A Tale Of Two Europes

Dueling pundits?

Mark Steyn looks at four contemporary women to give life to his main theme these days, the Islamification of Europe:

Have you seen a movie called ''Four Jills In A Jeep''? Don't worry, it's not at the multiplex. It came out in 1944. A wartime movie, about the contribution of the gals to the big existential struggle. Great title, and downhill after that. This column is, metaphorically speaking, four Jills in a jeep: It's about a quartet of ladies who provide useful glimpses of where we're heading.

And Ralph Peters looks at History and Hitler to say not so fast:

All the copy-cat predictions of a Muslim takeover of Europe not only ignore history and Europe's ineradicable viciousness, but do a serious disservice by exacerbating fear and hatred. And when it comes to hatred, trust me: The Europeans don't need our help.

For all of his bluster, Peters has never impressed me as much of a thinker. And Steyn does have some strong demographics on his side of the argument. Eventually, history will repeat itself in Europe, only this time the shoe will be on the other foot.

One can't invoke history if the population you are talking about is detached from it. Only here a few hundred years, the US is already losing touch with the rugged individualism that helped make it such a great Nation. I imagine European education is providing the same disservice to young Europeans, in spades.

It's hard to look back to one's history for inspiration when you've been taught to detest, not just it, but the principles for which it stood. Europe is increasingly multi-cultural and Peters doesn't account for that watering down.

Muslims have the very opposite going on. They aren't just remembering their history - the radical elements are in a time warp, still fighting the same battles from it long after Europeans have fled the field.

Assuming America holds the line for its part, we'll likely see some new power centers and alignments. Much of Russia, China, India, the US with more of North America (Mexico, maybe Canada) aligned in some way against a greater Muslim world.

The lynch pin for all this being oil. Take away the world's reliance on oil and the engine of the Muslim revolution stalls. That's probably why France and all of Europe are looking to nuclear power so much more these days. Whether that's come in time for them to fully turn on the Middle-East before becoming an extension of it is hard to say.

There is a resurgence in religion going on among non-Muslims in Europe. Too little, too late, perhaps.

Steyn has left a comment in the powerline forum.

Comments

[Rhod]

Fjormdman, an insider of sorts, seems to think that the multicultural and bureaucratic resistance to reality will crumble at some point, but way beyond the time of compromise and discussion. Lacking a true democratic process, of the kind that relieves social pressures and synthesizes some kind of agreement among competing groups, they'll eventually resort to violence.

Muslim immigrants will almost certainly gain political and cultural hegemony in some areas, perhaps all of France (which already has an official policy of rapprochement with the Arab world), some portions of the Mediterranean litoral, maybe The Netherlands and Spain.

But the native European solution to Islamic supersession will be some violent calamity, a convulsion of the kind Europeans exhibit with some regularity.

[Dan Riehl]

But the native European solution to Islamic supersession will be some violent calamity, a convulsion of the kind Europeans exhibit with some regularity.

Time will tell. But that itself would be a sad event, unnecessary if individuals would only see what is happening now. I suspect the first puch back will come in laws or amendments to constitutions aimed at keeping sharia law out of politics. Though I don't know if you can throw out the bath water without the baby in this case. It may be all or nothing, already.

[kate]

I with Mark on this one. The Europeans as fierce is a quaint throw back to an earlier time. They are now more like the frog in the boiling water, slowly dying.

One thing: I wonder if there is a disconnect between the socialist anti-American elites and the populace. If our State Department was anywhere near competent, it could exploit this divide, but then that would mean the Department would have to stand up for America.

[Charles Warren]

Increasingly the European national character will be less that of the Brussels mandarin and more that of the racist soccer hooligan. As those with money and mobile skills emigrate, the 'white trash', or 'chavscum' as the Brits would say, left behind to face the music will be bitter, hostile, and vicious.

One might even say that the increasingly vicious European hostility to Israel is Europe ridding itself of guilt, preparing itself for the harshest of measures should it be necessary.

Already, if you are black or brown, keep out of Saxony or Prussia if you value your health.