Secularists often look at the relatively conservative American culture and their hearts fill with disillusionment. But we also look at Europe’s open and irreligious societies and we see light at the end of the tunnel. If it happened in Europe, the U.S. will eventually follow. Unfortunately, liberals, with their unabashed acceptance and tolerance, may be to the detriment of European progress. The influx of unassimilated Muslim immigrants to Europe is slowly becoming a hurdle in the way of European social progress. Make no mistake, I’m not anti-immigration. I myself am an immigrant, and I believe diversity enriches and strengthens all cultures. But if in the name of tolerance we must compromise our principles, then tolerance be damned. If backwardness is the price of diversity, then the price is too high. Experts lament the rise of right-wing nationalist groups in Europe. But the development is not surprising. The backlash against leftist governments is partly a product of the economic recession. But economy serves more to explain the rise of right-of-center conservatives and less the emergence of radical nationalists.
The murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, the violent uprisings over Danish cartoons, attacks on Jewish places of worship in France, and countless other incidents are well known to most readers. But these are not isolated events. After the expulsion of European colonial powers from the Muslim world, a large number of Muslims migrated to Europe. That was in a time when Islamic fundamentalism was rare, and Muslims were generally moderate and largely indifferent. Those Arabs and Muslims assimilated into the Western culture and became and integral part of its development. Not many would consider Albert Camus, the great French philosopher, a non-Western foreigner, despite being of Arab descent. But many of the recent Muslim immigrants to Europe care not for existentialism or secularism. They viciously attack Western ideals as immoral and seek to undermine European laws and enforce theirs.
In the most striking example of things to come, British government, a year ago, sanctioned the use of Sharia Law courts in civil matters such as inheritance and divorce. In case the reader is not familiar with Islamic Law on the matter; a man divorces his wife for any reason simply by uttering the words “you’re divorced.” In matters of inheritance, a man receives twice the share of a woman. We must keep in mind that Muslims make up a small minority of European population. With the current birthrate of Europeans compared to that of Muslims, it won’t be long before Muslims form a sizable portion of the population. Let’s hope for a major transformation in Muslim mentality before that day comes.
Meanwhile, Europe would be wise to follow Danish and Norwegian restrictions on immigration. With time and effort, European Muslims should adopt European norms and customs. If Europe keeps its relaxed immigration policies, and if immigrant ghettos like ones in Paris continue to grow, then I fear the outcome will be most saddening.
Comments
Albert Camus was not an Arab. He was born in what was once French Algeria, but his parents were ethnically French colonists. To tell the truth, there are not many Arabs in Europe who have contributed to the society there. They have to claim people like Camus as their own because their own achievements are so small.
MaryJ, thank you for your correction. One of the problems with "citizen journalism" sites such as this one is that you're without the help of editors and fact-checkers. I've always thought Camus was an Arab. Now I know better. :)
Muslims are told by their Koran to terrorize non-Muslims. That is what they are doing now. Muslims are the most close-minded people in the world. Their Koran reeks of terrorist thoughts, yes Muslims denied that.
bring on sharia law, baby!!!!
Omar
You should check out fertility rates. Anti islamic trashy propaganda create stories like Paris and Amsterdam being majority muslim in a few generations.
The reality is that fertility rates in the North African countries is converging on those of western Europe at top speed. Also the major inflow of immigrants was a long time ago in the booming 60s and 70s (1 million in 1 year in France). It is mainly about family reunification now and even this is being more curtailed.
Dont believe the population explosion Myth. Its total garbage.
Glad to see an ex Muslim Atheist.
Nairb, fertility rates for Muslims has decreased in the past 20 years. It is still significantly higher than those of native Europeans (for an example 2.9 in Holland for those of Moroccan origin, compared to 1.7 for natives).
Keep in mind that I never said Muslims will become a majority in Europe. I said that their already felt negative religious influence is bound to increase with their numbers. If 4% can push the push British government into allowing backward laws in the name of tolerance, imagine what 10% can do. It should be noted that I mentioned the mass immigrations of the mid 20th century. But those Muslims were generally far less religious than today's polarized Muslim youth.
I have put links to your eXaminer pages onto my pages at nowscape.c0m
nowscape.c0m/mormon/news-index.htm
nowscape.c0m/atheist0.htm
nowscape.c0m/atheism/brunch/index.html
nowscape.com/islam/index.htm
I also added eXaminer 's Trina Haoks.
I stole one of your pictures (BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT ISLAM) and pasted it into one of my Islam pages; let me know if it's not OK and I'll remove it
The picture is not mine. It is widely available all over the internet. Thank you for linking to my page.
Omar, we miss you at the brunches; where are you these days?
Omar said :
" (for an example 2.9 in Holland for those of Moroccan origin, compared to 1.7 for natives)."
In Morocco and Algeria the projected fertility is the same as France as a whole. And French Fertility is going up. As a result The Fertility differential has almost no impact.
Omar said : "If 4% can push the push British government into allowing backward laws in the name of tolerance, imagine what 10% can do."
It is the british legal system that workls like that anyway not the extraordinary influence of 4% of the vote. British Law allows for arbitration in the case of Civil Law cases. This is how bothe Jewish and Muslim "arbitration" courts have been established.They are not Laws as any arbitration can be cahallenged in Britrish Law.
Arbitration is not allowed in the domain of Civil proceedings inany other european country.
So the argument that a small % has some disproprtional wight in politics is not valid.
I am always embarrassed when Muslims take such actions as to interfere with a country's politics to their gain and country's detriment. If you are an immigrant and owe it to the host country to have allowed you in and provide opportunity for progress, and you owe your livelihood to the country, then be grateful and do your part in paying back as much as you can to the society. This is what correct Islamic teaching is. Pay in the same coin if not more. Be thankful to your benefactors. There is no excuse for this ungratefulness.
In the US, however, the scenery is a bit different. Muslims who have immigrated here are mostly educated and have assimilated well. For the time being, US is not faced with the same problem.
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