> appreciation for the willingness of French workers to stand up for themselves

I wonder if you still have that view when your car is one of the hundreds that typically get set on fire during protests.

Rioting and the government caving for a minority out of fear of violence is the most undemocratic possible and does not fit in 21th century society. I’m happy to grow up north of France where minorities don’t torch the town when the democratically appointed representatives decide on something they don’t like.