While Europe Slept
April 13, 2008
As you may have noticed, it has been a few days since I’ve posted. I’ve been reading a book entitled “While Europe Slept”: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West From Within.” Author Bruce Bawer, a gay American who lived for many Europe in several Western European countries, paints a stark picture of the problem in Europe right now of Muslim immigrants who, rather than being encouraged/forced to integrate into society (as are American immigrants), are encouraged to keep their own cultures, identities, and customs. The result has been an increasing divide between native Europeans and immigrant Muslims.
Because of many European countries subsidization of mosque and religious schools, and they unwillingness to appear intolerant, it appears to me that Fundamentals has become quite prominent. It appears that an increasing numbers of those Muslims who are immigrating are becoming radicalized, or, at the very least, hostile towards their new host countries. Fear of being intolerant has kept the authorities from becoming involved with issues such as forced marriages, honor killings, spousal abuse and rape, Antisemitism and gay bashing.
It is disturbing to read anecdotes of students harassing their teachers for being homosexual, and principals instructing Jewish students not to display Stars of David for fear of being “inciteful.” The statistics on the recent rise in many European countries in rape, murder, and crime are alarming.
I’m unsure how accurate the portrait painted of fundamentalist Islam in Europe is. I’ve never been to Europe, so it is difficult for me to tell. I do know that the US, for all its problems (see President Bush), would never stand by idly as its citizens were forced into marriages, raped, beaten, or denied basic human rights. Just this week the US raided a fundamentalist Mormon camp accused of such things.
However, what I hear over and over again in this fascinating book, and what I have read on dozens of blogs (which are, admittedly, not the best source of information), is that, in many European countries, the police and authorities are much less helpful than the US police and authorities with respect to standing up for those who are being bullied, beaten, or abused.
Given that I cannot go to Europe for at least another year (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), and that I know there are many Europeans readers of this blog, I am curious for your insights with relation to the accuracy of this book and the claims it makes.
P.S. I know that the US is not perfect, gay bashing and anti-Antisemitism have not been eradicated, the KKK still exists, and our President has repeatedly authorized the issue of torture.
I’ve read the book as well, and even if only HALF of what is written in that book is actually true then there are some serious problems.
The part of the book that stuck out the most to me is the reported resistance among native Europeans to the integration of the new immigrants. There was the case of an immigrant to Norway was told he couldn’t be Norwegian, that he shouldn’t try, that he should just identify as a Muslim and not a citizen of his new home country, that absolutely shocked me.
In America it seems that a fair amount of anti-immigrant sentiment is focused on the seeming unwillingness of many new immigrants (especially laborers) to integrate. In Europe it appears that it could be the opposite.
I would also welcome a perspective from someone who lives in Europe. Although I do have family there, we tend to stay away from talking about politics with my grandparents.
from personal observation and talking to family and friends who live in europe (predominantly netherlands, denmark, france) i would say that integration doesn’t really happen and that Bruce Bawer’s comments would be accurate. the muslim community in paris alone is very distinct and separate you could practically draw a line between them and the french/assimilated french. from what i understand the conflict between cultures has escalated because of the initial refusal to integrate, such that the naturalized/citizens are turned off by the idea of these people to not want to welcome them to become integrated or “one of them”. kind of like a cycle.
i remember a story my friend’s girlfriend (danish) told me examples about how muslims in her country would set fire to mosques to draw the fire dept in. then when the fire trucks came to put out the fire, they would start attacking them. she said ambulances can’t go into certain neighborhoods without a police escort because when the paramedics try to tend to the injured they have rocks thrown at them when they’re the ones who called them in the first place!!! it’s just absolutely irrational. why would anyone behave that way in their own (ethnic) community, not to mention host country?? the reaction of course is going to be strong but yet they still give these people stipends, welfare, social benefits etc when many of them choose to not participate or contribute in society. it just doesn’ make any sense that europe has allowed this to continue for so long, and it’s a lesson to the u.s. as we face assimilation issues, too.
What doesnt make sense to me, if these things are true, why are these people going to Europe in the first place? Is it just for the government benefits?
Government benefits in Europe for immigrants are sufficient not only for them to have a nice home in Europe than their native country, but to also own a second home in their native country that is nicer than they could otherwise afford. The stupidity of the European governments in this respect is monumental. It was not until 2005 that Britain made it illegal to train terrorists on British soil. The Netherlands heavily subsidized mosques and fundamentalism religious schools both at home AND abroad. Essentially what is happening in Europe is that fundamentalism, radicals and thugs are becoming dominant within the Muslim community because they are rewarded by their government’s policies of appeasement. From the police, to the bureaucrats, to the school administrators, to the politicians, appeasement of bullying is viewed as the best police.
What appalled me the most in reading this book, was the extent to which the bystander effect is in effect. Their were numerous anecdotes of Jews, gays, and those who were willing to stand up to for free speech being beaten, threatened, or murdered in front of crowds of people who stood by and did nothing. One of the murders stabbed a woman 26 times in a mall, yet managed to get away. The author’s husband was attacked by a Muslim adult man in a crowded subway station, and no one jumped to his aide, or even called the police. When he reported the crime, the Muslim man accused him of starting the fight, and no witnesses were willing to come forward on the husband’s behalf.
Wow, thats aweful Andy! That reminds me of an incident that happened when I was on a bus in Amsterdam. I sat down next to a girl who appreaded to be Middle Eastern, and she started to curse at me in Dutch, cause I think she was saving the seat for a friend. No one on the bus said anything. I felt so freaked out, mostly becuase I could’nt understand what she was saying.
While all of this is definitely true and incredibly scary, what worries me even more is that it will lead to more us-them thinking on everyone’s part. We already have so many problems in painting Muslims with a broad brush when, in fact, there are many Muslim people who do not condone behavior like this.
Minorities are better off when both they and the host culture are expected to flex toward one another. Host cultures should never go out of the way to preserve outright the cultures of those who choose to join them. Instead, people should be free to hold on to traditional values while becoming full participants in the majority culture.
Marginalization leads to the kind of disarray we are seeing in Europe, and it’s as bad — if not worse — for the minorities as it is for the host society.
teresa: i think you’re being generous in your description about the minorities who choose to marginalize themselves while apparently capitalizing heavily on the kindness of their host nations. the term “host nation” itself is revealing. immigrants aren’t ‘guests’, otherwise they’d be tourists. immigrants should make an effort to integrate into their new, chosen home.
i would really like to see a greater effort by moderate muslims to condemn the sort of radical behaviors that are perpetrated. it’s everyone’s responsibility to try to eradicate this, but i feel it’s especially crucial that those in the muslim community to stomp this out of their own religion.
Deb, my understanding of what’s going on in these Muslim communities, is that they exist to a significant degree outside of the laws of their host nations. As a result, bullying and intimidation within the community are rampant, making it much more difficult for Muslim’s privately opposed to terrorism, theocracy, sharia law, or the destruction of free speech and liberal values, to be publicly and outspokenly opposed to those things. I’m not excusing the lack of condemnation by moderate muslim of the radical actions, but I don’t believe moderate Muslims will begin to step up and take control of their communities if they don’t feel that their governments will protect and support them for doing so.
Bruce Bawer, the author, suggests that, unless a Winston Churchill-esque figures arises who convinces Europeans of the importance of fighting for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, liberty, and human rights (particulary gay and women’s rights), than Europe will either be overtaken by virulently anti-Muslim neo-fascists who will deal with the rise in Islamism by killing or expelling all Muslims, or it will be overtaken by Muslim extremists.
I read Churchill’s speech again today, and I think it should be read regularly by all those who believe in freedom and liberty.
4 June 1940
“I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.
At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation.
The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.
Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”
andy:
i don’t question the intimidation that occurs in these communities–as a woman in particular the news stories are incredibly frightening. however, it is still important to note that unless there is some struggle within the community, no one outside of it is going to be inspired to help. otherwise, they (outsiders) will assume that no one cares, and why help those who won’t help themselves? it sounds callous, but i think it’s true.
also, there are moderate muslims and muslim community leaders the world over who don’t live in intimidation who can help speak out against this and help others in these extreme communities that essentially bastardize their religion.
whether or not it’s necessary, i think it’s irresponsible to wait for some churchill-esque figure to come rescue europe. europeans already enjoy the freedoms you listed, the people need to wake up themselves and protect them. they already know that this is what must be done, they’re just complacent–which is how many people are until something devastating enough smacks them over the head.
Having read this book, it is frightening to see the passive nature of some of the gov’ts in Western Europe. Truly sad that they are catering to different culture based on fear, and bigotry other than the native one to the land. The fanatical muslims are at war with our society and by turning a blind eye to it, won’t make that fact disappear actually they depend on it and work it as well. The treatment of Jews in Europe has had a poor past in some countries, and seems again to be getting worse. The European politicos that support Arab states, should maybe go live there for a year, and try to exercise freedom of expression and rights and see how life would be, no freedom of rights for women, religion, and of opinions, doesn’t religion mean understanding, love, and respect for others. There is only democratic country in the Middle East, why is that? Another question is why does China, Russia mainly support the wrong countries with the wrong agenda’s and some of the other Western European states do the same and only harm themselves. Is just the supply of energy everything, forget about the ethics behind what is right and wrong and standing up for principles not important . People have to open their eyes before it is to late, or maybe it is already. The next few years, potentially things could get way out of control. At least the British in that particular region have the balls to stand up and say what they think, and fight for our western society and christian values. At that I don’t necessary mean right wing christian values, just the morales that our society was and should be based on. Those values are not perfect but I would most definitely take them over some of the alternatives on offer.