An Intriguing Article
Diana West wrote a very interesting piece called, 'The Emerging 'Eurabia', in which she discusses a less than thorough article's coincidental publishing in the New York Times on the same day as the release of the book Eurabia by Bat Ye'or -- an Egpytian-born historian who, with her new book, does her best to explain the behavior of Old Europe and the Arabs by shedding light on the entity known as the Euro-Arab Dialogue.
Created 30-odd years ago at the instigation of France and the Arab League, the practically unknown EAD has provided structural and theoretical underpinnings to a Euro-Arab axis - Eurabia. These have fostered the political, economic and cultural bonds between Europe and the Arab world that Bat Ye'or maintains were designed to create "a global alternative to American power."
Well. If that's not scary... West goes on to talk about a meeting of Euro-Arab minds on various things, like the Arab League war on Israel (shocker, isn't it!), an exchange of free flowing Arab oil into Europe (shocker, isn't it!), which would come about by Muslim immigration into Europe, etc....and hostility towards America.
This goes a long way toward explaining the behavior of Old Europe "the heart of Eurabia" since September 11. It also leaves a question hanging when the New York Times pegs Muslim immigration into Europe to a simple "postwar labor shortage": Is that really all the news that's fit to print?
West makes her points, with a bit of sarcasm to boot (which I always appreciate):
Then Mr. Smith interviews a Belgian Muslim whose son faces terror charges in Turkey for killing 61 people in a 2003 bombing, and who calls the September 11 attacks "a poetic act." In his, I suppose, "left-leaning" way, terror-dad "dismisses the far right's fears of an Islamization of Europe, even if he does dream of an Islamic theocracy governing the continent someday." Mr. Smith's conclusion? "In many ways, radical Islamists" " such as terror-dad " are holding Europe's broader, moderate Muslim population hostage, attracting attention disproportionate to their numbers."
I say the reporter is holding the New York Times' broader, moderate readership hostage. The facts shall set you free in Bat Ye'or's "Eurabia."
It's an interesting article, and I'm willing to bet -- a pretty interesting book.
posted by Esther @ 7:15 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
For a time I foolishly thought that Oriana Fallaci had coined the term 'Eurabia', because she does such a great job at describing its dangers and the reality of Muslim immigration.
The latest issue the Muslim communities have raised in Italy is the public school lunch- they want halal meat. While they may have a point there, the Italians are not too excited about the idea of preparing diversified lunches (kids don't bring lunch from home).
Is it causing quite an uproar? I bet that's not easy to make happen. Do you think they'll succeed?
The political parties are split on this, the initial responses were 1.It's wrong stress the differences between our children, they must grow up under the same umbrella and form an integrated society
2.We can't force a Muslim child to eat prosciutto, that's how they reasoned in the Soviet Union
3.we'll have to see if it's economicaly applicable
etc etc.
This is happening only in milan so far.The spokesman for the Jewish community there said that there's nothing wrong with keeping a single menu, as long as it doesn't offend anyone and still stays healthy. Like substituting prosciutto with fish, etc.
Sorry to hijack your comments section :)
Last year or the year before the Muslims asked for separate religion classes, I don't think that wish was granted.
Hijack away -- I find it very interesting, so no worries! Separate religion classes at school....isn't that what the Mosque is for?
Do you really think Chirac is capable of brainstorming this?
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