The Wide Awakes » The Rise of European Racism

2/25/2005

Over the past few years and certainly since 9/11, Europe has been steadily reverting to its sad history of racism. Yes I am speaking about the same Europe whose members of the left wish the United States to emulate. If that is their idea of a tolerant and open society, I say no thanks I will pass. But let’s first define racism so that we are all on the same page, there are many varying definitions but I happen to think the one below fit this discussion quite nicely.

Racism is prejudice or discrimination based on the belief that race is the primary factor determining human traits and abilities. Racism includes the belief that genetic or inherited differences produce the inherent superiority or inferiority of one race over another. In the name of protecting their race from “contamination,” some racists justify the domination and destruction of races they consider to be either superior or inferior. Institutional racism is racial prejudice supported by institutional power and authority used to the advantage of one race over others. Source

Let’s examine the recent history of several European countries. France is first up and while they have hated Americans since the end of World War II, in this study we don’t count. France passed a law last September barring hijab and all other religious insignia in state schools and now it has spread to the French Health Ministry. The directive provides for concealment of any religious symbol in hospitals to protect the secular nature of the staff. Hospitals are expected to be religious neutral so not to offend anyone. Now coupled with the ongoing attacks against Synagogues ( here, here, here and here.) that has spread across Europe, including France, a recent study that 69% of French citizens want a ban on all religious symbols in all state-run institutions, 66% want a ban in hospitals, and 53% want a ban in universities it is no surprise that the French led Europe in this new wave of racism. The French have become a soulless nation that fears even the nuns of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Please don’t mistake my defense of Muslims in this case for a blind eye to the rise of Islamofascists. Quite the contrary, it is policies like these in France, which has a large Muslim population, that help to create the terrorists of tomorrow. The EU’s report on French racism can be found here and it incredibly places the cause of the rise in anti-Semitism squarely on the shoulders of Israel, friends you have to read it to believe it. The French don’t even reserve their brand of racism for only Muslims or Jews; they are sooo very tolerant of gays and Asians. The first example is here in French and then translated here to English. The example of Asian intolerance can be found here.

Germany has quite a history of racism and while they are generally equal-opportunity racists, it seems that in the last few years they have confined themselves to having the Jews as their sole target. In this report from the EU agency tasked with finding ways to reduce racism, they have the documented a sharp increase of anti-Semitism across all of Europe. Here is a link to the German section which details events ranging from simple anti-Semitic slogans to planting explosives at a Jewish Community Centre. The Germans while encouraging Muslims to immigrate from countries such as Turkey for the past 20 years continue to label them as guest workers and deny them the basic tenets of German citizenship.

Italy’s record is not much better then Germany or France; they just limit their racism to the Jewish people. In fact in one example given by this report, documents the harassment of students because of a Jewish surname. Did the school discipline the students? No, the student’s father was summoned to the school and felt such a need to protect his children that he was compelled to swear that they were baptized. England seems to have the best record of Europe according to this report but even so there have been incidents of vandalism and arson at synagogues all over England. As with the French report, the Italian and English reports try to place the blame on Israel but that is nothing new. In late 2003 a survey was commissioned to find out what Europe thought of the Iraq war, and one of the questions asked was “what country do you feel is the biggest threat to world peace?” One might expect the top answer to be the United States, but this is where the racism of the everyday European shines. According to the survey here’s the top three: Israel 59%, Iran 53%, and North Korea 53%. The US came in fourth and ironically the EU itself was rated at an 8% threat to world peace. Once again the European fear of Muslim and Jewish people guided the people’s opinions.

So you say that it’s only a few Muslims being oppressed and that we can’t expect people in Europe to have the same religious freedom that we enjoy here in the United States, after all is that not why people left Europe to settle America? True I say but what about the suppression of Jews that has been building for many years in Europe? What does it say when we in the United States have sharply defined laws governing race and hate crimes? Or when Europe is told point blank that they need to follow our lead on how to integrate minorities without weakening the identities of immigrant groups? My friends it just goes to show that while we are not perfect here in the United States, we are a hell of a lot more tolerant then our cousins across the Atlantic Ocean and that is yet another reason why this is the greatest country on the planet. Consider the statement below and have a great weekend everyone.

“When they came for the gypsies, I did not speak, for I am not a gypsy. When they came for the Jews, I did not speak, because I wasn’t a Jew. When they came for the Catholics, I did not speak, for I am not a Catholic. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak.”

-On the Wall at the Holocaust Museum in Washington

Said the_mad_tech @ 3:58 am | Permalink

21 Comments »

Great Piece! Wow it is amazing that Europe considers Israel to be the biggest threat to world peace.
Unbelievable.

Comment by Barry — 2/25/2005 @ 7:20 am

Pick a title, any title
Today’s Dose of NIF

Trackback by NIF — 2/25/2005 @ 10:07 am

Your definition of racism doesn’t include any references to religion, yet your essay seems to focus specifically on religious discrimination. And while both religious discrimination and racism are reprehensible, they aren’t quite the same thing.

Anti-Semitism is a form of racism, but is often applied only to religious discrimination against Jews. But remember, Semites include Arabs, Jews, Aramaeans, and some Ethiopians. Why don’t we call attacks on Mosques anti-semitism?

Racism more appropriately addresses the Apartheid government of South Africa or the American institution of slavery or the Japanese Imperialist attitudes of the South Pacific cultures in World War II. Todays equivilent could be the Neo-Nazi, White-Power movement.

But by and large, real racism has been declining, not increasing. It is religious intolerance that is on the rise, as is seen in the Islamic jihadists, the Christian moralists, and the Jewish protectionists.

Further, religious intolerance in any form, when embraced by government or society, only serves to erect barriers towards cooperation and understanding, methods that are better suited to peace and justice.

Comment by ken grandlund — 2/25/2005 @ 1:25 pm

I thought Jews were a people, a heritage, a race. They are descendants from the tribes of Israel, God’s “chosen”. In the case of Nazi Germany, they were Hitler’s “jewish problem”. And don’t the lefties always call Hitler a racist?

Comment by Cao — 2/25/2005 @ 8:42 pm

Meanwhile, the Germans are giving ‘warm applause’ to a film supporting Pali suicide bombers. grr.

Comment by RottyPup — 2/25/2005 @ 10:58 pm

Hitler was many things, including a racist. And in his case, the persecution of Jews was about racism, since he viewed them as inferior races, along with Poles, Slavs, Russians, Africans, and all non-Germanic people.

And while Jewishness is a category in the race column, the attacks on synagogues are often motivated by religious discrimination rather than actual racist thoughts.

Jewish attacks have often been motivated by religious conflict, whether from the Romans (who thought their “one god theory” ludicrous) or the Christians (who blame them for the crucifixion of Jesus) or the Moslems (who call all who do not worship Mohammed “infidels.”) But to assume that all attacks against them are racist could miss the point.

Similarly, the articles linked to above that mentioned the Falon Gong movement is another example of religious intolerance bred by fear of the unknown. (Not that I know a lot about that religious movement myself.)

Regardless of the issue…racism or religious intolerance…it is to the benefit of ALL of us to express tolerance of our fellow man, so long as we aren’t being harmed by his actions or beliefs.

Comment by ken grandlund — 2/25/2005 @ 11:40 pm

Yes, Rotty, the Germans haven’t given up on their antisemitism, and neither has France.

I would agree with that, Ken. Freedom OF religion benefits everyone, that’s one of the reasons people flock to the United States; we’re about the only country that I’m aware of whose society is free to chose. Although…it would seem there are forces that are working against those freedoms, as we speak.

Comment by Cao — 2/26/2005 @ 8:12 am

You guys call yourselves a ‘right wing back up’ and you put out a PC article shunning ‘racism’? Oh yeah, I forgot that you were neo-con quacks, please convince me otherwise, though.
You’ve got a poll there showing europeans see Israel, Iran and Iraq as being threats to world peace and suddenly they’re ‘racist’? You assume that there votes are based in racism….its pure speculation, and totally biased. Americans would definatley put Iraq and Iran as threats, but you’d never say they’re racist. Anyone with judgement would say these middle eastern countries and communist governments are threats to world peace, its got nothing to do with racism you half-wit.

Comment by anonymous prick — 11/4/2005 @ 11:35 pm

Hey Prick!! Did you even read the post? Judging by the spelling and grammar of your comment I would said that not only did you not read it but since you ride the short bus you did not understand it even one iota. That is ok, your feeble attempt at a drive back trolling tickled my fancy for about 10 seconds. Better luck next time.

Comment by The Mad Tech — 11/5/2005 @ 1:18 am

Jew is not a race! It is a religion and in some instances an ethnicity but it is never categorized as a race. Jews are caucasian. The idea to Europeans that Isreal is one of the three greastest threats stems not from an intolerance of the Jewish faith but from the defiant creation of a Zionist state in the middle of Muslim terroritory-Arab terroritory to be precise. Whether or not you believe that they have an ancient claim to the land does not in any way make the decision to go in an seize that land to establish a Zionist state the right thing to do. It completely destablized the region a condition that persist today. That destablization is why the Europeans feel that Isreal belongs on that list. Duh!

Comment by Carol — 11/5/2005 @ 6:55 am

So why are we always soooo hard on the french? Is it because they want to be French? Why aren’t we doing the same to the asians and the blacks for their racist actions in the world. THe french are not obligated to conform to any standard that others set for them. As an example, the brits are historically some of the most racist people on the planet for hundreds of years. Why not bust on the brits. I, for one, happen to like the brits and the french and my ancestors are from both countries. So give the french some room to breath and be french. I like them.

Comment by Loren Estes — 11/5/2005 @ 4:52 pm

Carol? Go read about the history of “palestine”.

Loren, when the french cease ebing such dispicable weak snots we can talk…..until then the french suck diarhettic donkey ass.

Comment by Kender — 11/5/2005 @ 8:04 pm

No greater example of European racism can be found then the current riots of African Muslims across France. The policies of the French government are coming home to roost.

I give the French another week before they surrender to the rioters(insurgents). That estimate is based on the fact that the French only defended their country against the Germans for two weeks during WWII.

You can like the French all you want, that is after all you choice. I am simply expressing an opinion. While the racism of Asia and even Africa are good points and may be a future post this post is about Europe. Try to stay on topic next time.

Thanks to all for taking the time to comment even if you are misguided and disagreed with me. After all difference of opinion is what makes this country great, not blind fanaticism by the extreme left and right.

Comment by The Mad Tech — 11/5/2005 @ 8:28 pm

Why is it racism for the French to deny benefits to illegal aliens but it isn’t racism for America to take a hard line approach or are you saying America is also racist for doing that?

Comment by Carol — 11/6/2005 @ 6:26 am

Carol, the French denial of benefits is just the tip of the iceberg. The French has systematically worked to keep benefits from anything not French, it is nationalism to the extreme.

Your attempt to label America as racism for denying social benefits to law-breaking immigrants holds no water. While we deny the benefits and privileges of citizenship to illegal immigrants they are not subject to outright racism and discrimination because of their status.

Most people can not tell the difference between an illegal and legal immigrant and therefore we attempt to treat everyone the same. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but for the most part illegals while being denied social benefits are accepted in to American society even if they make no attempt to join it.

The French on the other hand, treat all immigrants the same whether then are legal or illegal. They are socially outcast and denied a place in French society.

Comment by The Mad Tech — 11/6/2005 @ 11:18 am

Actually the pervasive political correctness in French society doesn’t encourage or require them to assimilate. It’s throw out the idea of the ‘melting pot’ and bring in the idea of the ’salad bowl’–each individual distinctly different, and they don’t need to learn the language, let’s accommodate them.

The danger with that is, of course, when they’re trying to instill the Caliphate–we’re seeing the “positives” of the multicultural liberal approach right now with Paris burning and muslim gangs rioting.

It doesn’t work very well when they enter a society whose values they totally reject–and that society allows them to do it under the banner of political correctness.

Comment by Cao — 11/6/2005 @ 11:38 am

Holy cow! It appears Cao and I are on the same sheet of music! I do not think that America is racist for denying benefits to illegal aliens! You want to immigrate then do so legally and then assimilate. Become an American! Learn the language at a minimum.

Comment by Carol — 11/6/2005 @ 1:18 pm

Carol? Watch your mouth:D Who are you and what have you done with the real carol? You can’t be carol. She is one of our steadfast foils…..a burr….an antagonist that keeps our talons moist and makes us smile when she gives us reason to further elucidate on our thoughts, musings and rants.

You can’t start agreeing with us carol:D It aint natural. I mean, who are we gonna banter with?

Carol? Are you going conservative on us?

Comment by Kender — 11/6/2005 @ 5:35 pm

LOL! I was a Goldwater/Nixon Republican. I didn’t leave the fold until Reagan’s second term.

Comment by Carol — 11/6/2005 @ 7:07 pm

I completely agree that European anti-religious sentiment is on a rise. Although race was not mentioned, I think it is important to note European racism. Europe for the most part is democratic. If you watch real sports with bryant gumbel, you may have saw the special on European racism in sports. In major soccer events (i refuse to call it football) the crowd was shown throwing banannas at black players and making ape-like noises. I understand that racism exists everywhere; however, I have never seen the masses of an industrialized nation act like that. Going back to democracy, I personally believe the legislation passed in Europe is a great representation of the general attitude towards religous and racial minorities.

Comment by Neil — 5/26/2006 @ 5:44 pm

american slug heads

Comment by garry tallent — 5/2/2008 @ 7:18 am

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