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From the New York Times, with thanks to Scaramouche, who comments: "Under the guise of integrating its growing Muslim population, the Spanish government is funding the spread of Islam in Spain."
In early October, the government created a foundation to help "minority religions" integrate into Spanish society. Seemingly modest, it is still a remarkable step for this nation once forged by religious wars against the Muslim rulers. Spain's Inquisition persecuted Muslims, Jews and Protestants alike to impose Catholic dominance.The new foundation, with only $3.5 million to start, intends to finance projects for Jews and Protestants as well. But above all it intends to improve the government's relations with Muslims and to give them more of a voice in national issues.
"We have been asking for funds and it's only a small start, but it's positive," said Mansur Escudero of the Islamic Commission of Spain.
Since the Madrid bombings, the Spanish police have stepped up monitoring of terrorist suspects and they track Muslim clerics whom they fear could incite their followers to violence. But at the same time, many Spaniards say that it is indispensable to improve the dialogue with the moderate Muslim majority.
A leading voice for that position is Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who recently called for "an alliance of cultures" in the Western and Muslim world as a way to isolate those who advocate violence.
Since taking power in March, Spain's new Socialist government has set out to improve its links with Algeria, Tunisia and, above all, Morocco, with which relations soured under Spain's previous conservative administration.
As one of several initiatives, Spain recently announced that 2005 will be The Year of Morocco, while Morocco has declared 2006 to The Year of Spain. The culture ministers of the two countries said that events and themes would include theater, contemporary art exhibitions, translations of literature and restorations of artworks.
The new foundation, however, reflects Spain's quandary when dealing with any religious issue. Spanish officials have openly said they would like to reduce Spanish Muslims' dependence on foreign financing. A number of Spain's 400 Muslim prayer houses and mosques have received money from Libya, Morocco or Malaysia. Europe's largest mosque, located just outside Madrid, was built by Saudi Arabia.
Spain initially planned to subsidize mosques directly, but backed away from that idea. Officials said the government could not justify financing mosques when it is striving for a greater separation between church and state. The government hopes to tackle one of the country's most prickly issues, reducing both the state financing of the Roman Catholic clergy and, in turn, Catholic influence on politics.
Posted by Robert at October 25, 2004 6:31 AM
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Zapatero is calling for what he terms "an alliance of cultures". Does this man have any idea about what he is dealing with? Muslims do not 'ally' themselves with infidels, except as a means to advance the umma.
An alliance built on mutual trust and a common interest is not possible with islam. Islam's mandate is to hold place above all other things. Even 'moderate' muslims will defend this. There is no alliance with that which seeks preeminence. Who can become a partner in the will of god? You can only submit.
Zapatero is a fool of the highest order.
Posted by: Belisarius![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 25, 2004 11:13 AM
El trigo entre todas las flores,
Ha escogido la amapola.
Y yo -- yo esco a mi Dolores,
Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Stamping of feet here in good gitanilla-between-the-teeth fashion, and rhythmic clapping of hands.
And who is that favorite poppy that the shoemaker, not sticking to his last, chooses?
Why, that lucky amapola is Islam, Islam, Islam.
Posted by: Hugh at October 25, 2004 11:48 AM
Ooooh! What fools! Nothing more needs to be said.
Posted by: epg at October 25, 2004 12:03 PM
Spain is finished. They might as well learn right now how to shove their asses up in the air and worship the black cube in Mecca. And forget about calling their country Espagna because it's al-Andalus now.
Posted by: Suzan at October 25, 2004 2:57 PM
Does the Spanish government or any other European government for that ask themselves if there is a Muslim country anywhere where measures are being taken to integrate Christian minorities?
The answer would be even if they did, they wouldn't be able to find one.
I don't believe in tit or tat, but it seems doomed to failure trying to integrate large and growing numbers of Muslims.
The much maligned Enoch Powell kept repeating that immigrants should only be allowed in at the rate that they can integrate. Trying to integrate them after they have arrived in mass and have formed their own ghettos is rather like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
at October 25, 2004 4:00 PM
Does the Spanish government or any other European government for that ask themselves if there is a Muslim country anywhere where measures are being taken to integrate Christian minorities?
The answer would be even if they did, they wouldn't be able to find one.
I don't believe in tit or tat, but it seems doomed to failure trying to integrate large and growing numbers of Muslims.
The much maligned Enoch Powell kept repeating that immigrants should only be allowed in at the rate that they can integrate. Trying to integrate them after they have arrived in mass and have formed their own ghettos is rather like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
at October 25, 2004 4:00 PM
I'd be in agreement to integrate them into the dumpsters behind the Spanish diners.
Unfortunately, the rats would throw them back out into the parking lot.
Posted by: DCWatson at October 25, 2004 6:25 PM
How about immigration of Muslims into all sane nations comes to a halt. There there would be no growing Muslim infestation. Duh.
Posted by: DCWatson at October 25, 2004 6:27 PM
DCWatson:
He-he, the one with the rats is really funny. Rats happen to be really smart animals indeed...One wonders, though, what would the motivations are of those governments that are encouraging such infestation. Is it the cheap labor? (but it is usually noted that those guys are not working very hard, they rather receive government help) How come the thing that is obvious to a sea urchin is not obvious to people who run countries? Do they have a death wish or something (and feel like they have to take the whole Christian population with them)?
at October 25, 2004 9:50 PM
I am Spanish. I live in Spain. Spaniards are terrified. This government has decided that we should solve the population explosion of the Mogreb by ceasing to exist as a Western State: Separation of Church and State and Human Rights look like goners for us. Zapatero is granting "green cards" almost for free to Muslim wetbacks (it only takes a 3-month contract. A 14-year old girl could get one if she tried). This is getting ridiculous: Muslim illegals living in France are crossing the border to take advantage of Zapatero´s State-suicidal policies. Meanwhile, the Spanish police has released statistics showing that 10% of all Muslim migrants are felons - yes, FELONS. That is a lot of people. As a result of this, Rule of Law no longer applies. Attempted lynchings of cops just made the news in several southern villages. Entire neighbourhoods are off-limits for European-looking people.
We are making life easier for France and above all for Morocco.
The US like this. They want stability, they are afraid of rising Fundamentalism in Northern Africa. Mohamed VI is more or less of an ally, whereas a Fundamentalist Takeover looks almost certain if Morocco doesnt start exporting several million of his baby boomers, ill-bred country bumpkins, real soon. Remittances from Europe are very important for their economy. They are making quite a pile for themselves by transporting migrants from the Sahel into Europe, too.
Smirk all you want, but when you are finished, please pray for us. All that I have written is true.
Posted by: olencratz at October 26, 2004 5:16 AM
If you understand Spanish, hear this:
http://www.cope.es/audios/noche/politica-251004.wma
Regards.
Posted by: olencratz at October 26, 2004 5:27 AM
Olencratz buenas noches, me alegro mucho de verte por aqui yo también soy español
The truth is the situation in Spain is very complicated, but only spanish people will change the situation and the people I hope is wakening up, greetings
at October 26, 2004 2:23 PM
Shame and chagrin -- mi da verguenza -- yet again, but okay, here is the song, or part of it, written in haste with typoes above:
El trigo entre todas las flores,
Ha escogido a la amapola,
Y yo -- yo escojo a mi Dolores,
Dolores, Lolita, Lola.
Same footstamping, same red red rose between the glittering white teeth, same flashing black eyes (no, I just added that to make it more interesting), but now it no longer offends the gods or grammarians, who are the same thing.
Of course the object of affection (well, I admit I envisaged a woman singing the song, though properly it should be a man, right? Seville is not Somerville, Massachusetts)should take its little "a" and "escogir" should be rightly conjugated, just as, come to think of it, =the singer and Dolores should, by rights, conjugate -- but only off-stage, please, we're British.
Posted by: Hugh at October 26, 2004 2:42 PM
Allow me to correct you word(s) for "choose"- it is not escogir, it is escoger; and the conj. is escogo and not escojo. These are different letters.
As to you yourself Hugh, why don't you respond to my emails? I got tired of waiting for you and had to register.
As always, Spaniards, your forum has 10 users: http://spanish.faithfreedom.org/forum Please come and visit.
Posted by: Ibn Rushd at October 26, 2004 5:32 PM
About the verb form: isn't the present indicative of the infinitive "escoger"(which I wrote incorrectly above) "escojo" (I choose, I select, I want, you, my amapola, says the fiery gitana in my imaginary version, though I suppose she should rightly be he, given the longing expressed for Lola.
Native speakers from the Basque country to the Rio Bio-Bio, help! Otherwise I shall have to put on my quevedos and hobble over to my ancient shelf, and brush the dust from John Minsheu's dictionary, which dictionary I haven't consulted in four hundred years, not since El Cid was just a stripling in Guillen de Castro's imagination, in order to settle my own, or someone else's, hash.
Posted by: Hugh at October 26, 2004 7:24 PM
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