Islam is not a danger to Europe and the West, it's the other way round. At least according to Frits Bolkestein, former leader of the free-market VVD party and now one of the Netherlands' elder statesmen.
A politician who has always fancied himself an intellectual, Mr Bolkestein has been making the rounds promoting his latest book, The Intellectual Seduction: Dangerous Ideas in Politics.
Death of multiculturalism
At a reading in Amsterdam, he was typically blunt. He disparaged cultural relativism, claiming that Western culture is superior to other cultures. He called for leaders in Europe to stand up for fundamental Western values such as freedom of expression and individualism. He says he doesn't need French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel or British Prime Minister David Cameron to tell him that the multicultural society is dead (as they all did within the past 12 months). Mr Bolkestein himself claims to have kicked off the debate on multiculturalism when he said the same thing in the Netherlands 20 years ago.
These sentiments are shared by Geert Wilders, leader of the populist Freedom Party, who emerged as a young politician under Mr Bolkestein’s leadership. But the elder statesman now has some fundamental disagreements with his former protégé.
Wilders' theme is 'nonsense'
For one thing, Mr Bolkestein believes the integration of non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands has passed an important threshold and is now going well. One example: women of Turkish and Moroccan origin now have fewer children on average than native Dutch women.
But Mr Bolkestein was the most dismissive of Geert Wilders' central theme, that Islam poses a threat to Western civilisation.
'I think that’s nonsense. On the contrary, it is us with our ideas, our ideals of individualism and secularism which constitute a danger to Islam. That’s why they react so strongly.'
Mr Bolkestein says the attacks in New York, London and Madrid were acts of desperation, not shows of force. They demonstrated the Islamic world’s current weakness in the face of Western culture. While the Islamic world at one time was powerful and prosperous, that is no longer the case. Young Muslims now look to the West for inspiration and want to study and live in Western countries.
Who we are
Mr Bolkestein also dismisses the idea that resentment for the West in the Islamic world has its roots in military campaigns such as the US-led war against Iraq, or support for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
'The ill-feeling from the Islamic world for the West is not for something we have done, but for who we are, and we can’t change that.'
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The debate here needs to be both broaden and deepened. The majority of the muslim world is mired in poverty and lack of opportunity. So many bright minds and hopefully hearts frustrated and demorilised. It seems inconcieveable that religion is at the root of this. Undoubtably Western political policies have played a role in perpetuating this situation as well as the entrenched rich and powerful who rightfully fear any relaxation of the reigns of power in the region. Muslim migration to europe is primarily a matter of economics not conquest.
Repression of innovative ideas is usually at the root of economic stagnation. Look to the dark ages in Europe and communism more recently. Deadwood at the top of large corporations doesn't help either. What is then so inconceivable about Islam being at the root of the troubles in countries where it dominates? Here is one Saudi who tries to tackles the issue as it applies to Arabs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zxuMKP_kqg&feature=player_embedded
Islamic countries do not give freedom of any kind to the small percentage of non-muslims living there..Why isn;t RNW focussing on that aspect? Cannot understand the biased free speech policy of RNW.
Those of whom you call dictators were choosen by the citizens of the countries that they rule and i wonder why the westerns are interfering with there power!let them rule as long as they want !
"Well, Hiram, I see that you are encouraging healthy well rounded debate yet again with this topic!"....I just gave a "healthy, rounded opinion". All of my opinions are healthy and well rounded. The only problem is: Others have opinions and they consider their opinions as healthy and well rounded and that is good. They don't have to accept my opinions and I don't have to accept theirs. As to your opinion that the author's point/opinion is valid, I agreed with him but for different reasons. I stated "....Response: He is absolutely correct and that is why they are dangerous!" They are dangerous because their Holy Book and immams (not all) believe it is okay to murder non-Believers. Why? Because Western ideals (belief system) are not compatible with the Islamic belief system. I am pleased to see you posted your opinion even though it was not a very healty and well rounded one!
The bible says it's OK to murder non believers too. Some Christians think it's OK to invade a muslim country even when weapons inspectors and the international community are telling you that you shouldn't. There are lots of similarities.
Well, Hiram, I see that you are encouraging healthy well rounded debate yet again with this topic! What is happening now, albeit in a slower context but nonetheless a revolutionary fashion,is that exposure directly to living within Western society, is causing certain changes to the thinking of Muslim populations. They now vote in a free society and very much want to, women have more freedoms, more people speak more freely, all things they could not do in their countries of origin. Many traditions remain of course, but they are not getting in the way of the exploration or exercise of new found freedoms. This is definately a loss of control from the countries of origin, who themselves are undergoing rebellion and revolt to have what these expatriates in the West as citizens. Once more people experience these freedoms firsthand, then the old regimes will feel the results in the Middle East, proving the author's point to be valid.
The West uis a danger to Islam ? GOOD !! They'd better be afraid ! Ask yourself : would you rather you were afraid of them ? We'd better be--because their threat to us is far more menacing and dangerous than any threat from us. You, Mr.Bolkestein are becoming senile- you are losing it to weaken your faith in Wilders. Get out from behind your desk and look around. Holland is a little country and WAS a beautiful country, but now it is one glut of black burquas in the market places. Want to let that grow until they build mosques in the tulip fields ? Wilders is a brave insightful man; there aren't many like him. He talks common sense. Ask yourself what you have to gain by being so worried about rejecting Muslims. What the h--l do they do for you or any European country ? You are better off with a pandemic flu virus . Shut it ,and let Wilders continue to work hard to preserve Europe !
"Shut it ,and let Wilders continue to work hard to preserve Europe !"...He is working hard to preserve the Netherlands and their are many Dutch citizens who support his views. As to the UK, it has a political party that is trying to preserve the UK. It is called the BNP and it is rapidly growing because of issues as this one. More British citizens need to support the BNP before the UK is completely taken over by people who care nothing for the indigenous British people, their customs, and their laws. The British leaders who let this happen are Judas Goats. Support the BNP and tell your friends about the party.
Judas goats? Are you a wild Christian anti-semite like Mel Gibson? BNP supporter too? Are you in the KKK? You are off the charts, dude!
A glut of burqas? Have you seen this personally? I've been in NL for half a decade now and have yet to see it. That's the trouble with paranoids, they feel the need to make things up to make others feel as frightened as they do.
“All that is not Islam” has been a threat to Islam from the start and will continue to be until there is a fundamental change in it’s all or nothing “rule the world” doctrine.
Freedom and secularism strike at the very heart of Islam’s totalitarian nature. Freedom and totalitarianism cannot exist side by side and they are rightly a threat to one another.
Islam cannot accept limitations and exist peacefully beside competing ideas, regardless of what is happening with the birthrate in tiny Netherlands. On a daily basis throughout the world, outsiders, reformers and moderates from within are treated savagely by its most fervent adherents.
Mr. Bolkestein is correct in saying that the ill feeling from the Islamic world has nothing to do with anything we have done (to them). What we have done is remain non Islamic and prospered, materially, intellectually, morally and spiritually. Rather than self reflect, Islam attacks.
That freedom will prevail is not a given. It is dependent on people who are willing to make sacrifices (like Wilders) and is weakened by those who are unwilling to rock the boat or put up a fight when necessary.
I usually admire Mr.Bolkenstein for his insights , but in this matter I cannot agree with him. The Islamic peace is reached, when the whole world is submitted to Islam. That was and is the goal of the Islam. But we can oppose to that. But as long as religiously based political parties in the west are considering hem as "colleagues" the thread stays on high alert.
"But Mr Bolkestein was the most dismissive of Geert Wilders' central theme, that Islam poses a threat to Western civilisation....'I think that’s nonsense. To the contrary, it is us with our ideas, our ideals of individualism and secularism which constitute a danger to Islam. That’s why they react so strongly.'"....Response: He is absolutely correct and that is why they are dangerous! They don't like our "ideas" of individualism and secularism and they are willingly to murder us for not being Islamic. They, the Islamic terrorists, didn't strike out and muurder several thousand humans at the twin towers in N.Y., London and Madrid out of acts of desperation. They did it because of our "ideals of individualism and secularism" and because those concepts are not part of the teachings of Islam. As to those young Muslims, they do want to want study and live in Western countries. Why? To change the Western civilisation into Muslim nations. Not all attacks are done in physical confrontations but by mass immigration. It was young Muslims who murdered innocent humans in NY, London, and Madrid. Mr Bolkestein stated "The ill-feeling from the Islamic world for the West is not for something we have done, but for who we are, and we can’t change that." The ill-feeling from the Islamic world is a reality and the islamic world will not stop their attacks until the entire world is Islamic. We can do something about it. Stop the mass immigration of Muslims. Just take a look at what mass immigration has done to the UK. Those riots in London, and the mass murders of innocent humans in NY, London, Madrid, and a thousand others places are solid evidence of an intentional attack on our ideals of individualism and secularism. Our political leaders who support mass immigration are Judas Goats leading us to our slaughter and they don't care one bit. They have the moral compasses of pirates. Thank you Geert Wilders for standing-up and defending our "ideals"!
How were Muslims involved in the London riots. Oh and MI5 and the CIA had nothing to do with Qaddafis! At least you have to hand it to Geert Wilders he does his research apriori, Unlike his mindless fan club that are all rhetoric. Unless you have lived in the middle east you do not get to talk about half of what you said! The middle east is a purely western invention of states carved in the sand! What about Wilders insisting on making Jordan a Palestinian homeland against both their wills! YOu truly disgust me! you know what you are not even worth the disdain!
Hiram would blame Islam if he lost his keys.
Violence in all its forms and its preceding is disgusting. THere is no measure to human life nor the sanctity of blood! We are all pawns in a larger game for economic profit under the guise of ideological and religious strife . I personally apologise for my moment of rage,THe cycle of hate ends NOW!
If the west could only stop stealing from the muslim wolrd all will be fine.They west have nothing. the only planned in their dictators on the muslim world and raked the wealth away.
Anonymous, those dictators need to be voted out of office and replaced with honest leaders. Oh, I am sorry. I forgot that most Islamic countries do not allow it's citizens to vote. You see what is happening in Syria. A large percentage of Syria's citizens are being murdered by it's dictator and his cronies. I wonder if the West put him in power. How about Iran? It is control by immams. They murder their citizens who protested an election. Did the West put them in power. The leaders in Islamic nations are just as greedy as those in the Western nations. They both need each other in order to steal.
Yes the Baath party were supported by the British and the French!
They may have supported them but they did not put them in power.
They(the West and Islam) might be a danger to each other.
Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.
The modern world is a threat to all religions. Dogma is being replaced by discussion. Subversion is being replaced by freedom. Opaque myths are being replaced by testable science. Are we surprised that the world's most secular countries have the lowest crime rates? We shouldn't be.
Exactly, is not a problem between islamic culture and european culture, the Vatican Goberment for exmaple don´t aprobe some the Human rights, is a real problem between integrisim and the illustration ideas and his development
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