The scoop from a German.....

Integration, assimilation, or what?

and WHY??? by a very good friend of Z's

An issue on the minds of many people in Europe and, I might add, in the United States, was brought to a head by the Turkish Minister President Erdogan recently in a speech in Cologne, Germany when he said: “Assimilation is a crime against humanity”. This created outrage not only in Germany, but in all of Europe.

The banners were in Turkish, the flags were Turkish, the speech was in Turkish, and the listeners were Turkish or of Turkish descent, and this anti-assimilation comment was made in a city in which there just might be a huge mosque competing soon in the skyline with the famous “Kölner Dom”, the majestic and venerated cathedral which has dominated the skyline of Cologne for centuries. For the head of a foreign government to hold an assembly in a large stadium on foreign ground and advise his countrymen on how to handle their presence in that country takes guts. But it also relies on the goodwill of the government of that foreign country. This is only possible in countries where Freedom of Speech is protected, like in Germany, or in the United States, for that matter.

Erdogan is a smart man. In his speech, he also recommended that the Turks learn German and take advantage of the job market in Germany. That got him brownie points, particularly with the left, and cleverly muffled his assimilation point. However, the word “advantage” to Erdogan clearly means: Take as much as you can get from the job market or from the generous social system – but do not develop any allegiance to any other country than Turkey.

Sound familiar? Mexican Presidents have shown the same audacity as Erdogan. They even consider part of the U.S. their own territory and come, that belief largely unchallenged, to the US, holding rallies with Mexicans appearing with flags and other regalia, telling their countrymen, legally or illegally in the country, what they should demand from the U.S. government, and making public their request as if they need to give advice to the US government on how to treat the Mexicans who live in their country.

So, what’s happening in Europe and what can be expected in America’s future on issues of integration and Islam have eerie similarities. The difference, however, is that the Turkish problem alone in Germany envelopes both integration and Islam issues, while the problem in the U.S. is divided; an integration issue mainly of Mexicans in the country, and the growing Islam problem.

When Erdogan vilifies assimilation, what he really means is they should not adapt to the German culture or “do as Germans do”. This obviously results in the creation of a “parallel society”, one with a “little Istanbul” in each major city, creating “ghetto” type of situations where Islamic habits such as the killing of a sibling as commanded by the head of the family take place. These people do not respect the rights of the German people and they are supported by their “Head of State”, Erdogan (not Merkel!) who actually addresses them as if they still lived in Istanbul and not in Germany. The consequence is that the Turks behave as if they have the right to do what they do, and that they do not have to answer to anybody about it. This is why many young Turks are physically attacking and hurting Germans if they dare make remarks to them, like “please don’t smoke here in the subway” (where smoking is forbidden). These young Turks seem to feel empowered by young criminals from other countries who, lately, have been joining them in terrorizing the German population.

As we look into the current situation, the past should be considered : (a) Some of the Turks have lived in Germany since the 60’s, when Germany invited “guest workers” in who were supposed to stay for a limited period of time. Most of them never left, considering how good the social system is in Germany. (b) Many of the Turkish people living in Germany are law abiding people, have well assimilated into German society, and are even in the Parliament. (c) Germany did not have a major problem with the Turks living in the country until relatively recently, and the problems have risen to a different level just recently, since 9/11.

And what are the politicians and people of Germany doing about this? They’re acting just as you’d think they would in any other country. The left is pandering to the Turks. Some high ranking official even suggest that Germany should introduce Turkish as the second language in school. The left insists Germany must try to understand the Turks in the country, it must do more to integrate them and Germans should even adapt the thoughts and actions of these Turks. And, of course, according to the leftist ‘experts’, the German school system, by having such high educational standards, is not helping the foreign pupils (in other words: they should lower the standards so that they can learn).

And the conservative reaction to all of this? It can be summarized as follows: Whoever lives in Germany must adapt to the German constitution and German social life. People who are not willing to do that have no business being in the country. That doesn’t mean the Turks should not be able to maintain their culture, but not in the public square. The penalties for youth criminality should be increased, and the young criminals should be deported. In addition, deportation of illegal immigrants should be increased, and the borders to the EU should be tightened to reduce the influx.

The difference in reaction between the left and right couldn’t be more clear. You can draw your own conclusions as to the similarities with the situation in the U.S.

Since 9/11, Germany has drastically broadened its ability to fight terrorists. However, the left is still pandering and asks for negotiations while the conservatives request more stringent measures in view of increasing threats, (e.g. the potential suitcase bombers last year who got caught in time because of improved surveillance methods) .

Multiculturism has proven to be an illusion. Germany and many other European countries are currently dealing with the aftermath of having been too liberal with Islam and immigration and trying to turn the tide, hoping that it is not too late. Is it too much to hope that the lessons learned in Germany, Holland, Denmark and other countries will be heard across the ocean, here in America, a wake up call? It is clear to me which political orientation is on the right side of the issues. Let’s make sure that the U.S. listens and learns from these lessons.