New Dutch; Old Dutch

Submitted by Fay Voshell (United States), Jan 1, 2009 at 09:19

There will be no integration of Muslims into the Dutch culture, for the battle is not a matter of superficial changes such as the removal of head scarves, but of deep, irreconcilable spiritual conflict.

The Dutch are largely secularized. For secularists, religion ( including Christianity, which once was the prevailing belief system in Holland) is a relic from the past. Dutch secularists adamantly oppose all the basic tenets of the Muslim faith such as the existence of God, the revelatory character of the Koran and the unique status of Muhammed the prophet. They also repudiate of all of Islam's basic moral code, accepting prostitution, pornography, and homosexuality--all of which are anathema to Muslims. To top it off, secularists even repudiate the values of other "people of the book," such as devout Jews and Christians.

So it is no surprise that the new Muslim Dutch adamantly oppose secular beliefs as intrinsically hostile to all they believe in. No one should wonder over the fact that the secularist Dutch way of life is a stench in the nostrils of Muslim immigrants, even among those who might willingly be moderate. No one should be surprised Muslims cling to their enclaves and refuse to assimilate. Indeed, devout Jews were inclined do the same not so long ago before they themselves were largely secularized.

All of the above is not meant to excuse the criminal behavior of radical Islamists who have taken advantage of a largely tolerant Dutch culture to permeate Muslim enclaves with the intent of making them virtually autonomous countries within a country. It also is not to say that actions which mirror those of Hamas and Hezbollah should be tolerated.

But if anyone thinks Muslims will lay down their distinct religious beliefs and customs to become Dutch secularists, they are deluded. It just isn't going to happen.

Fay Voshell

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