Daniel Pipes writes in the New York Sun and his website about the growing anti-dhimmitude in Europe, the UK and Australia and asks, “where are the Americans?”
As the full implications of the London terrorist attacks by domestic jihadis sink in, Westerners are speaking out about the problem of radical Islam with new clarity and boldness.
The most profound development is the sudden need of the British and others to define the meaning of their nationality. In the face of the Islamist challenge, historic identities once taken for granted must now be codified.
This can be seen on a diurnal level, where Islamist assertion has provoked a new European willingness in recent months to stand up for tradition — as seen by the banning of burqas in Italy, requiring a German school boy to attend co-ed swimming classes, and making male applicants for Irish citizenship renounce polygamy. When a ranking Belgian politician canceled lunch with an Iranian group after its members demanded that alcohol not be served, his spokesman explained, “You can’t force the authorities of Belgium to drink water.”
As shown by two statements on the same day last week, August 24, leading Western politicians are going beyond these minor specifics to address the civilization at the heart of the matter.
The British shadow education secretary and one of the Conservative Party’s bright prospects, David Cameron, defined Britishness as “freedom under the rule of law,” adding that this expression “explains almost everything you need to know about our country, our institutions, our history, our culture – even our economy.” The treasurer of Australia, Peter Costello, who is regarded as heir apparent to Prime Minister Howard, said, “Australia expects its citizens to abide by core beliefs — democracy, the rule of law, the independent judiciary, independent liberty.”…
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