Monday, July 18, 2005
A reader was so aggravated by the Boston Globe's call for European appeasement (Do they really need encouragement on that count? See: The Boston Globe's Solution -- Surrender and Appease.), they have written a letter to the paper which I have reproduced here with permission. Wonder if they'll print it.
I'm writing about the Sunday (July 17) Boston Globe's editorial "Europe's Culture Clash. Many European countries are facing serious issues with their immigrant populations, but I believe that the problem stems from NOT requiring assimilation of the immigrants. In the name of multicultural tolerance, European countries have allowed ghettos of largely Muslim immigrants to form in major cities, and it's been disastrous for the immigrants and natives alike. Of course these countries want immigrants to adopt their European values. Why would any country want people who don't share their values?
Regarding France's ban on veils in public schools, I suggest the editor read the article "Taking the Veil" by Jane Kramer (November 22, 2004 New Yorker). It's a complicated issue and France was trying to maintain a neutral space in its public schools. Is the editor aware that many French Muslim women supported this ban? There are enormous pressures put upon young women by male family members to wear hijab. Young Muslim women have been attacked and gang-raped for going out unveiled.
Finally, I am at a loss to understand why the Globe is so cavalier about Europe needing to "honor the Islamic ideal of religion as a way of life unifying the private and communal realms." The Globe regularly criticizes the "Religious Right" for trying to impose their values on the U.S., but apparently feels that religious Muslims should be encouraged to do so in Europe. Why the double standard here?
Sincerely...
Nope, they didn't publish my letter. C'est la vie. They did publish the following letter in the Sunday, July 24 paper, which is quite critical:
"I was both confused and dismayed by your editorial arguing for accommodation in Europe with its potentially Muslim majority (''Europe's culture clash," July 17). If the Europeans are to give up on their enlightenment values because a population hostile to it now resides in its midst, why not then tell your readers to give up on our own enlightenment liberal values because populations hostile to them are now in the ascendancy in this country?
If our values are to be ruled by demography, then forget about fighting for a Supreme Court nominee who upholds liberal principles. The demographers tell us the fundamentalists of all stripes have more children than the rest of us, and in many parts of the country constitute a majority.
Europe needs to fight for its liberal ideals that stem from the enlightenment. Demanding that those who would come to live there share these principles is one way of ensuring their survival. Limiting immigration would be another. If Europe must have immigrants, it can always tap other non-Muslim overpopulated regions of the globe such as China and South America.
Giving in to Muslim populations who wish to spread their intolerant version of their religion to Europe is the last thing the continent needs to do."
Got that right. I take issue with the implied equivalence between Muslim fundamentalists in Euorpe and Christian fundamentalists in the US. Hardly the same threat. Other than that, that letter writer nailed it.
Yeah, it's a good letter. I think the comparison shows the Globe's hypocrisy while keeping it vague enough that they would print it.
Oh well, keep writing!