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Citizen
Username: Scubadiver
Post Number: 36
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 12:21 pm: | 
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This editorial entitled "Europe, Thy Name Is Cowardice," was written by Mathias Döpfner, CEO of the large German publishing firm Axel Springer, and published in the German periodical Die Welt on 20 November 2004. It blasts Europe for its timidity in confronting Islamic fanaticism.
A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe — your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.
Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.
Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman, suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.
Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and, even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.
Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance," now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.
Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U. N. Oil-for-Food program.
And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement. How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany.
I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists.
One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler, and declaring European "Peace in our time".
What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.
It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.
Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.
His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.
In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.
On the contrary, we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those "arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even Otto Schily justifiably criticizes.
Why?
Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass.
For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy, because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake — literally everything.
While we criticize the "capitalistic robber barons" of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation, or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to "Reach out to terrorists, to understand and forgive".
These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.
Appeasement? Europe, thy name is Cowardice. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 3069
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 12:34 pm: |
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Nice piece, but overly broad. Eastern Europe is being rather stand-up about all this. Brits too. Otherwise -- right on! |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 162
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 12:49 pm: |
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This is a fine piece of satire. Wait a moment - this guy is actually serious!!!!!!
"Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy" because none of that will ever hurt him, personally. He reminds me of Lord Farquard in Shrek, saying to his minions: "Some of you may die. But it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
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Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7456
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:03 pm: |
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For those of us who were adults during the 1980s and remember the period,Reagan took a huge gamble and won. It was not better than two to one that our economy would outlast the USSR's and his policies could have ended with a mutual chucking of warheads at each other. He won, so he is a hero and the victory was worth the chances taken.
The war on terror is also worth fighting. The issue a lot of us have is Iraq the correct battleground and is deposing a rather weak Saddam Hussein worth the lives and treasure it is costing us. |
Dr. Winston O'Boogie
Citizen
Username: Casey
Post Number: 1023
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:08 pm: |
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the author conveniently forgets that the "cowardly" Europeans have been fighting violent extremists on their own soil for decades. The IRA, the Red Brigade, Basque separatists, etc. have wrought havoc in Europe, and the governments and citizens there have been steadfast in dealing with terrorism. |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 313
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:43 pm: |
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I beg to differ, Dr. O'Boogie.
The only country that took a resolute stand against domestic terrorists was Great Britain.
To this day, the Spanish government coddles basque and catalan extremists with semi-autonomy, language concessions and quasi-governmental rights.
The red brigades murdered the Prime Minister (Aldo Moro) of Italy, among other acts of brutality. The Italian people regarded this as political theater. The Italian state did not take a strong stand against the BR until the eighties.
Hardly a steadfast stand. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 3070
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:43 pm: |
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Which of those fights have Europeans won decisively? IRA and Basques are still fighting. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 1:46 pm: |
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Europe is wrestling with something Americans have since our founding--how to merge immigrants into a distinct culture. The US has done pretty well at this--most cultures have assimilated into America over a few generations. Europe sucks at it--their Muslim and African populations remain isolated and outcast.
Let's face it, Europeans have been more or less racist when it comes to allowing minorities a real stake in the stability of society. There is a reason why Islamist terror recruiters are so active in European mosques--the second and third generation Muslims are totally disaffected and ripe for becoming assassins. Having a "Muslim Day" will not change that one whit. |
Dr. Winston O'Boogie
Citizen
Username: Casey
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 2:15 pm: |
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guess it depends how you define steadfast. since these organizations operate with their own borders, a military invasion doesn't make sense as a solution to violent extremism. but anyone who's ever been to Europe knows that security in public places there has always been several notches above what exists even today in the U.S.
it appears that the author is presenting a glib denunciation of all Europeans, and forgetting that people there have been and continue to live with a threat of political violence that exceeds the threat within the U.S. Their governments differ from ours in that they aren't looking for a military solution to terrorism. |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 314
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 7:46 pm: |
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Mark Fuhrman's point is very well taken. The U.S. dealt with it's minority problem, while the Europeans buried their heads in the sand.
And I don't want security in public places, I want the problem solved.
The author is far from glib. He makes a very good point. I do not want to live with terrorism, I want the problem solved, and if that involves military action, then so be it. We did not create this problem, no matter how much certain leftists say we did. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 1397
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 8:53 pm: |
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If the IRA could be subdued by force, the British would have done it long ago. Same thing for ETA and the Spanish.
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cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 3072
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 8:57 pm: |
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I read a book recently that said that the reason the US has survived, prospered and in the process incorporated immigrants successfully into the national fabric is because this country was founded upon an idea. It wasn't founded upon some piece of land or the primacy of some group. The strength of this country is that idea, not the diversity that flocked towards it. "Our strength is our diversity" is BS. Europe is getting more and more diverse, and just look at them. That idea is freedom, and by extension the power of the individual to pursue his happiness as he or she defines it within a set of laws guarding the liberty of everyone. The commercial out there that says "I am an American" says it all. No hyphens or qualifiers. They are American by virtue of buying into the idea of America and the republic for which it stands, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.
Please be seated. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1234
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - 9:59 pm: |
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Chris: Thanks for your nod, but I want to add that I do not believe that military force can solve the problem of integrating Europe in any way, shape, or form. The only way Europe will deal with its Islamic problem (and African problem) will be to stop going back to ways it treated its Jewish problem in the last century--no more ghettos and false membership in society. Have real integration socially and politically and economically, embracing the new blood while also keeping intact that which makes Europe, well, European. |
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