Steyn talks about immigration. Whoopee

View from the Right ^ | April 25, 2007 | Lawrence Auster

[rmlew]

Mark Steyn, who has written scores of articles and a book dealing with the Islamization of the West, without ever once discussing Islamic immigration as a cause of that problem, and without ever once proposing the reduction of such immigration (let alone its cessation or reversal) as a possible cure for the problem, has just published, in Canada's Western Standard, his very first column dealing directly with immigration. He points out that recent immigrants into Canada are not assimilating into Canada's culture but are changing it. That Steyn has said anything negative about immigration is a step forward for him; indeed, that he has said anything about immigration at all, that he even acknowledges its existence, is a step forward for him. But they are steps forward from such abysmal neocon denial that it is hard to see them as meaningful progress, especially when we consider what Steyn says ought to be done about the problem.

First, here's the part of the article where he talks about how immigration is changing Canada:

The 2006 census numbers take as a given that the Canada of the 21st century will be a project built almost exclusively by foreigners.

Not only is the Canadian state insouciant about this ultimate outsourcing, it welcomes and celebrates it.... [W]e're essentially accepting the principle of reverse assimilation, the obligation that Canadians assimilate with immigrants rather than the other way round.

And thereby lies great peril.... If our Liberal grandees are so convinced new Canadians won't accept the Crown, what other features of our inheritance will they also reject? How many Canadians will be saying "eh?" in 20 years' time? Or following hockey (assuming there are still any hockey teams up here)? How many will recognize "Sir John A. Macdonald"? What would such a nation be remembering on Remembrance Day?

Commenting on the latest census trends, the Toronto blogger Mark Collins remarked that "it's not one's grandfather's Canada."

And how does Steyn respond to this threat to Canadian identity and culture?

In 1913, when those 400,000 [British] newcomers arrived [in Canada], we knew more or less who they were. We have no very clear idea who the 300,000 or so immigrants per annum of the next few years will be.... But that's the reality: the Canada of tomorrow will be built by who shows up. For the sake of multicultural virtue, we decided to outsource the future. Nothing much to do about it now except hope the gamble pays off.

Nothing much to do about it, except hope?

VFR reader Ortelio, who told me about the Steyn piece, comments:

Readers of Steyn's book America Alone could see--though who explicitly noted?--that he was being illogical when he concluded (p. 204) "There are three possible conclusions to the present struggle: 1. Submit to Islam, 2. Destroy Islam, 3. Reform Islam." He goes on to favor 3, though the ways and means he recommends seem to mix in elements of 2. But his list omitted the most obvious alternative: 4. Separate (humanely) our societies from Islam, in the first instance by ending Muslim immigration. The significance of the new article is that what looked liked illogic and oversight now turns out to be ennui. "Nothing much to do about it...". Such passivity, from an action man! A symbol of our predicament.

That's right. But what's going on here is much worse than ennui. Steyn is the guy who last week at NRO held to task the victims at Virginia Tech because they were too "passive" in the face of the killer's rampage. But when faced with the destruction of Western societies by non-Western and especially Muslim immigration, Steyn, the brusque and bold critic of passivity, raises passivity to the level of performance art. Look at these terrible dangers, he cries. Europe is being Islamized! Canada is losing its culture! But ... there's nothing we can do to protect ourselves, except hope. Steyn doesn't even mention the obvious possibility of stopping the ongoing immigration of 300,000 per year that he says will alter Canada beyond recognition.

Thus Steyn's real message is not the conservative message of defending and restoring one's threatened civilization; it is the liberal message of surrendering to the destruction of one's civilization.

____________

In this connection, let us remember Bernard Lewis's recent address to the American Enterprise Institute where he concluded that the West's "only hope" to be saved from Islam is that Islam will democratize itself. Just like his fellow neocon Steyn, who points to a mortal threat to Canada coming from non-Western immigration, then says that there is nothing for us to do about it except to "hope" that somehow things work out, Lewis points to a mortal threat to the West coming from Islam, then says that there is nothing for us to do about it, except to "hope" that the Muslims change themselves.

- end of initial entry -

Evelyn M. writes:

Talk about not assimilating into the culture of the country they invade, I hear on Chicano radical radio, both English and Spanish, saying things like, "When our children go to kindergarten they are subjected to an alien culture. They have to be educated in their own--our culture." This is in southern California.

David B. writes:

Steyn "wishes" for Canada (and the United States) to become majority nonwhite countries, but "hopes" that the "gamble will turn out."

[rmlew]

I know that there are a lot of Mark Steyn supporters here. However, as much fun as Steyn seems he misses the big picture.

[rogue yam]

However, as much fun as Steyn seems he misses the big picture.

I disagree. It is not necessarily true that Steyn is being "illogical" by "ignoring" the concept of "separation". It may be that Steyn believes (as I do) that there is simply no such thing as "separation" in today's world. Many Muslims are already citizens of Western countries. Many more travel as tourists, students, businessmen, etc. Still others sneak across borders. It only takes a relative handfull to create havoc. The level of isolation necessary to achieve "separation" from the types of WMD that will likely be available to all wealthy people in a few decades' time is unattainable.

[rmlew]

If that is the cause, then we have to folow Ann Coulter’s suggestion and no one has the heart for that.

[SShultz460]

I read a bunch of Lewis after I saw him at AEI. He and Mark hit it right on the head, and so did you. The West has no stomach for this fight.

The French are quietly freaking out, and you can see them putting up natalist policy everywhere.

Personally I think we are screwed regardless. I’m down to hope as well.

[Stegall Tx]

[Mark Steyn] has just published, in Canada’s Western Standard, his very first column dealing directly with immigration.

While not dealing exclusively with Islamic immigration, Mr. Steyn has previously covered the topic of immigration.

So, does this guy believe he can wave a magic wand and all the Muslims who are already in Canada will disappear?

[hershey]

Prayer works. (See Fatima/Russia, and the Virgin Mary). Load and lock, keep dems from office, and at the same time pray for the conversion of Muslims.

[Eclectica]

Still others sneak across borders. It only takes a relative handfull to create havoc.

So what happens when a million other Muslims sense the "Big Mo"?

[AIM-54]

Mark Steyn is telling it like it is. He did not set out to tell anyone how it should be. His primary goal is to wake people up to reality - and not to pontificate about how to achieve a vision of utopia.

If you followed Mark Steyn at all with any degree of seriousness it would be very obvious to you that Mr. Steyn is no advocate of surrender. He stands on very solid ground.

It’s the author of this article who misses the point - By a country mile.

[kellynla]

I highly recommend “America Alone.”
It’s an interesting and easy read...you can probably knock it out in a day!

[Democratshavenobrains]

Even the most conservative Republican President in the country would be powerless to stop Muslim immigration.

[kellynla]

“Even the most conservative Republican President in the country would be powerless to stop Muslim immigration?”

oooooh reeeeeeeely...
well let me inform you that after the next muzzie terrorist bombing in America...you won’t be able to PAY the muzzies in this country to stay here!!! Or have you forgotten what the Japanese in America went through after Pearl Harbor.

[okie01]

Y'know, I've never had the same problem understanding Steyn's views that Lawrence Auster apparently has.

It follows that I don't understand what Auster's problem is.

[ExpandNATO]

Auster's problem with Steyn is that Steyn will write something like:

But that's the reality: the Canada of tomorrow will be built by who shows up. For the sake of multicultural virtue, we decided to outsource the future.

Then instead of recommending some concrete step like ending immigration, Steyn will write, "Nothing much to do about it now except hope the gamble pays off."

So how is Auster's conclusion about Steyn wrong?

Thus Steyn's real message is not the conservative message of defending and restoring one's threatened civilization; it is the liberal message of surrendering to the destruction of one's civilization.

[gcruse]

“have you forgotten what the Japanese in America went through after Pearl Harbor.”

Of course we remember, which practically guarantees it won’t happen again.

[kellynla]

“Of course we remember, which practically guarantees it won’t happen again.”

yeaaaaaaaa well you can take that pc crap over to the DU
‘cause one more muzzie terrorist bombing in America and every muslim swingin’ dick will have to pack up his koran and family and go back to whatever hellhole that he originated from.

Our ancestors didn’t risk life & limb to come to this country just so a bunch of camel jockeys could come here, terrorize our women & children and make hamburger out of our families!

[gcruse]

Won’t happen, Marvin. America lacks the cajones to even save herself. But don’t feel bad. The rest of Western Civ isn’t any better. Oh, and I was a freeper long before you and will be one long after, so you can take your DU insult with you.

[kellynla]

ooohhhh it will happen...with or without you...oldtimer! LMAO

[okie01]

Thus Steyn's real message is not the conservative message of defending and restoring one's threatened civilization; it is the liberal message of surrendering to the destruction of one's civilization.

Not at all. Steyn is clearly indulging in irony. He's inviting the reader to come to his own conclusion and realize that what's happening now ain't gonna work out well.

Auster is apparently too thick to recognize it.

[ExpandNATO]

Steyn is clearly indulging in irony.

If its so clear, please point out what should clue in Auster to Steyn's irony.

Auster is apparently too thick to recognize it.

So according to you, Auster is not intelligent enough to see the emperor's new clothes.

[okie01]

So according to you, Auster is not intelligent enough to see the emperor's new clothes.

I wouldn't know about that. But he's evidently not intelligent enough to recognize Steyn's irony -- at least in this particular case.

In no way is Steyn proposing that things be allowed to continue on their current course. Instead, he is engaged in convincing his readers that a.) there is an immigration problem and b.) if things are allowed to continue on their current course, the nature of Canada will change.

Before a solution can emerge, you must first convince the public that there is a problem. The most effective form of persuasion is to allow the reader to arrive at the desired conclusion on his own.

Auster is evidently not of this school.