Posted on 11/02/2005 8:14:03 AM PST by milwguy
One year ago today, the Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh had his throat ritually slit by Mohamed Bouyeri, a Muslim born in Holland who spoke fluent Dutch. This event has totally transformed Dutch politics, leading to stepped-up police controls that have now virtually shut off new immigration there. Together with the July 7 bombings in London (also perpetrated by second generation Muslims who were British citizens), this event should also change dramatically our view of the nature of the threat from radical Islamism. We have tended to see jihadist terrorism as something produced in dysfunctional parts of the world, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Middle East, and exported to Western countries. Protecting ourselves is a matter either of walling ourselves off, or, for the Bush administration, going "over there" and trying to fix the problem at its source by promoting democracy. There is good reason for thinking, however, that a critical source of contemporary radical Islamism lies not in the Middle East, but in Western Europe. In addition to Bouyeri and the London bombers, the March 11 Madrid bombers and ringleaders of the September 11 attacks such as Mohamed Atta were radicalized in Europe. In the Netherlands, where upwards of 6% of the population is Muslim, there is plenty of radicalism despite the fact that Holland is both modern and democratic. And there exists no option for walling the Netherlands off from this problem. We profoundly misunderstand contemporary Islamist ideology when we see it as an assertion of traditional Muslim values or culture. In a traditional Muslim country, your religious identity is not a matter of choice; you receive it, along with your social status, customs and habits, even your future marriage partner, from your social environment.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Have plenty of time to riot and tear down Chistian values.
Yes, but as usual Fukuyama doesn't come to grips with the central problem: Islam itself.
Also, he doesn't seem to realize that it's not just multiculti that's the problem, its the meld of Islam with totalitarian secular ideologies that have incubated in Europe. Islam crossed with leftist victimology and the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.
I'm not at all sure if the solution is to be nicer and to try to turn Europe into a melting pot. I'm not sure if that's possible. The solution may be to expel the Muslims, something Fukuyama abhors thinking about.
In the US, the media and the school systems promote anti-americanism by smearing American history and or heroes, and promoting every disfunctional barbaric culture as superior to our own.
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
"They hate the West. Why are they here ?"
Perhaps they are like prostitutes who hate their customers but still do what it takes to make money. They also believe that they can meld the prosperity of the west with their cultural values, not realizing that the 2 are incompatible. Liberals have the same problem.
An excellent analysis. I saw this snippet:
"A significant proportion of immigrants are on welfare, meaning that they do not have the dignity of contributing through their labor to the surrounding society. They and their children understand themselves as outsiders."
Well, yes. They ARE outsiders. They have deliberately made themselves that way. They migrate into these societies that value (maybe) who they are and what they are, and they spit on all of it. They condemn all of it. They do not add anything to the society they enter. They do not become citizens,and they DO NOT want to be citizens. But they do not present an alternative to non-muslims.
It is a form of nihilism, although they would argue it is not. They prefer anarchy to anything except their own religion, which is a form of skepticism, rejection, or unbelief (in anything except Islam)
Note: This is not directed at Muslims who have no issues integrating into and living in a non-muslim society. I know many and work with people who are American Muslims, not Muslim Americans. This is a reflection on the Islamo-facists and other extreme fundamentalists. Some may argue (and do) that there can be no distinction. I say that there can.
Realistically would this be possible?
Interesting comparison. But Baptists and Lutherans bring toaster ovens and salad tongs to weddings -- not bombs.
Faith turned inward is no danger if it is based upon the Truth -- real Christianity is all about the heart, and the outward rituals and traditions should only serve to reinforce inner truths.
I see no reason that the internalization of the teachings of Islam should precipitate violence unless these teachings themselves are violent.
Not sure how we make these folks grow-up and start taking some responsibility for themselves. France's approach, more handouts and socialism, is sure to fail and backfire big time!
FWIIW, schu
What Christian values? In France?
Also, he doesn't seem to realize that it's not just multiculti that's the problem, its the meld of Islam with totalitarian secular ideologies that have incubated in Europe. Islam crossed with leftist victimology and the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.
I'm not at all sure if the solution is to be nicer and to try to turn Europe into a melting pot. I'm not sure if that's possible. The solution may be to expel the Muslims, something Fukuyama abhors thinking about.
Pretty much what I was thinkin' while reading that. I just keep wondering what the "breaking point" around the world in free countries is. I don't think there's much question that if that crap happened in many areas within the states that there'd be full out civil war until muslims within those regions were no more.
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