effect of globalization must be a bad thing, turning everyone into fat, indolent slobs who just want to eat, have sex and watch TV. Real cultural identity must be cherished, no matter what the cost!

Otherwise, we have to call it imperialism and empire.