Certain elements in the French population have been derisively termed "cheese-eating surrender monkeys," but the surrender monkey disease can also be found across the channel.
The author is Martin Jacques, who–despite is French-sounding name–is actually British. He’s also the former editor of Marxism Today and has been described as an "embittered British Stalinist."
I was intrigued into reading the article by its headline: "Europe’s contempt for other cultures can’t be sustained." As a member of a culture that has been regularly the object of European contempt, the article was natively interesting to me.
The author makes a number of valid points, but I was shocked to realize just how much of a surrender monkey the author is.
Jacques writes (excerpts):
Is the argument over the Danish cartoons really reducible to a matter
of free speech? Even if we believe that free speech is a fundamental
value, that does not give us carte blanche to say what we like in any
context, regardless of consequence or effect. Respect for others,
especially in an increasingly interdependent world, is a value of at
least equal importance.If European societies want to live in some kind of domestic peace and harmony – rather than in a state of Balkanisation and repression – then they must find ways of integrating these minorities on rather more equal terms than, for the most part, they have so far achieved. That must mean, among other things, respect for their values. Second, it is patently clear that, globally speaking, Europe matters far less than it used to – and in the future will count for less and less. We must not only learn to share our homelands with people from very different roots, we must also learn to share the world with diverse peoples in a very different kind of way from what has been the European practice.
By the end of this century Europe is likely to pale into insignificance
alongside China and India. In such a world, Europe will be forced to
observe and respect the sensibilities of others.
Regardless of what good points he makes, the fundamental message that comes through from Jacques is that Europeans should simply acquiesce to their demise, they should allow their free speech rights to be abridged in deference to the sensibilities of others, they should offer more and more accomodations to foreigners who they should continue to allow into their lands, and they should simply be prepared to go quietly into the night as a civilization.
I’m sorry, but while I’m all for self-restraint in the exercise of free expression and not giving offense to others needlessly, this kind of civilizational surrender is simply unacceptable.
No matter what its flaws have been historically or what they are presently, the world is better off with a non-Islamicized Europe than with one living under sharia.
Let’s hope that most Europeans are made of sterner stuff than this gentleman is.
That’s right. We don’t want Europe to turn into Eurabia….
Martin Jaques-not to be confused, of course, with Jaques Maritain. :p
I don’t suppose he believes that the China and India which are to inevitably supplant Europe will share the same sensible approach to freedom of speech.
“Bohn Joorrrr! You cheese eatin’ surrender monkeys!” -Groundskeeper Willy
As I said before, Hillaire Belloc was right!!!
I read the whole wearying article and wondered what would happened if Mr. Jacques went back in time and counseled his ancestors, “The Roman invaders are going to take over anyway, so open your homes to them. Abandon your language and culture completely” – thus erasing the cultural differences that have survived to modern times. But it was too much like a bad Star Trek holodeck episode.
Then, I asked, “Why not apply this to ANOTHER historical imbalance that’s existed into modern times?” Let’s ask ANOTHER group to commit cultural suicide…
So, men, just shut up and listen! Women are the only ones allowed to impose their values on the world, since men have oppressed women for centuries! Since women are clearly on the rise, it is patently clear that men matter far less than they used to – and in the future will count for less and less. Therefore, let us put away all talk of sports, high-performance vehicles, or other “man-centric” topics that may offend women. Feminine hygiene products will be federally subsidized! Men will wear dresses and high heels as a sign of respect! … etc.
Obviously, rights and respect for women is NOT the same as allowing women to dominate. I don’t think any sane man would volunteer to be castrated to make up for the historical oppression of women. The same thing with acquiescing to the cultural norms of the “rising powers”. (An aside: I don’t respect China’s current culture of forced labor and technological piracy.). Yes, there is such a thing as cultural change and decline, but that doesn’t mean we have to run headlong over a cliff.
Dear Jimmy,
As a British man I am sorry to tell you that most of my countrymen are liberals who support the multicultural humanistic agenga (and bizarrely this subsumes supporting the fascist religion of Islam). Exceptions are rare!. Reading British Catholic forums tend to support this view. Tragic but true.
Marcus