Reply to 'always right'

Submitted by KW (Denmark), Nov 16, 2006 at 17:45

The incompatibility of Islam and modern civilisation is becoming apparent to many, which is why anti-immigration political parties are growing in power across much of Europe. One of the best examples is the Dansk Folkeparti (Danish People's Party) in Denmark, which supports the current Danish government (centre-right), but also strongly supports the welfare state (because it has absolutely nothing to do with the Islamic threat, despite the strange ideas of Mark Steyn). Similar parties exist in many other European countries, and are succeeding to greater or lesser degrees.

Denmark is a very small country, but the Danish government supported the UK and USA in invading Iraq (as did several other countries in Europe), and refused to give in to Muslim demands when a Danish newspaper (Jyllands-Posten) printed cartoons of Muhammed. Some politicians and newspapers elsewhere in Europe showed solidarity in supporting free speech, but not one American newspaper printed the cartoons. Well-known American politicians like Bill Clinton even took the side of radical Muslims, in condemning the exercise of free speech in Denmark.

Some of Europe is still sleep-walking towards an Islamic death, but not all. Parts of Europe are perhaps more awake today than even the USA (I'd say more the small countries than the large, because smaller countries are under greater threat), and I think it's only a matter of time before the rest of the continent wakes up.

The biggest problem is the memory of the horrible crimes committed against Jews during the Second World War, and the fear that criticism of Islam could lead to similar extremism. The situations are quite different, because Islam is a real threat, and not merely a scapegoat for militaristic demagogues, but you must understand how badly the Nazi crimes have stained history to understand why this fear of criticising a minority exists.

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