In Which Peter Parker is Actually an Immigrant From Mali
May 28, 2018 6:42 AM Subscribe
In Paris, amazing video of a man rescuing a child who is dangling from a balcony. The rescuer is an immigrant from Mali. French President Macron offers him citizenship.
Oh thank you, everything was terrible and this is so beautiful. God bless him and I am so grateful his heroism was honored as it deserved.
posted by corb at 6:57 AM on May 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by corb at 6:57 AM on May 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Not just an immigrant. An undocumented immigrant, and a rebuttal to the lie that undocumented people are inherently dangerous. Also notable is that he didn't seek media attention, the media found him. This was a genuinely selfless heroic act.
posted by xigxag at 6:59 AM on May 28, 2018 [80 favorites]
posted by xigxag at 6:59 AM on May 28, 2018 [80 favorites]
A quip I enjoyed: he’s not Peter Parker, he’s Peter Parkour.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:01 AM on May 28, 2018 [77 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 7:01 AM on May 28, 2018 [77 favorites]
As impressive as Mamoudou Gassama's climbing & action was, the way the citizenship is being cast as a reward is a little sickening when I think of all the other immigrants who won't receive citizenship, or at best face lengthy wait times. Not that he doesn't deserve citizenship, but all the other immigrants do too.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 7:06 AM on May 28, 2018 [94 favorites]
posted by AnhydrousLove at 7:06 AM on May 28, 2018 [94 favorites]
I absolutely feel you on that, AL, and yet I still love that an outlier gets the recognition they deserve. May everyone be given a chance to be the best they can be in the places they call home.
posted by h00py at 7:10 AM on May 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by h00py at 7:10 AM on May 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
As impressive as Mamoudou Gassama's climbing & action was, the way the citizenship is being cast as a reward is a little sickening when I think of all the other immigrants who won't receive citizenship, or at best face lengthy wait times. Not that he doesn't deserve citizenship, but all the other immigrants do too.
Again, this is how I feel myself. There are already so many obstacles for immigrants and it seems you have to earn your place by being worthy of recognition or how much use you contribute to the country you are trying to live in. I think he did a great thing, but it's very easy for this to be a cudgel to use against other immigrants.
posted by Kitteh at 7:19 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Again, this is how I feel myself. There are already so many obstacles for immigrants and it seems you have to earn your place by being worthy of recognition or how much use you contribute to the country you are trying to live in. I think he did a great thing, but it's very easy for this to be a cudgel to use against other immigrants.
posted by Kitteh at 7:19 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
French Foreign Legion
posted by XMLicious at 7:21 AM on May 28, 2018 [11 favorites]French citizenship may be applied for after three years' service. Additionally, any soldier who becomes injured during a battle for France can immediately apply to be a French citizen under a provision known as "Français par le sang versé" ("French by spilled blood").
Nice that he was offered citizenship and all, but maybe the better response would have been something like, "This reminds us that many of the undocumented immigrants here are good people and deserve more consideration" and then actually look to offer broader assistance and clemency to immigrants in general.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:28 AM on May 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:28 AM on May 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
It's not fair but the summary granting of citizenship is the best part of the story for me. If you're in France and you do something with style that fits into the national mythology, then you're french. From my casual reading France has its problems with racism anf diversity but it's heartening to be reminded there are countries that tell themselves that all people who really french are citizens.
posted by rdr at 7:32 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by rdr at 7:32 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Libération puts it in context: SOS Racisme estime que « Mamoudou Gassama nous rappelle utilement que les personnes en situation irrégulière sont des êtres humains, avec […] l’immense courage dont beaucoup ont fait preuve dans leur périlleux voyage vers l’Europe. Un courage qu’ils continuent souvent à manifester ici », avant de demander «au ministre de l’Intérieur de régulariser la situation de Monsieur Gassama, qui a su faire preuve d’un courage aussi rare qu’admirable», dans un communiqué publié dimanche.
Le Monde glossed the first bit from SOS Racisme but described his journey from Mali in some detail. They do also quote an FN representative at the very end, ugh.
L'Obs brings more focus on him being an "exception": Le président de la République lui a cependant expliqué qu'il s'agissait d'une exception car en tant que migrant non demandeur d'asile, il n'aurait pas dû être régularisé. "On ne peut pas donner (de papiers) à tous ceux qui viennent du Mali, du Burkina. Quand ils sont en danger on donne l'asile, mais pas pour des raisons économiques."
posted by fraula at 7:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Le Monde glossed the first bit from SOS Racisme but described his journey from Mali in some detail. They do also quote an FN representative at the very end, ugh.
L'Obs brings more focus on him being an "exception": Le président de la République lui a cependant expliqué qu'il s'agissait d'une exception car en tant que migrant non demandeur d'asile, il n'aurait pas dû être régularisé. "On ne peut pas donner (de papiers) à tous ceux qui viennent du Mali, du Burkina. Quand ils sont en danger on donne l'asile, mais pas pour des raisons économiques."
posted by fraula at 7:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
many obstacles for immigrants and it seems you have to earn your place by being worthy of recognition or how much use you contribute to the country
That's exactly how it works in Australia, at any rate. Plenty of people want to immigrate here for the generous cradle to grave welfare and universal free healthcare, and the department of immigration generally only wants people who can "pay their fair share" of taxes - in other words, people who they predict will earn high incomes over their remaining lifespan - be young and highly educated in the fields where there are ready jobs available with high incomes. I don't think it's an overly bad idea in concept - otherwise you would be giving false hope to people who migrate here and then end up unemployed long term - but it's taken to an extreme.
The Australian model is basically what Britain is trying to emulate (and thus needs to exit the EU to implement) and what Trump is proposing as well for America - basically tie residency to economic potential, it's running the country like a private business. Anecdotally, it is the only developed nation to avoid a recession in the last 25 years, and we DID recently elect a Goldman Sachs director as Prime Minister...
I'm not joking when I say there's a good chance if this happened in Australia we might throw the undocumented immigrant into jail, not give him a citizenship...
posted by xdvesper at 7:42 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
That's exactly how it works in Australia, at any rate. Plenty of people want to immigrate here for the generous cradle to grave welfare and universal free healthcare, and the department of immigration generally only wants people who can "pay their fair share" of taxes - in other words, people who they predict will earn high incomes over their remaining lifespan - be young and highly educated in the fields where there are ready jobs available with high incomes. I don't think it's an overly bad idea in concept - otherwise you would be giving false hope to people who migrate here and then end up unemployed long term - but it's taken to an extreme.
The Australian model is basically what Britain is trying to emulate (and thus needs to exit the EU to implement) and what Trump is proposing as well for America - basically tie residency to economic potential, it's running the country like a private business. Anecdotally, it is the only developed nation to avoid a recession in the last 25 years, and we DID recently elect a Goldman Sachs director as Prime Minister...
I'm not joking when I say there's a good chance if this happened in Australia we might throw the undocumented immigrant into jail, not give him a citizenship...
posted by xdvesper at 7:42 AM on May 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
I think he did a great thing, but it's very easy for this to be a cudgel to use against other immigrants.
Or it could be used as a catalyst to start recognizing the many other positive, if more mundane, contributions that undocumented immigrants often make to their host societies. It could be a positive conversation just as easily as a negative one.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:50 AM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Or it could be used as a catalyst to start recognizing the many other positive, if more mundane, contributions that undocumented immigrants often make to their host societies. It could be a positive conversation just as easily as a negative one.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:50 AM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
That was impressive as hell.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:13 AM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:13 AM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
posted by ocschwar at 8:20 AM on May 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ocschwar at 8:20 AM on May 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
If this isn’t an incentive to take up rock climbing, I don’t know what is.
In fact, the story is very similar to that of Lassana Bathily, the Paris kosher supermarket hero, also from Mali, who also became an instant hero and was given French citizenship.
posted by Kwadeng at 8:26 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
In fact, the story is very similar to that of Lassana Bathily, the Paris kosher supermarket hero, also from Mali, who also became an instant hero and was given French citizenship.
posted by Kwadeng at 8:26 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
He climbed that building faster than I could get up the stairs.
posted by Segundus at 8:31 AM on May 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 8:31 AM on May 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
Or it could be used as a catalyst to start recognizing the many other positive, if more mundane, contributions that undocumented immigrants often make to their host societies. It could be a positive conversation just as easily as a negative one.
On MeaFilter, sure.
posted by tzikeh at 8:45 AM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
On MeaFilter, sure.
posted by tzikeh at 8:45 AM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
I absolutely hear what people are saying about the issues with rewarding "good" immigrants. But let's be honest, every Western country's immigration policy consists of having to jump through some hoops to prove your commitment to your new home. And that usually involves a demonstration of understanding of the need to contribute to civic life (and yes, this is absolutely privileged bullshit since natural-born citizens don't have to prove any such thing). That was true even in years when these countries enthusiastically courted immigration.
So while keeping all that in mind, I'm going to choose to be less bothered in this instance that the French President said "ok well that's all we need to know".
posted by dry white toast at 9:04 AM on May 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
So while keeping all that in mind, I'm going to choose to be less bothered in this instance that the French President said "ok well that's all we need to know".
posted by dry white toast at 9:04 AM on May 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Had it happened in the US, I’d be petrified ICE would be breaking down his door the next day. So, yeah, I’m happy for this guy. I teared up watching him climb. What an amazing act of heroism and kindness. How lucky everyone involved is that he was there.
posted by greermahoney at 9:09 AM on May 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 9:09 AM on May 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
Really shows just how cynically media-savvy Macron is, that's for sure.
posted by JamesBay at 9:28 AM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by JamesBay at 9:28 AM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am in no way questioning the amazingness of this. That guy is freaking spiderman.
But I can't figure out what's happening in the video. So the kid was hanging down from another balcony (not the one the guy holding him is standing on, presumably)? Surely there was an easier way to access that balcony, you would htink, right? Like from the inside. There must be a super or security or someone who could open the door if the resident wasn't home, right?
I totally believe that this was a necessary way to rescue the kid, but I can't figure out why. I was expecting the guy to stop at the floor below and drop him down to the lower balcony. If he could be pulled up why didn't the other people pull him up?
Again, super-kudos to spiderman, and I don't doubt for a second that he's a hero who saved this kid's life, but I can't figure this video out.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:27 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
But I can't figure out what's happening in the video. So the kid was hanging down from another balcony (not the one the guy holding him is standing on, presumably)? Surely there was an easier way to access that balcony, you would htink, right? Like from the inside. There must be a super or security or someone who could open the door if the resident wasn't home, right?
I totally believe that this was a necessary way to rescue the kid, but I can't figure out why. I was expecting the guy to stop at the floor below and drop him down to the lower balcony. If he could be pulled up why didn't the other people pull him up?
Again, super-kudos to spiderman, and I don't doubt for a second that he's a hero who saved this kid's life, but I can't figure this video out.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 11:27 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
There was a glass partition separating the balconies. That's why the neighbor was able to hold on to the child, but not pull him up. I'm sure someone could have eventually gotten through from inside, but, dude, he scaled that building faster than some elevator doors close.
posted by Ruki at 11:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 11:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yes, I don't want to belittle Mr. Gassama's selflessness and courage in any way. But it's kind of a shame there aren't enough imperiled white kids to go around for all the other refugees and immigrants out there.
posted by Naberius at 11:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Naberius at 11:38 AM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh wait! I was so busy watching Spiderman I wasn't watching the kid. The guy holding the kid by the time spiderman gets up there wasn't there at first. So the kid was just hanging off the balcony by himself when spiderman started scaling the building. Wow.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:00 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
The parents were out (mum out of town, father for some reason absent and left the four-year-old alone), so presumably the door was locked. I'm fairly sure the climbing was much faster than finding wherever the concierge happened to be.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:01 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:01 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can you imagine what he was thinking as he ascended. Please God let me get there in time. Do not make me watch a child die.
To see that child from the ground and leap into action, what a human.
posted by Sternmeyer at 12:13 PM on May 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
To see that child from the ground and leap into action, what a human.
posted by Sternmeyer at 12:13 PM on May 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
From Google Street View, there's some fairly big dividers between the balconies.
posted by ambrosen at 12:23 PM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 12:23 PM on May 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mr. Gassama is absolutely marvelous.
Took a third viewing before I noticed the other climbers.
People can be so good.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:49 PM on May 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Took a third viewing before I noticed the other climbers.
People can be so good.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:49 PM on May 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Note that he is not from just any country, but from Mali, which was occupied by France for the better part of a century, setting up a political situation leading to decades of repressive regimes following that. It may not be “fair” in an equitable sense to grant one person immediate citizenship, but I do feel that France has some reparations to pay to the people of Mali.
This guy also put himself at risk, not only by climbing a tall building, but by opening himself to media attention. If not given a “pardon” of sorts from the government, he’d probably have to leave, given that he’s not supposed to be there. Which would send the message to people in future situations like this (or any situation where there’s a decision to be made about coming forward vs not) to just lay low if they are worried about their legal status. I think granting him at least permanent residency was the right call.
posted by mantecol at 1:15 PM on May 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
This guy also put himself at risk, not only by climbing a tall building, but by opening himself to media attention. If not given a “pardon” of sorts from the government, he’d probably have to leave, given that he’s not supposed to be there. Which would send the message to people in future situations like this (or any situation where there’s a decision to be made about coming forward vs not) to just lay low if they are worried about their legal status. I think granting him at least permanent residency was the right call.
posted by mantecol at 1:15 PM on May 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
This guy also put himself at risk, not only by climbing a tall building, but by opening himself to media attention.
Also, what if it hadn't worked? He hadn't got there in time or bobbled the kid or whatever else.
He did what heroes do: the right thing.
And yes, there were lots of other people also climbing, not as fast, but heroes even still.
posted by chavenet at 1:30 PM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Also, what if it hadn't worked? He hadn't got there in time or bobbled the kid or whatever else.
He did what heroes do: the right thing.
And yes, there were lots of other people also climbing, not as fast, but heroes even still.
posted by chavenet at 1:30 PM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile, there is a Truffaut film (L'argent de poche / Small Change) from 1976 with a scene of a toddler falling from a high window. Warning, the video is unnerving but the falling child is clearly a doll and in any case [spoiler] survives and laughs it off. None of the adults in the scene make any attempt to climb or even catch him.
posted by chavenet at 1:39 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by chavenet at 1:39 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Legend. And a beast!
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:54 PM on May 28, 2018
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:54 PM on May 28, 2018
Had it happened in the US, I’d be petrified ICE would be breaking down his door the next day.
Doubt he would have made it far before he was shot for "trespassing" and "having something in his hands which looked a lot like a really massive gun but turned out to be a building".
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:55 PM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Doubt he would have made it far before he was shot for "trespassing" and "having something in his hands which looked a lot like a really massive gun but turned out to be a building".
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:55 PM on May 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
I suddenly realized that the second most astounding thing about this (next to the guy climbing the building) is that there appears to be only one video of it.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:59 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:59 PM on May 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
> there appears to be only one video of it.
Here is a different angle. You can see that the kid was slowing moving toward the person in the adjacent apartment and probably would have made it if Gassama hadn't reached him.
posted by nnethercote at 8:53 PM on May 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Here is a different angle. You can see that the kid was slowing moving toward the person in the adjacent apartment and probably would have made it if Gassama hadn't reached him.
posted by nnethercote at 8:53 PM on May 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
This new French citizenship test seems really hard.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:46 AM on May 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:46 AM on May 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
And xdvesper, we in the UK absolutely deported a man who saved two children from a fire in Manchester. I wish the voters would wake up.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:47 AM on May 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:47 AM on May 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Am I the only person who thinks everybody in that building should be concerned about security? He was up that building in an incredibly short time. And now the video is everywhere.
posted by theora55 at 11:39 AM on May 29, 2018
posted by theora55 at 11:39 AM on May 29, 2018
He got the job, citizenship. The prize of doing good deeds.
posted by samk28 at 1:17 AM on June 4, 2018
posted by samk28 at 1:17 AM on June 4, 2018
« Older It's pronounced like the "G" in "GIF" | “Realm of Knowledge and Silence.” Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by chavenet at 6:48 AM on May 28, 2018 [2 favorites]