Alex Alexiev, vice president for research at the Center for Security Policy in Washington D.C. (reprinted here in its entirety).
The resounding rejection of the EU constitutional project in France and the Netherlands has triggered much frenzied hand-wringing and anxious bickering about the future of Europe, though it appears to tell us more about the pervasive angst of the continent’s elites than about its future. Completely unnoticed in this noisy brouhaha there appeared in France a short survey that tells us more about what Europe�s future will look like than the collective wisdom of its chattering classes. Innocuously entitled “Signs and Manifestations of Religious Affiliation in the Educational Establishments” and headed by the inspector general of French education Jean- Pierre Obin, the study was actually finished last year but remained unpublished until leaked on the Internet a few weeks ago.
It is easy to understand why the French government was unwilling to publish it, for the survey is a devastating indictment and an anxious wake-up call at the same time. The result of extensive research and five months of field interviews in numerous schools in 20 French provinces by a distinguished group of educators, the Obin report documents the extensive Islamization of French schools in the vicinity of Muslim ghettoes and the imposition of strict conformity with Islamist dictates through violence and intimidation. Having by and large completed their takeover of the Muslim ghettoes, often by “targeted violence” against non- Muslims and moderate Muslims alike, and turned them into “anti-societies,” the Islamist fanatics are making great progress towards achieving control of the educational system as well.
As usual, girls are the first victims of religious extremism. The “big brothers,” as the Islamists are known in school, enforce a strict Islamic dress code which prohibits make-up, dresses and skirts, forbids any co-educational activities and makes going to the cinema, the swimming pool or the gym all but impossible for Muslim girls. The punishment for refusal to conform is often physical violence and beatings. And this, says the report, is a relatively protected environment compared to “what girls experience outside of school.” Such as forced marriages at 14 or 15, for instance.
No less disturbing is the picture Obin paints of the spread of the kind of religious obscurantism that one associates with Wahhabi zealots, but would find difficult to envisage in a public school in the heart of Western Europe. Thus, Muslim students often refuse to study Voltaire or read Madame Bovary, acknowledge even the existence of other religions, or sing, dance, draw faces or right angles because they resemble the cross. English, on the other hand, is hated as the “language of imperialism”.
Increasingly, the radical Islamists are able to secure special, often preferential, treatment for Muslim students making a mockery of French secular traditions. In some schools, Muslims already have the right to eat at separate tables, have their own toilets off limits to the infidels, be served only halal food and practice mass absenteeism during Muslim holidays. Quite apart from the routine expression of violent anti-Semitic sentiments. The school has also become a major focus of aggressive proselytism. The report states that it is virtually impossible for non- practicing Muslim kids in school not to conform to the strict Islamist behavior prescriptions and even non-Muslims are often forced to take part in Ramadan fasting, for example, against the wishes of their parents.
Perhaps most troubling is the study’s finding that this new generation of Muslims children, born and raised in Europe, is growing up already indoctrinated to consider themselves part of a “Muslim nation” separate and opposed to everything Western civilization stands for. Whether it is their obscurantist worldview, their anti- democratic and violent tendencies or wide-spread admiration for Osama Bin Laden and assorted terrorists, this is a generation that is clearly on a collision course with democratic society.
And this is not just France’s problem. The same phenomenon of large numbers of angry young Muslims who totally reject European civilization is easily observable in virtually every large urban center across the EU. Moreover, the future is on their side. With fertility rates twice those of the native Europeans and large-scale legal and illegal immigration, Europe’s Muslim population is growing by leaps and bounds. Though only 4% to 5% of the general population, Muslims already make up 25% to 30% of the under 18 cohort in large cities. On present demographic trajectory, they will become a majority of that cohort in the metropolitan areas where they are concentrated in 30 years or less. If they were to resemble the students described in the Obin Report at all, it would be difficult to imagine Europe remaining secular and democratic for long.
Coming soon to a country near you.
It’s already here.
I heard a muslim woman interviewed during a Hamilton Liberal rally during the June 2004 election state that muslims could not support the conservatives because they were the Christian party.
At a Halifax market (Pete’s frotique), a women dressed in a full burqa (chador) followed her husband around the store, oblivious to the charter of rights and fruits.
Supernature abhors a vacuum.
Europe has spent the past two centuries denigrating and denying the Christian faith and heritage that gave rise to its greatest achievements.
Currently, Europe believes in nothing, not even itself. But people will not believe in nothing forever.
Radical Islam, for all of its barbarities and obscurantism, has an incredible cultural self-confidence that modern European nihilism, for all of its technological superiority, cannot hope to overcome.
Recall that the Western Roman Empire was superior in every conceivable respect to the barbarians who conquered, right up until it fell.
Well, at least the Province of Quebec had the sense to reject sharia law. On the other hand, if the federal liberals manage to stay in power, no telling when this ’cause’ will become their next great rallying call……
Ohmigod! Perish the thought.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050624.wxsyria24/BNStory/National/
Not trying to derail this topic but this article is worth reading. I cannot believe the stupidity and dangerous actions of this government.
They live in another world. Common sense does not apply.
Related to this topic is this article dealing with the open racism that these Muslim groups exhibit towards the “little French people.” Very disturbing – read it all.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/446loxwa.asp?pg=1
On March 8, tens of thousands of high school students marched through central Paris to protest education reforms announced by the government. Repeatedly, peaceful demonstrators were attacked by bands of black and Arab youths–about 1,000 in all, according to police estimates. The eyewitness accounts of victims, teachers, and most interestingly the attackers themselves gathered by the left-wing daily Le Monde confirm the motivation: racism.
Some of the attackers openly expressed their hatred of “little French people.” One 18-year-old named Heikel, a dual citizen of France and Tunisia, was proud of his actions. He explained that he had joined in just to “beat people up,” especially “little Frenchmen who look like victims.” He added with a satisfied smile that he had “a pleasant memory” of repeatedly kicking a student, already defenseless on the ground.
Another attacker explained the violence by saying that “little whites” don’t know how to fight and “are afraid because they are cowards.” Rachid, an Arab attacker, added that even an Arab can be considered a “little white” if he “has a French mindset.” The general sentiment was a desire to “take revenge on whites.”
Tim, I featured that on a post here a few weeks ago.
The bombing of Dresden by the RAF and the USAAF between February 13th and 15th, 1945, was for a reason. The bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was also for a reason. There may be another reason in our future to do it again and it may not only be Dresden, Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
When America finally wakes up and deals effectively with Muslim terrorism many millions will die. Many, many millions. Take Iraq for instance. The problems over there could be eliminated in a day or two simply by taking out all the towns and cities that support terrorism. But innocent civilians will die you say. I say they’re not so innocent. Someone is feeding and supporting the terrorists.
And don’t talk to me about freedom fighters. People who saw off other peoples heads and make a video of it are not freedom fighters. These are the vilest, most evil humans this world has ever known. It’s time to take a stand. If they want to make it a religious war then that’s okay with me.
Before that happens however, America has to deal with all its homegrown “America haters”. This is a whole other story. And why am I mentioning America and not Canada? Well, isn’t that obvious? Canada has become totally unimportant under the Liberal, socialist mentality and governance. Canada no longer matters on the world scene.
Rich: That article isn’t off topic at all. Right on topic in fact.
My bad, Kate. I realized after I posted it that I had probably come across it here previously.
Can I ask a stupid question, one that’s bugged me for a long time?
Anti-Americanism is rampant the world over. But doesn’t it seem weird that the one place you’d expect to espouse the _most_ anti-Americanism actually seems pretty quiet (unless I’m missing something… reports of mass demonstration and flag burning for example. Please set me straight).
Of course, I’m talking about Japan.
I’m not being sarcastic. Why is that??
Perhaps because they remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Kathy,
Not a stupid question. Japan has a lot to worry about with China. They need us right now. Whereas most of the other countries burning flags have a lot of Muslim influence…which spits on democracy.
Kathy, Victor Davis Hanson addressed the issue of Japan and the lack of anti-Americanism there currently. Seems that in the ’70s and ’80s they were “prone to fits of anti-Americanism” but that now they are concerned about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of China. (As we all should be!) (http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson062005.html)
Japan: that all makes sense from an official, governmental policy point of view, but I mean more, the average person. Don’t/didn’t they ever think, “those bastards nuked us” and take to the streets and if not, why not?
The cops? Temperament? Philosophy? Education or lack thereof about the war?
THat article may be a dupe Kate and Tim, but it’s well worth a read for anyone who missed it.
Take it a step farther. The primitive savages have now learned that the mob mentality works and it works VERY well. Nobody was arrested for those assaults at that protest/strike.
It WORKS.
So, now what happens when 30,000 of them run rampant through the streets of Paris, beating, maiming and killing at their leisure?
What happens when 100,000 – 500,000 of them take over the Elysee Palace and demand that Sharia be introduced?
Anyone actually believe that Chiraq or the rest of the French govt will stand up to them? After all, there are more laws now protecting Islam than there are protecting Christianity.
MultiCulti will paralyze them with fear and such rampant, murderous, savage, racist HATE will cause them to give in because they will perceive that to be a way to save the lives of the French citizens.
What if they do this in every major city in France?
What if they do this in every major city in Europe? There are upwards of 26 *MILLION* muslims in Europe. if even a small fraction of them are like these that invaded the march, that’s a significant number.
They could get Sharia without firing a shot.
Far-fetched? I dunno. Got a bad feeling about this though.
Europe is done!
Kathy,
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Japan did some pretty revolting things to the Chinese people in WWII.
We dropped the bombs for a reason. What they did during the Rape of Nanjing and other atrocities made the Chinese HATE them.
Japan REALLY fears a resurgent China with industral and military strength. That’s why finally, 60 years later, they’re in the process of transforming their military from a ‘self-defense’ force into an aggressive military again, just within the last couple of months.
They’re working on the missile shield with us and within the last month the US and Japan have put together a treaty to jointly defend Taiwan if the Chinese should Attack it.
Not to mention they did some pretty revolting things to the Koreans too and the Koreans are building some pretty sophisticated rockets, one of which was shot OVER the Japanese mainland a year or two ago proving that the Koreans have Japan in the crosshairs.
Japan has PLENTY of worse enemies, mostly of their own making, than the US and every one of them knows it.
Just IMHO of course 😉
I certainly can’t deny that Japan thinks of America in terms of expediency. However, I’ve been in Japan, and I think there may be a little more to it than that. (At least I hope so, because I really am growing weary of a never-ending Machiavellian view of the universe.)
For reasons entangled with the West defeating Japan in WWII and MacArthur helping to write their constitution, Japan culturally and fashionably wants to be like us.
Well not exactly like us. A sort of Japanese parody of wanting to be like us. It’s fashionable for kids to fantasize about taking English lessons. There is a lot of dying hair and getting tans to try to look like some ideal of American surfer. There’s a lot of considering travelling to the US in preference to some other country.
I can understand all this. If I just roll back reality 20 years, I wanted to visit France, Germany, Canada, Italy and a million other countries simply because they offered intrigue, interest, a different approach, different food, exotic locations.
Now it appears to be all about who can feign friendship with someone else because of who is getting ready to cut whom’s throat. I can function pretty well in such a world. However, I like like the old world better.
It should be easy to get them into Voltaire at least, just tell them some of the stuff he said about Jews.
Kathy,
Be careful of the assumptions you make when seeing the flag burning. It often only happens when there are Western TV crews around. When the cameras are put away, the crowds dipurse. Depending on the regime, such demonstrations may also be sponsored by the state or some religious or political group. Remember, the groups who do this understand MSM very well. Hey, you bought it, right?
This is why immigration policy must be reconsidered in this country and now!!
“Perhaps because they remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki”
Oh, that’s so good. And right. It’s the way of the world. God help us.
For what it’s worth, I once knew of a Jewish school where the standard plus sign was not used because of its resemblance to the cross.
As a Canadian soldier the information is scary and disturbing. I have tour coming up in a muslim country shortly, and I guess I will experience the muslim way of life first hand. As for the people in France, they know they have a situation, but the indecisiveness of their government is destroying their cities and the rest of Europe. It’s sad, really sad. It will most likely happen here as well, it’s already happening. There are so many things we need, a strong government, strong imigration laws, strong smart people voting. Do Canadians still want to be Canadian, or will they roll over and hide under their sheets and pretend nothing is happening.