Racial prejudice in Paris

Regarding the Opinion page article "Intolerance Rears Its Head," Nov. 19: Though racial prejudice may be a factor in the author's experience, I can't help wondering if the author might be reading more into his experience in Paris than is really there.

Another reason why the "welcome mat" may have been "pulled out from under the feet of France's African and Arab residents" is simply due to the failure of socialism. Idealists love to dream about providing cradle-to-grave care for everyone and welcoming all immigrants indiscriminately. But the central question socialists absolutely refuse to ask is, "At whose expense?" John H. Carlson, Temple City, Calif.

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