Are we becoming second class citizens?

Submitted by Gabriel Grosso (United Kingdom), Jan 30, 2003 at 18:47

I spent 3 weeks in Canada when I was 19 years-old and I had a great time there: it was such a free country! From Daniel Pipes's experience, I learn that Canada (and North America) is no longer the free society I visited when I was 19.

However, Britain and France are not doing any better than Canada. If a pro-Israel accademic visited Britain or France, she/he would come accross intolerance and violence.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OTHER READERS: ARE WE BECOMING SECOND CLASS CITIZENS? Britain, France, Canada etc. used to be free countries. We could discuss just about everything. But now, Britain and France are probably the most restrictive countries when it comes to debating Militant Islam.

However, you guys in North America are not doing much better!

Why has Militant Islam became such a taboo subject on both sides of the Atlantic? In Britain-and more so in France- people are afraid of retribution from Muslim Extremists. I respect non-totalitarian Muslims and I respect traditional Islam. But how did we get to this point? I thought that North America was doing better than we were....and then look at what happened in York. Metal detectors? Are we prisoners in our own countries? The speaker had to use a back door? I get the impression that we are becoming Canadian, British and French "Dhimmis" as opposed to Canadian, British and French citizens.

I don't hate ordinary Muslims and I cannot stress this enough. However, the extremists should be kept away from the campus. Not so long ago we were free to discuss any subject and now we fear for our own safety. There must be a way to ban those hooligans from campuses. Or are we already second class citizens?

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".