Present Laughter
Attempted bombing raises fears about al-Qaeda in Yemen
That is one of many headlines round the world today following the "incident" aboard Northwest flight 253 approaching Detroit.But it hardly begins to cover the depth of the problem, does it?
What about Denmark, Holland, London?
Chattanooga for all we know.
In recent weeks, I have read two major articles and watched one video all with the same theme - the "Islamification" of Europe.
Did you know that there are now more mosques in London, England than churches?
That the largest mosque in the world in being built in London?
Denmark and the Netherlands, deservedly known for decades as open and tolerant and inviting countries are reversing long-standing government policies of inclusion and diversity.
Why?
Because Muslims have moved into those countries in huge numbers, eating up welfare payments and health benefits.
Women in tents dominate the city streetscapes.
Gays and Jews are routinely beat up.
Mohammed is the most popular boy's name in Malmo, Sweden.
It is unsettling to say the least to listen to myself, a squishy liberal, tarnishing entire peoples with a single brush, fearful of people because of their appearance or their name or their professed religious beliefs.
But that is where I am on this sorry date.
Denmark has now declared that immigrants must study Danish history and social customs and live (somehow) by Danish social mores.
Good luck.
At least eight years ago, a dear friend of mine who lives in Europe told me this:
"Judaism can be seen as a Religion of Laws. Christianity a religion of Forgiveness & Compassion. Islam is a religion of the sword. Beware the future."
Well, the future is here.
The 19 who perpetrated 9/11 and Mr. Abdulmutallab who was dragged off that plane in Detroit are mere signals.
They have already seriously altered how we do business and how we travel and how we live.
I am not worried about al-Qaeda in Yemen, although I probably should be.
I am worried about the radicalized lunatic exchange student(s) at SFU.
And I am worried about flying to Italy to see old friends and more cathedrals and paintings.
Good luck to us all.
11 comments:
David: I too am worried about a radicalized Islam, however, I believe that these radicals are a minority among Muslims, a minority, sadly, that is fast destabilizing the entire world. I have traveled to Pakistan a number of times, although not recently and certainly not since suicide bombers became a sometimes daily occurrence, and the people I met were not radical, they were people living their lives with families and jobs and friends. Unfortunately Pakistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and this corruption at every level (government and military) has allowed Al Qaeda and the Taliban to gain footholds. I despair for the people I met and for family members that live there now and I truly fear for all of us because the radicals are patient and they are focused on their deranged beliefs that have nothing to do with poverty (or religion) but have everything to do with power. Real education (and not through madrassas) is what is necessary to begin to help Pakistanis move away from the terrorists amongst them. This will be a long time coming. I am reminded of the born-again Christians in the US and how their, in my opinion, extremist views do not represent in any way the educated Americans that I know – and while these Christians are not terrorists, there is a parallel there some where.
Mo.
David, I agree with EVERYTHING you said - 100 percent. More people NEED to say the same things. I'm so tired of all these so called 'liberal' Canadians spouting off about how Canada needs to be more tolerant and 'poor Muslims this' and 'poor Muslims that'. I fully support people to worship in any way they want to. What I don't support is people blowing up other humans in so called support of their religion. Until there is a major act of terrorism on Canadian soil, many, many, many Canadians will continue to keep their heads deep in the sand.
The British National Party seems to be attracting more supporters from the indigenous peoples of Britain.
The BNP's views against immigration may be considered extreme.
http://bnp.org.uk
Heck the 'radicals' of Islam can't even get along with their own people. The latest car bomb the Sunnis used to blow up the Shiites in Pakistan says a lot about what is happening with this religion. Trouble is the bombings in Spain and London along with the nasty riots in France, Denmark and Holland have cowed the Europeans to appeasement. Shades of Munich eh what?
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/08/23/what_israeli_security_could_teach_us/
I suppose I'm somewhat liberal too, but not when it comes to life and death situations. The referenced article focuses on the key distinction between Israeli security measures and those of other nations, including my own - chiefly the recognition that bad things don't hijack planes, bad people too. Profiling is exacting what the Israelis do much more than we and while that includes racial, ethnic and religious profiling, they are also looking for suspicious behaviour, dress, manners of speech and other body language. We are clueless.
Terrorism experts say that it's not a matter of "if" we will be the victims of suicide bombers attacking malls, restaurants and movie theatres, but rather a question of "when". Actually, initially they won't even have to be suicide bombers at all because of mind set in not yet where that would be necessary. What are the odds that a restaurant or mall would be immediately cleared if someone left an unattended back pack somewhere? Or would most of us innocently believe someone just forgot something while the perpetrator calmly walks a safe distance and detonates his gift by cell phone? In 1986 I arrived on a Jewish Federation trip to Israel. As the bus rolled into Tel Aviv there was an entire street blocked off because of an unattended "Kentucky Fried Chicken box or its equivalent". I can't see that happening here. At least not until lives had been lost.
As for your fears about the Islamification of Europe.. That process is well underway. More mosques than churches in England? Wow!!! I think we Jews were banned from England for about 400 years and were only invited back because Holland's tolerance toward its Jews gave them banking advantages because of Jews connections to their diaspora. I also understand that due to Moslem protests Holocaust courses were dropped from English schools. Is that true? I certainly believe the attempt was made. The actions of the Europeans may prove too little too late. Didn't Sarcozi (sp?) try to ban religious dress in France for the same reasons?
I've read that the Islamification of much of Europe will be complete within 20 years. You may stop immigration of Moslems, but don't they tend to have much larger families than traditional Europeans. If Moslems are already 20 percent of the French population, how long would it be before their natural population growth (immigration aside) grew them to the extent that they'd represent half the French population?
I believe Israel faces a similar demographic future just with regard to its own Arab population, those Arabs who are Israeli citizens and not part of the Gaza nor West Bank populations.
We've also heard down here that Canada has been likened to an aircraft carrier from which terrorists will be launched into the U.S. to carry out attacks (to wit the 2000 attempt to bomb LAX by a terrorist coming across the Canadian border). Of course, such terrorists may just decide to blow something up right there in Canada. I have to look up something that, I believe, Barry Goldwater said about one thing being no vice and another being no virtue and get back to you on that since it seems to fit here.
Gary Baker
recycling...now that's the kind of blinkered, knee-jerk, philistine, pig-ignorance (and somehow vaguely comic) kind of thinking I"m surprised to see from you. I wish I could grant you another 50 or so years, it's gonna be ok.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/08/23/what_israeli_security_could_teach_us/
I suppose I'm somewhat liberal too, but not when it comes to life and death situations. The referenced article focuses on the key distinction between Israeli security measures and those of other nations, including my own - chiefly the recognition that bad things don't hijack planes, bad people too. Profiling is exacting what the Israelis do much more than we and while that includes racial, ethnic and religious profiling, they are also looking for suspicious behaviour, dress, manners of speech and other body language. We are clueless.
Terrorism experts say that it's not a matter of "if" we will be the victims of suicide bombers attacking malls, restaurants and movie theatres, but rather a question of "when". Actually, initially they won't even have to be suicide bombers at all because of mind set in not yet where that would be necessary. What are the odds that a restaurant or mall would be immediately cleared if someone left an unattended back pack somewhere? Or would most of us innocently believe someone just forgot something while the perpetrator calmly walks a safe distance and detonates his gift by cell phone? In 1986 I arrived on a Jewish Federation trip to Israel. As the bus rolled into Tel Aviv there was an entire street blocked off because of an unattended "Kentucky Fried Chicken box or its equivalent". I can't see that happening here. At least not until lives had been lost.
As for your fears about the Islamification of Europe.. That process is well underway. More mosques than churches in England? Wow!!! I think we Jews were banned from England for about 400 years and were only invited back because Holland's tolerance toward its Jews gave them banking advantages because of Jews connections to their diaspora. I also understand that due to Moslem protests Holocaust courses were dropped from English schools. Is that true? I certainly believe the attempt was made. The actions of the Europeans may prove too little too late. Didn't Sarcozi (sp?) try to ban religious dress in France for the same reasons?
I've read that the Islamification of much of Europe will be complete within 20 years. You may stop immigration of Moslems, but don't they tend to have much larger families than traditional Europeans. If Moslems are already 20 percent of the French population, how long would it be before their natural population growth (immigration aside) grew them to the extent that they'd represent half the French population?
I believe Israel faces a similar demographic future just with regard to its own Arab population, those Arabs who are Israeli citizens and not part of the Gaza nor West Bank populations.
We've also heard down here that Canada has been likened to an aircraft carrier from which terrorists will be launched into the U.S. to carry out attacks (to wit the 2000 attempt to bomb LAX by a terrorist coming across the Canadian border). Of course, such terrorists may just decide to blow something up right there in Canada. I have to look up something that, I believe, Barry Goldwater said about one thing being no vice and another being no virtue and get back to you on that since it seems to fit here.
Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue. I believe Barry Goldwater said this during his unsuccessful 1964 bid for the American presidency, but he may have been quoting someone else. I'd replace "Extremism" with "Toughness".
Gary Baker
David, this is a very touchy feely topic so please excuse my being blunt.
Muslims have over run any part of the planet they have been allowed to.
Spain has done what Debnark wants to. Everyone speaks Spanish.
We are not learning from our mother countries mistakes. Look at London and fear for Vancouner.
Enough of the political correct.
Every Muslim getting on any plane in any country sshould be considered a risk.
Multi culturalism is a pathetic failure.
Its probably to late but maybe we can reverse the lunacy. Once again the day the US Cole was attacked I watched " Canadiaans" celebrate the death of the crew. Made me sick.
Totally agree with you on this one David...and until I see the Muslims in Canada taking their brethren to task for their actions here, and everywhere else in the world - I'd say they leave us no choice but to come the conclusion they're in it together. It's not something I want to believe, and haven't until recently. There comes a time when one has to stop giving the benefit of the doubt.
The evening after 9/11, I spoke with my then 22 year old daughter on the phone.
I said"the world will never again be the same".................
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