The Dutch Left changes its tune on integration and tolerance
December 31, 2008 6:48 pm Culture, Islam and the Westhttp://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/29/europe/politicus.php
From the International Herald Tribune
“But there was a difference. If judged on the standard scale of caution in dealing with cultural clashes and Muslims’ obligations to their new homes in Europe, the language of the Dutch position paper and Lilianne Ploumen, Labor’s chairperson, was exceptional.
The paper said: “The mistake we can never repeat is stifling criticism of cultures and religions for reasons of tolerance.”
“Government and politicians had too long failed to acknowledge the feelings of “loss and estrangement” felt by Dutch society facing parallel communities that disregard its language, laws and customs.
“Newcomers, according to Ploumen, must avoid “self-designated victimization.”
About time! Mark Steyn was right. In America Alone he argued that there were many places in Europe that would not be there in 30 years; they would have disappeared into Islamdom. The Dutch are going to lead the way for other Europeans in resisting this; they have a great deal of error to recover from.
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Dalwhinnie
Marc :
Date: January 1, 2009 @ 7:10 AM
Coming from the left, it is indeed surprising. Let’s wait and see if this shift in policy translates into concrete actions or if it’s just window dressing for the European Parliament elections in June.
duggan's dew :
Date: January 1, 2009 @ 8:20 AM
It should be no surprise to see this position paper come from the Left because they are the ones most betrayed and duped by the promises of multiculturalism. It has simply taken the Dutch Left some time to find a form of words for what they have been feeling for many years – they face an existential threat. The enemy in their midst will not allow them to remain Dutch. Everyone, left and right, faces murder, death threats and physical violence if they violate new and externally imposed rules.
This quote is not metaphorical: “The street is mine, too. I don’t want to walk away if they’re standing in my path.” Like some US ghetto, those words say, like some Third World slum, that person is physically at risk, simply walking in their own country. Think what that means to a Leftist. Their values and hopes and dreams – their love – will not save them from curses and spit, fists and boots. In the minds of the foe, they are indistinguishable.
Vinocur’s treatment of the story is tentative. He has no clear political line. He cannot take a tone of genteel disdain because after all, he is writing about the European Left. (Do I even need to throw in, ‘If it had been a position paper from the Right …’?)
One thing is clear – nobody edits Herald-Trib stuff before it goes to the Web.
Marc :
Date: January 1, 2009 @ 5:36 PM
I’m not really surprised the left feels and thinks this. I would suggest a majority of Europeans are starting to feel this way. What surprises me is that they actually admit it. Multiculturalism is one of the pillars of leftist social engineering ideology and for the them to openly start questioning that is amazing. There may be hope.
Kralizec :
Date: January 2, 2009 @ 12:34 AM
It’s too little, too late, I trust. The Dutch will yet serve as an example for everyone else in the West.
TdotTim :
Date: January 2, 2009 @ 9:25 AM
I hope this will be followed with action, but I had a feeling that the Dutch might be one of the first countries to resist the culturally suicidal path that most of Europe is currently on. For the most part Europe’s problems, if tackled now, can be solved without bloodshed. But wait another 10 years before doing anything, and I think most Euro countries will then have 2 choices…surrender…or try and stand up for their own fading culture…which by then may get ugly.
Steynian 303 « Free Canuckistan! :
Date: January 2, 2009 @ 3:33 PM
[...] BARREL STRENGTH– “Mark Steyn was right” …. [...]
Steynian 303 :
Date: January 3, 2009 @ 1:12 AM
[...] BARREL STRENGTH– “Mark Steyn was right” …. [...]
Haliburton :
Date: January 3, 2009 @ 2:46 PM
Mark Steyn is, of course, always right1
Steynian 304 « Free Canuckistan! :
Date: January 5, 2009 @ 3:13 PM
[...] STEYN READER OF THE DAY: GARY H JOHNSON, JR– “The charisma of moral indignation such as that exhibited by Mark Steyn has no staying [...]
Gary H. Johnson, Jr. :
Date: January 6, 2009 @ 5:05 PM
Just to clarify…this is my statement on Steyn in at least a paragraph of contex…
“Without bridging the intellectual world and the street, the charisma of moral indignation such as that exhibited by Mark Steyn has no staying power. Think about it, when Steyn speaks to the subject on the tele, all of us can’t help but laugh at his completely reasonable take when seen alongside the tragic absurdity of the trials and deadly hiccups of this, our, age of the bully. After staring at the stark reality through his prism, what is left, but to flip the channel, and wonder which community around the world is going to spawn the next Muhammad that will get hot for jihad?”