Bend Over For Islam!
Great Theodore Dalrymple shorty piece on City-Journal, "How Societies Commit Suicide: Scots and Italians surrender to Islam." Here's an excerpt, on the ridiculous cultural kowtowing in Scotland:
In an effort to ensure that no Muslim doctors ever again try to bomb Glasgow Airport, bureaucrats at Glasgow’s public hospitals have decreed that henceforth no staff may eat lunch at their desks or in their offices during the holy month of Ramadan, so that fasting Muslims shall not be offended by the sight or smell of their food. Vending machines will also disappear from the premises during that period.Apparently the bureaucrats believe that the would-be bombers were demanding sandwich-free offices in Glasgow hospitals during Ramadan. This kind of absurdity is what happens when the highly contestable doctrine of multiculturalism becomes a career opportunity for the semi-educated and otherwise unemployable products of a grossly and unnecessarily swollen university system.
And then he runs an update:
The hospital boards in Scotland have denied the allegations against them, though they admit advising hospitals to consider avoiding working lunches during Ramadan if Muslims would normally participate in them, and to consider altering the route of lunch trolleys to accommodate “sensitive colleagues who adhere to the Muslim faith.” No hospital board, as far as I am aware, has ever advised that one should not eat pork in front of Jews, or beef in front of Hindus...
Little by little, we in Western societies, by being "tolerant" (ie, lap dogs to Islam), are becoming responsible for the beginnings of the end -- the demise of post-Enlightenment western society, culture, and values, and the replacement of life as we know it with the primitivism and backward brutality of life under Sharia law and all that is Islam.
Sound crazy? Perhaps. I'd say there's no time like the present to visit Europe, before, thanks to the birth rate of all the Muslim immigrants on the dole in so many of the countries there, it turns into an outpost of that fountain of democracy, rights for women, and free thinking that is Iran.
It seems to me this Western "tolerance" springs from self-hatred: we're too polluting, too materialistic, burn too much energy, etc. When one's self confidence collapses, you let in whoever is standing in line next, whether or not they have anything to offer.
doombuggy at August 29, 2007 5:46 AM
I'm still at a lose to understand why this would reduce the bombings. I think the officials have lost their freaking mind. I don't think this has anything to do with tolerance but a paniced over reaction from officials.
vlad at August 29, 2007 6:52 AM
I think we've simply forgotten any sort of useful definition for tolerance in society. Here's how I think about it:
I'll tolerate your behavior (meaning I won't fuck with you for doing stuff I think is weird or wrong-headed, within reason) so long as you tolerate mine (meaning you don't fuck with me under the same conditions). The one-sided approach, where we westerners are always the bad guys, the ones who must change our behavior, is a loser from the get-go. They came here. If they don't want to be around food during Ramadan, they can stay the fuck home.
justin case at August 29, 2007 7:06 AM
If I can't eat at work I may very well start to threaten w/ physical violence...
This whole thing doesn't make sense. Shall I also keep kosher so as not to offend a Jewish person? (Stupid. Especially consider that our pork is pretty damned safe and religious regs over food purity are superfluous and unnecessary upholding of a tradition that once served the public good). Should my nana yell at people who don't accept the Eucharist as the literal body of Christ? (It's all such insanity!)
This reminds me of an issue in some European villages - where Muslims in the village want to have loud speakers installed on the outside of mosques so that people can pray to the - chanting? I don't know but it's a raucous. And guess what? Protesters were promptly labeled as insensitive and prejudice. I'm not surprised though, Europe's pretty P.C.
People can pray. People cannot make me listen to them praying.
Gretchen at August 29, 2007 7:22 AM
"If they don't want to be around food during Ramadan, they can stay the fuck home."
Haha!! Catholics fast during certain days and you can't eat meat (on Fridays?)during lent (I'm not sure what is exactly church doctrine). Will Iranians honor a Catholic during lent and not serve meat? I think we all know the answer to that.
Amy, a while back I think you posted a link to a website...about a small Canadian town's "rules" about newcomers? All I remember is that it was a damned good list and I was wondering if you had the link. Hopefully you can figure out what I'm talking about w/ my vague description.
Gretchen at August 29, 2007 7:27 AM
Here:
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2007/02/everybody_must_1.html
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2007 7:36 AM
What's next? If their coworkers go on a low-carb diet, will hospital employees be forbidden to eat pasta for lunch at their desk?
Rebecca at August 29, 2007 9:13 AM
Why is it that we have to mandate courtesty and common sense for Muslim's when we don't do it for every other group? We try to be respectful during Ramadan and avoid required lunch meetings, but our co-worker from Jordan couldn't care less. He knows its his own damn choice! When a co-worker gives up chocolate for lent, we don't have a big choco-fest around them either! We also try to provide food choices for everyone...if we happen to know their preferences/restrictions. It's like making sure you have diet soda on hand when you know your guest is diabetic or having an alternative food choice when you know someone is allergic to something. Why should it go any further than that?
Love those rules from Quebec...interesting that "liberal" PQ comes up with this, while us red-neck Albertans are too afraid to speak such truths.
moreta at August 29, 2007 9:40 AM
I especially love that we're doing this because these people believe (as do other religions, of course) in a figure that there's no proof exists. Do we bend over for tooth fairy fans or astrology nuts?
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2007 9:49 AM
Amy - Astrologers don't cut people's heads off.
Remember, terrorism works. It works because we are too frightened to say "no".
brian at August 29, 2007 11:05 AM
Amy - Astrologers don't cut people's heads off.
I'm well aware of that. Even better, they don't legislate to have the country run according to whether the moon is in Saturn, etc. Of all the irrational dimwits out there, astrology buffs are harmless. Islam is a great danger to all of us, and people had better wake up while there's still time. Europe is pretty much fucked, by the way.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2007 11:15 AM
Quite frankly, we're ALL fucked. I'm glad I have no children and I'm likely to be dead before the US finally falls. I don't think I could bear to watch it end.
I will, however, be alive to witness the final death of Europe. We lose, because the muslims care more.
brian at August 29, 2007 11:22 AM
> the muslims care more.
Huh? Says who?
I want partial credit for linking Amy's links before she does.
Crid at August 29, 2007 11:51 AM
Crid - how many people are seriously rejecting Dhimmitude? Not a whole lot. Now, how many are actively campaigning for global Caliphate? Several orders of magnitude more.
Sounds to me like a disparity in GAS (give-a-shit) factor.
So unless the west gets over its existential guilt and decides that living free beats dying like a kufr, we're all fucked.
brian at August 29, 2007 12:35 PM
"Actively campaigning?" "Several orders of magnitude?" I think you're overheated.
The reason people aren't "rejecting Dhimmitude" what you regard as sufficient "seriousness" is that they don't think it's worthwhile. Lots of people don't vote either... That doesn't mean they approve or disapprove of what's going on in government. They just want to give their energy to other things. They have that choice.
Listen, if civilization collapses to these people, it's because human natures has too many faults to patch. To whine about attitudes and moral fiber in such a deprecatory way is like chastising the Chess Club for not coming out to support the high school football team during a loss to a crosstown rival, as if five more cheering geeks at the sideline would have made the difference.
Crid at August 29, 2007 12:42 PM
Thanks, Crid - you beat me to it.
I'll link to this one, as my suggestion for the people in Glasgow to show their opposition to bending over for Islam:
http://www.qualitybargainz.com/productpignose.htm
Sadly, I'd venture most people haven't even heard the word "Dhimmitude," and will only learn in when it's way too late.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2007 6:21 PM
thanks to the birth rate of all the Muslim immigrants on the dole in so many of the countries there
Wow...never thought of the burqa as an aphrodisiac!
Doobie at August 30, 2007 1:18 AM
TO: Amy Alkon, et al.
RE: On the Nosy!
"Little by little, we in Western societies, by being "tolerant" (ie, lap dogs to Islam), are becoming responsible for the beginnings of the end -- the demise of post-Enlightenment western society, culture, and values, and the replacement of life as we know it with the primitivism and backward brutality of life under Sharia law and all that is Islam." -- Amy Alkon
Something about 'how to cook a frog'.
And, personally, I thank all the wonderful people in the vaunted American public education system (vApes) and all the 'atheists', or rather, anti-theists, for getting us to this point.
In due time, people like Amy and other, more intelligent, of the atheists, will realize that they've been digging their own graves with their 'teeth' or 'fingers'—depending on the medium.
Why do I say this? Probably because I've seen this from more than one side. [Note: It comes from studying 'history' more assiduously than what the vApes requires of our children.]
The point here is that only those who have a greater 'faith', be it in God or in the Constitution of the United States, than the Muslims have will 'prevail' in the forthcoming struggle....a struggle already upon US.
I have no confidence in the atheists to hold to the Constitution. They have no reason to believe in ANYTHING. Certainly, as they believe there is nothing beyond this life. Whatever allows them to live a moment longer, will be the course of action they will support.
And, considering no REAL christian will hold dull knife to their neck and require of them, with their last breath, to swear allegance to Christ, they have nothing to fear from bashing us. On the other hand.....
...look at the behavior of various vaunted 'institutions' of media and education we've observed of late.
Go fig....it won't take you long.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Life is short. You have little time to make the proper decisions. Be VERY careful.]
Chuck Pelto at August 30, 2007 8:03 PM
I don't think atheist = anti-theist. You go ahead and believe what you want (provided it doesn't include that I should be blown up as I go to work in the morning because I don't believe the same thing). I've got no desire to change your mind. Kindly give me the same courtesy and we'll get along just fine.
I got into an interesting discussion one evening (after several glasses of wine) when I wondered aloud if there was a reason to envy people of faith. I suggested that it might be nice to just blindly believe in something. To be so sure and have black and white direction about what is right and wrong and how to behave, etc. without having to think about or analyze things yourself. My companion that evening thought I was nuts and said that logic and rational thought should rule. I agree and my brain can't function any other way, but I've always wondered about that state of mind and whether believers really believe or are they just hoping or faking it just in case, so they get whatever the reward is promised by the particular faith? I can get the "hedging your bets" thing, but actually believing in a caring entity that's paying attention and will reward you for doing things its way.....just boggles my brain.
moreta at August 31, 2007 8:35 AM
I don't think atheist = anti-theist.
I'm anti-theist, just as I'm anti-communism. I've posted a link before to Walter Benn's excellent book, which shows why people are wrong in saying it's discriminatory and awful to criticize people's religious beliefs. (They equate it with racism, when it's actually comparable to criticizing a Democrat for their beliefs because you're a Republican.)
Link to that is here, along with an excerpt (scroll down):
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2007/07/theres_nobody_u.html
Amy Alkon at August 31, 2007 9:26 AM
On second thought, I guess I should say "anti-theism." I don't hate people who believe in god, I just think they're irrational, silly, and kind of dim.
Amy Alkon at August 31, 2007 9:27 AM
Oh yeah. And think communists are morons.
Amy Alkon at August 31, 2007 9:28 AM
TO: moreta
RE: Faith & Such
Hey! It’s a ‘free country’. You’re entitled to your own ‘delusions’ about the English language....just as long as you’re not worried about passing some English course. [Note: I got an ‘F’ in one such course for doing a paper on the various theories of ‘evolution’. Hey! She identified the topic. I approached it, as I do most things, with an ‘open mind’. She slammed the ‘lid’ down on my thoughts. However, that did not stop me from seeking and speaking what I understood to be the ‘truth’.]
Oh. Believe ME. I DO believe what I understand to be the ‘truth’ as the Truth. And I’m not ashamed to speak about it. Even in the face of the ‘death’ prescribed by various ‘teachers’ and others in ‘authority’.
And, I ask you, where, in that old Book, does it call for me to have you ‘blown up’?
Please provide Book/Chapter/Verse, to support your suggestion.
However, I’m of a great mind to ‘change’ your mind. Albeit not with a sword or a gun or garrote or propane torch. Merely by telling you something that tickles your mind in a different fashion.
Sound interesting????!?
FIrst off. For this sort of discussion, I prefer scotch. [Note: No hangovers.... Just a sort of airey sensation, the next morning. Just ask me about the wake for the Colorado School of Mines professor who introduced me to Knockando.....three fifths shared between myself and the Best Man at my marriage along with a number of A. Fuentes, before his ashes were interned in Arlington. I wore my Dress Blues for the occasion. The distaff drove me home.....]
And, believe me, speaking from seeing both sides of the question you pose....
...there is NO reason to ‘envy’ ANYONE. However, there is reason to understand the differences between people who have ‘faith’ and those who have known.
Don’t you ‘think’?
There is no such think as ‘blind faith’. You either have ‘faith’ or you do not. And those who do, understand WHY they do. It is because they have experienced the results.
As for ‘black and white’...are you suggesting human sacrifice is okay?
If not.....why not?
If so....how so?
Logic and rational DO ‘rule’. The problem is determining what is the ‘logic’....what is the ‘rational’. And, even more importantly....what is the ‘parameter’.
Chuck Pelto at September 1, 2007 4:11 PM
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