He who laughs last laughs best

American Thinker ^ | 27 Mar, 2026 | Bill Ponton

[MtnClimber]

The parallels between American black ghettos and European no-go zones are obvious.

In a relatively short period from 1940–1960, over 2.5 million blacks migrated to Northern cities from the predominately agrarian South. Their assimilation into mainstream society was arduous. It became a visible problem by the 1960s with unrest and rioting commonplace in black neighborhoods during summer months.

It was against this backdrop of urban unrest and Vietnam war protest that the Canadian rock band, Guess Who, created the 1970 hit American Woman. The song’s iconic lyrics express the band’s rejection of the great temptress, America, with her seductive allure but seemingly intractable problems (“I don’t need your war machines, I don’t need your ghetto scenes. Coloured lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else’s eyes….”).

It was not just Canadians, but also Europeans who harbored a moral disdain for a perceived failure by America to assimilate blacks. Ironically, Europeans are now grappling with the same assimilation problems, and they are not doing much better; arguably, they are doing worse. A new report from the conservative New Direction Foundation for European Reform think tank entitled “No-Go Zones, Immigration and the Rise of Parallel Societies,” reveals the scale of Europe’s inability to assimilate migrants from the “Global South.” The report estimates the existence of 1,000 urban areas deemed “no-go zones,” in which there are elevated levels of crime, social fragmentation, and weakened state authority.

The parallels between American black ghettos and European no-go zones are obvious. The most menacing dimension is the rise of political Islam in Europe. America had its Black Panther movement in the 70s, but it does not compare to the radical Islamists whose future impact on an acquiescent Europe is yet to be fully felt.

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TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: civilization; culture; ghettoes; leftism

[redangus]

It was a catchy tune and in retrospect one with a message we should have paid more attention too. Elvis’s/Mac Davis’s song “In the Ghetto” was another cautionary tale. Every time I hear it, I think about how little has changed in 50 years in spite of billions of dollars being spent to ‘fix’ the problem.

[BigB60]

Christ! One group inherently rejects Christ, the other has abandoned Christ. Both ignore the Spirit’s work. Both can be redeemed. Prayer is the answer.

[Huaynero]

Surprise-Surprise, history does rhyme!

[Organic Panic]

There is no magic soil and DNA behaviors have to be adapted out of. As of now, we are not compatible cultures

[x]

Maybe, but 50 years is a long time and there are 10 times as many potential listeners in the US than in Canada, so maybe his memory is faulty or he’s doing damage control.

[Mogger]

Government practices encouraging keeping too many Blacks in poverty, fatherless families and now actually encouraging animal-like vicious behavior has brought areas of the country into unbelievable pit holes where we wonder if the people there are even capable of ever assimilating.

This situation was caused in the mid 1960s by the RACIST white supremacist democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson and his racist democrat henchmen in congress buying the votes of Blacks and keeping them down on the democrat plantation in poverty.

They destroyed families and ruined cities.

Now rural white females are figuring out how to live off Uncle Sugar and are doing the same.

[Mogger]

We’re just so much smarter and more sophisticated and more civilized.......ie all the exact same crap they slung at Americans for decades right back at ‘em.

What is going on in Europe and here with the Muslim invasions is FAR worse than anything with our freed slaves.

The Holy Quran requires Muslims to kill us or enslave us, taking over the planet.

Some of them are very stupid due to inbreeding.

But the most dangerous ones are very intelligent and well educated.

Those are the "good" Muslims just doing their duty as commanded by the Holy Koran.

They do not think the way we do.

The translations of the Holy Koran being sold to non Muslims have been altered to make Islam look like a religion of peace. In our world what we call terrorism, in their world is just Muslims doing as the Holy Koran commands them. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16955 This is a link to a free book on Gutenberg.org, three translations by 3 Imams of the Holy Koran side by side.

Remember in one memorable scene, one of Scott's lines says it all: As Patton surveys the positive results of the battle in progress between Allied forces and the Nazi army in northern Africa, he proclaims, “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!”

[Fiji Hill]

In 1985 a black man in London asked me directions. He addressed me as “mate,” and I could barely understand his Cockney brogue but understood just enough to help him. And he apparently understood my California accent.

[Albion Wilde]

America got the better deal. It isn’t even close.

American-born blacks and whites were getting along better than ever until Obama. He not only flooded the country with muslim “refugees” and allowed a third-world Democrat voter invasion across the borders, he also blamed white people constantly to stir resentment among blacks, covering for the fact that it was not so much whites but the incoming aliens who were squeezing blacks out of jobs and affordable housing.

When the Democrats put so many of the illegal invaders on welfare, resentment among citizen/taxpayers, whether white or black, also increased. Now the incoming migrants from Africa are shunning American blacks, and the feeling is mutual; since both groups, for opposite reasons, make the other look bad. Nevertheless, thanks to President Trump, we are attempting to solve our problems. Europe is not even recognizing their demographic peril.

[Fledermaus]

Uh huh

[libertylover]

In 1985 a black man in London ... and I could barely understand his Cockney brogue

I was there for 3 years and so I could understand them quite well. Early on in my tour my wife and I would be watching a British comedy show and the audience would bust a gut laughing at a joke; my wife and I would look at each other and just shrug. However, we learned to understand them better and also learned some of the slang and so we came to think that British comedy is hilarious.

Also, driving on the left was never a problem for me.

Currently, 50 years later, we subscribe to BritBox which has a lot of British television shows.