EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE (German Publisher Speaks the Truth!)

Welt am Sonntag ^ | 12/02/05 | Matthias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG

[ceoinva]

A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe - your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.

Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.

Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.

Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.

Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance,"now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.

Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program. And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement. How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany?

I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists.

One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler, and declaring European "Peace in our time".

What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.

It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.

Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.

His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.

In the meantime, Europe sits back with charicteristic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.

On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those "arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes.

Why? Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic so

devoid of a moral compass.

For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.

While we criticize the "capitalistic robber barons" of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek, or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation... Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to "reach out to terrorists. To understand and forgive". These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.

Appeasement?

Europe, thy name is Cowardice.

[Malesherbes]

I lived for a time in Germany, and now despair for the country. For the last ten years I've been spending a couple of months each year in Poland, and I can say that there is hope for Eastern Europe (it's the West that's a mess.) Poland, despite having lost at least a fifth of its population in WWII and endured a half century of Communist oppression, still values its history, its traditions, its language, and its Christian religion. A Polish king stopped one Moslem invasion of Europe in its tracks; the spirit of the country hasn't changed.

[BagelFace]

I think Swedes were considered to have the best knowledge of English among non-native-English speakers. English is taught from early on in Sweden, at least these days. Typically, in Sweden, as long as there is one Enlish speaker in a group, the lectures, seminars, and private conversations all convert to Enlgish. This is not quite as true in Holland or Germany , etc. In the latter, one is more expected to learn Dutch, German, etc. But they are similar. France, on the other hand...

[DancesWithBolsheviks]

I agree that Swede's often are english fluent and knowledgable, but to my ear, I still say the Dutch have the accent that is most 'american.'
I think that part of the reason the smaller population countries have populations with a high number of english speakers, is that many of their textbooks (particularly in college) are in english as it is not economically worthwhile to translate low volume books into a language spoken by a small population.

[Gritty]

unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything

So true, yet so ignored even in this country.

[BagelFace]

Good point. It also works the other direction: to have a high impact publication Swedes often need to publish their own works in English. Though I wish I could read Strindberg (or watch Ingmar Bergman films) in the original Swedish. Always loses something in translation.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Bump

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

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[Stultis]

I believe the word you're looking for is "jihad."

I am virtually certain (God Bless Him) that the writer quite purposely applied to the word "Crusade" to the activities of radical Islamists, just to piss them off.

[lancer]

If I remember correctly, this article was posted about a year ago. Is this an anniversary edition?

[lancer]

I have this in email form, dated 12/2/04. I believe it is authentic, but it was not published recently, as the poster implies, I assume by mistake.

[KSCITYBOY]

bump

[nwrep]

Dr Mathias Döpfner, born 1963, studied musicology, German and theatrical arts in Frankfurt and Boston. He started his career as a journalist at the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" in 1982. He was director of a PR agency from 1988 to 1990. In 1992 he worked on the staff of the international director of the Gruner + Jahr publishing company in Paris and later became assistant to the CEO of Gruner + Jahr in Hamburg. He then held further positions in journalism as editor-in-chief of "Wochenpost" in Berlin (1994 - 1996) and "Hamburger Morgenpost" (1996 - 1998). He has been with Axel Springer AG since 1998. Initially as editor-in-chief of Die Welt. Dr Mathias Döpfner became the member of the Management Board responsible for the Multimedia Division in July 2000 and took charge of the Newspapers Division as well in October 2000. He has been CEO and head of the Newspapers Division since January 2002.

[Brian Allen]

<< These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.

I like it. Some would call it feeding the crocodile. >>

That "some" wouldn't by any chance, would it, include the most recent effectively-American prime minister of once-great Britain?

One Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill?

[Britain's last-but-one (Enoch Powell) politician having both a brain and a moral compass]

[Fred Hayek]

I think it was an indication of a change in sentiment in Germany. This was also about the time IIRC that Gerhard Schroeder's approval rating dropped. Now Angela Merkel is Chancellor. Call me optimistic, but I think there is a bit of a sea change in Germany.

[expatguy]

Anyone have a link for the original copy?

[Michael81Dus]

I´m trying to speak English with an American accent rather than having a German (*shudder*) or British accent. It sounds better and it´s easier to speak.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder

Wait a minute there. There is STILL little evidence of any type of genocide or mass murder in Kosovo of the quantity that President Bent Dick claimed in order to justify his wag the dog war. He claimed that there were thousands upon thousands of people being killed. And juse whose side did he step in on? The Muslims who had been using Kosovo for a training ground for their terrorists.