On a brief return to Britain, I was concerned to see that London has undergone a dramatic demographic change. The city of my birth is visibly more Muslim than it was even four years ago. On the Tube, I saw more hijabs than baseball caps. The Muslim niqab— with its full face covering—is no longer rare.
For decades, Brits have not been allowed to question the wisdom of importing large numbers of people into a Western society who do not share Western values. (Brits that do so on social media risk going to prison). Instead, there was a lazy assumption that Muslim immigrants would eventually integrate. Rather than culturally converge, many Muslims living in Britain have culturally diverged. Forty three percent of British Muslims now want “the introduction of Sharia law”. Support for Sharia was even stronger among Muslims in London (49%), where Muslims now make up 15 percent of the population. More British Muslims fought for ISIS than currently serve in the British army. The United States has long been a melting pot, with a wonderful history of people from all over the world moving to America and becoming American. As an immigrant myself, I love the idea of people moving to America in order to become American. And becoming an American is about a lot more than getting a US passport. We need to recognize that some parts of the melting pot might not melt. The US needs to act now to ensure America does not make the mistakes that Europe has made when it comes to mass Muslim immigration. The religion of progressive America is cultural relativism – the creed that insists all cultures are of equal worth. The truth is that Western culture is deeply distinctive. Western societies are WEIRD; that is to say they are Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD), as described by psychologists Joseph Henrich, Steven Heine, and Ara Norenzayan in their seminal work The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous. Western people are a psychological and cultural outlier, exhibiting traits and behaviors that diverge significantly from those found in most other cultures, particularly those traits in Muslim societies. WEIRD individuals tend to prioritize individualism over collectivism, analytical reasoning over holistic thinking, and impersonal trust over clan-based loyalty. WEIRD Westerners are more likely to cooperate with strangers and punish unfair behavior, even at personal cost, compared to participants from other cultures. These traits are not universal norms.
Henrich and co suggest Western cultural distinctiveness owes a lot to the teachings of the medieval Catholic Church, which prohibited cousin marriage. Personally, I think Western WEIRDness owes a lot to our inheritance from three cities of antiquity; Athens, Jerusalem, and Rome. From Athens, the West inherited Greek philosophy, which introduced the idea that reason can unlock the mysteries of the world and that natural laws govern its workings, accessible through rational inquiry. From Jerusalem came the profound idea that each person is created b’tzelem Elohim—in the image of God. In Judeo-Christian thought, this imbues every individual with inherent worth, forming the foundation of individualism. It also suggests that each person possesses free will, with the capacity to align with or diverge from the divine will. From Rome, the West received its framework of law, interwoven with echoes of Greek philosophical ideals. Western cultural norms are not global norms. We need policy makers to wake up and recognize this – and to do so fast. It is time for a significant shift in US immigration policy, and for the US government to act against anyone promoting murderous leftist ideology on university campuses. Douglas Carswell is the President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. This post was a paid advertisement by MCPP.
34 comments:
Oh no, you mean to tell me that there are people in the USA and in Britain who dare to not have been born here and/or do not belong to my religion?!?! Heavens me, this cannot stand! That almost sounds as awful as people who don’t look like me being allowed to drink out of the same water fountain as I do.
Thank you, Kingfish, for spreading anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, and frankly, anti-American hate against people who look different.
I took a long break from your site after being a former regular reader. Looks like I’m about to take another one.
The planet has a Muslim problem.
Islam is incompatible with Western Civilization, democracy, & civilized behavior.
Good 12:16. Haul ass. People like you are ruining the American culture. YES. CULTURE.
12:16 -
It’s not how they look. It’s their actions that are problematic.
12:16, please do
Islam is a cult of death, torture and rape. I prefer they stay bound within their own countries rather than immigrate to form ethnic cells with aggressive terror and take-over mentality.
Don’t blame Muslims blame white liberals
Oh, it's you again. Back spouting propaganda as you did last week. No one is speaking against them because they are dark-skinned or "don't look like us." It's all about actions and values. Too many of them don't believe in free speech or freedom of religion. Too many of them think women are cattle and should be treated as such. In Britain, they have a major problem with child rape among their muslim immigrants. They are attacking Jews and their synagogues. Just this week, a Muslim pleaded guilty up north to whaat? Preparing to shoot up a pre-school full of Jewish children.
How many cartoonists have they murdered? How many journalists? Remember Van Gogh? All the Muslim stabbings in German and France. The terrorist attack in India somewhat protected by a Muslim Pakistan. Jewish hate crimes are at an all time high in this country and it's because of Muslims. Period. Do I need to keep going?
But no, you think it's because of racism, not because of responding to actions and beliefs.We're the ones who believe in freedoms for all, not those who want to destroy it.
I think in the spirit of the RINO we need to create the CINO acronym for all the "Christians in Name Only" in this comment section and beyond. White "Christian" nationalism sure is alive and well. Some of y'all CINOs might want to brush up on what your alleged God said about how you treat the foreigner in your land is how you treat God himself. Some of y'all might have a rude awakening waiting at the pearly gates.
"The militant Muslim is the person who beheads the infidel, while the moderate Muslim holds the feet of the victim."
I took a long break from your site after being a former regular reader. Looks like I’m about to take another one.
You are anonymous. We never missed you the first time and we won't if you leave again.
Thank you, KF, for your 12:53 post.
America does not have a “Muslim problem,” per se, because all Muslims are not the same. Just like Jackson, MS does not have a “Blacks problem,” because all Blacks are not the same…and America doesn’t have a gay or lesbian problem, because all gays and lesbians are not the same.
What America has is a lack of morals problem, proudly pushed on to us by the cancerous Democrat Party, combined with a “everybody wants to rule the world,” human nature problem.
The gay/lesbian community proved this when moving from “leave us alone” - to - “bake and decorate us a cake the way we want it, or we will destroy your business.” When they moved to “we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re coming for your children.”
Like the Democrats that move from California to Texas, then keep voting Democrat. Like the hypocrite Democrats voters that won’t live even in their city Jackson, MS, but want to bring their culture to the conservative suburbs. And yes, like the Muslims that left where they came from, but now expect us to adopt their culture.
We had better teach our children that even most animals have the basic instincts required to understand that something is always out to get them, and that all of this “I’m OK, you’re Ok Kumbaya BS,” is just that – Bull Sh*t.
Islamic theology is not compatible with Western civilization and law. Islam seeks to supplant the existing society and replace it with Shirai law. To believe otherwise is naive. Europe had allowed itself to be invaded and will eventually be ruled by its concours.
Well, you won’t find many “baseball caps” in London anyway.
Are you willing to turn the other cheek when Muslims force female circumcision on your daughter? WWJD
"Sharia don't like it, Rock the Casbah!"
@2:09 Thank you for the perfect example of why you ignorant people can’t be taken seriously. There is not a single Islamic text, or guidance from any prophets or Allah, that supports female circumcision. That is a national cultural practice that predates Islam. If you removed Islam from those same nations and left them kafir, they would still practice female circumcision.
12:16 appears to have little knowledge of Islam. At its core, Islam is incompatible with Western culture. It's not about race. Many people of Middle Eastern descent, such as Lebanese and Syrians, even Iranians, have immigrated to the United States and have successfully assimilated, mainly because they were Christian, or at least from a Christian tradition, at the time of immigration, and generally share the values of Western culture. But Islam and Islamic culture have no commitment to freedoms such as free speech, freedom of religion. That isn't to say no Muslims can assimilate and live compatibly in a Western culture, some do quite well. But it isn't the direction in which traditional Islam moves. Fundamentally Islam sees itself at odds, even at war, with the West, and has since the beginning of Islam. This incompatibility has become more and more apparent in countries like the UK, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. Study some history, particularly the history of Islamic culture and religion. You might understand why mass immigration by Muslims is a concern.
In 2023 the top boy name in the UK was Mohamad
"Race" has little to do with "anti-Islamic." The largest Islamic country is Asian (Indonesia) and of the "middle eastern" Muslims, there are at least two ethnic groups, Arab and Persian. In simple terms, they hate each other more than they hate "Steve" and "Becky" from Madison or Manhattan. On top of which, just like "Christianity," there isn't one unified "Islam" - there's Sunni and Shia, and again, they are not fond of each other.
That out of the way, "Islam" and "Western" cannot coexist equally in true respect and peace upon the same land (and probably not at all). "Western" can tolerate to a point "Islam" and "Islam" can refrain from attempting to wipe out "Western" for a time. But it is not the same as Christians, Jews, agnostics, atheists, deists, pagans, etc. all "getting along," even grudgingly, because none of these are commanded by their (true) faith to eliminate - even if they are commanded to attempt to convert - the others, as are Muslims. Add to it the "death cult" aspect of Islam, as mentioned by another reply, and you have the recipe for on-going, impossible-to-resolve conflict with "Western."
Does that mean that all who claim to be "Muslims" want to kill all "infidels?" Of course not, no more than all who claim to be "Catholic" oppose abortion, birth control, a male-only priesthood, etc. But the "true believers" in all religions believe, well, truly in what their religion commands. So, yes, if you are face-to-face with a "true" Muslim and you are an "infidel," there will be a problem. And just as "Western" "Christians" don't want others "not of their faith" dictating to them, Muslims - fairly - do not want "Western" "infidels" dictating to them, either, and especially not in or on their "home turf."
Until "Westerners" understand what Islam is and is not, there will be no real solution. The most likely source of a truce - and that's the best it can or will ever be - is to let "Muslims" be "Muslim" in their lands and "Westerners" be "Western" in theirs. And if members of either "side" attempt to violate the other's peace, the violators (and their supporters) need to be the ones to suffer the consequences, not the entirety of the violator's "side."
Name one place that has progressed under Islam or Sharia law
Another troll foreigner or liberal. The guilt/shame game plan has been overplayed. Know your history....because it will repeat itself in time, and won't bode well for you.
And how many Christians owned slaves? How many Christians were in the white citizens council? How many Christians used their religion to justify murder and rape of other humans? I agree it’s the actions that count not the color. But let’s hold a mirror up huh?
Our immigrant Brit doesn't appear to have actually met any Muslims or bother to learn anything about that religion. I lived next door to Egyptian Muslims while in graduate school. The females didn't cover their heads at all. They even drank alcohol! Not all Muslims are the same anymore than all Christians or Jews. Indeed, you might as well say a Pentacostal, and an Episcopalian are just alike. Sunnis represent 73% of the largest 3 branches with Shia second and then Ibadi .Then there are 73 sects like Alawites who blend Christianity into their belief system as do some Druze.
You might as well think all Christians are Catholic.
My Muslim neighbors from Egypt hated Russians based on their interference and attempt to spread communism.
Our President just took a plane from a Sunni country with a significant Shia minority .Osama bin Laden was in the extreme Salafi jihadism sect associated with Wahhabism. He wanted an extreme form of Sharia law restored.
You can easily confirm the facts about Islamic religions and history I've shared.
The British Army has 450 Muslims, and it was estimated that as many as 600- 700 British Muslims went to fight for ISIS. Muslims are 6.5% if the British population. And, yes, those mentally ill/ stupid guys took girlfriends, and wives so make that 1500. You have to be a citizen of the commonwealth to join the military and unlike here, there are minimum income requirements as well as a fluency level in English.
It's an apple and oranges type of comparison. Shall we research how many Pentecostals join our military? You can at least google it if you've not studied religions.
"for the US government to act against anyone promoting murderous leftist ideology on university campuses."
right, because Sharia law is sooo liberal.
The Muslims we have problems with are actually ultra-conservative, just like the dictatorships who threaten U.S. and global security.
The main problem with most liberals is allowing bad actors to use their good intentions against them, and allowing fanatics on the left and on the right to get a foothold in their desire to remake society in their own image.
As far as I know, the U.S. is the only country to have enshrined into law our Bill of Rights. It has served us well, and will continue to do, so as long as we don't allowed it to be contorted into a weapon against us.
For example, your free speech does not give you the right to block my travel on public roads and sidewalks, or enjoy the quiet and peaceful occupation of my home.
"Our immigrant Brit doesn't appear to have actually met any Muslims"
Jeez .. the man is from London. Thankfully he chose to land in the Sip' !
We're lucky to have him.
Have ever visited the UK ?
Specifically London, England ???
Our adopted Brit (and former member of parliament), is "spot on" !
Other than than the majestic buildings, the populace of London looks
more like Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Thank you Mr. Carswell for speaking the truth. We hope hope you continue to live in Mississippi for many years !
"Name one place that has progressed under Islam or Sharia law"
Please define "progressed," 9:26PM. The clash of Islam and "Western" isn't one of "better" vs. "worse," intellect, ability, etc., it's of fundamental faith/belief in very specific areas. Muslims, Jews, and Christians all look to and "worship" the same (one, true) "God." As to Muslim-controlled places of great secular learning and development, look no further than Moorish Spain/Iberia/Al-Andalus. Scholars who happened to be "Muslim" (likely to varying degrees of "true belief") have contributed a great deal to the world's secular knowledge and development. It is no different than any other major religion with hundreds of millions of people who claim it (to whatever degree of adherence) insofar as the secular intellectual ability of those who do so. But that does not make "Islam" compatible with "Western."
OK, 6:12AM, I'll bite - how many? I'll even accept a imprecise number if you'll show your work in arriving at whatever number.
In any case, what ("true" or alleged) "Christians" do or did, or what ("true" or alleged) Muslims do or did, with regard to secular matters has nothing to do with what each religion commands its faithful and "true believers" to do. "Whataboutism" is not even a reasonable defense, much less a rational argument. And aside from that, those who falsely claim religious justification which does not exist in an attempt to justify actions that have nothing to do with their alleged religion aren't really relevant to this discussion. It is akin to someone claiming to be Rastafarian so they can smoke pot or someone claiming that vaccines are against their "Christian" religion (not even Christian Science PROHIBITS its followers from getting vaccines).
I was in London for 3 days in the past month. I didn't see more than 8-9 and only one was male.
For those wishing to be educated on the matter of current-day Muslims' willful disdain of Western Civilization and refusal to assimilate, I offer that one read "While Europe Slept". This book was published twenty years ago, written by a gay author who worked for the New York Times, had been assigned to Atlanta and he/his partner were upset about the possible prejudice that might occur in the "Deep South". So, he asked for and was assigned to the London bureau. The eye-opening experience that he/his partner experienced while living in Europe, is the basis of this very well-researched book. An eye-opener. The Muslims want to keep their women as property, have multiple wives to do all the work and not be eligible for any education beyond the sixth grade equivalent, live off the gracious European socialist support system, and demand Sharia Law/not be answerable to European law within theirself-isolated neighborhoods. Read it and. Wake up.
There is a followup book written by the same author. Yes, it gets worse and is worse.
Best Y'all,
DWD
I spent 4 yrs in Afghanistan helping support Operation Enduring Freedom. I can tell you 1st hand this is NOT a culture we want our kids growing up next to. So many reasons I'm not going into. These people over there are NOT like people you and I know, more akin to "Farm Animals"...I further submit that if you hvn't been over there & Seen, Heard and Smelled their
At its core Islam is incompatible with Western culture. The values and beliefs imbedded in it simply do not mix well with the West. Your reference to Muslim Spain is interesting, and you might have mentioned other scholarly or intellectual achievements in places like Persia. There was a period where Ancient Greek philosophers was highly influential, and the work of Islamic scholars indeed helped Europeans rediscover Greek philosophy in the Middle Ages through Arabic translations of Greek philosophers, But those achievements were centuries ago. Islamic culture peaked and then moved in the opposite direction. It shows no serious movement today toward a new Islamic enlightenment. The dominant strain of Islam today remains strongly antiWestern. There certainly are some Muslims who are able to accept most aspects of Western cultural values, but that is not the general direction of Muslim culture. All cultures are simply not equal, and some are better than others. None are perfect, but I can say without reservation, that the world would be a far darker place without Western culture, and especially without Christianity. The biggest challenge in West today is the erosion of the values and beliefs that make it great. And Islam has little to offer to make the world truly a better place.
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