This helpful piece cuts through the media lies about the anti-Islamization movement in Germany. “Explaining Pegida to the World,” by Iuvenal, PI News, January 8, 2015:
Before coming to the point I have to make sure that you will not take me for a part of Pegida or authorized by their leaders. I am not. I am just a concerned citizen sharing some of the goals of the movement and am deeply concerned about what is going on in Europe and therefore feeling a strong need to make clear why Pegida is and what it is for.
First I have to send my dearest apologies to the English reader. I am neither British nor American, so my English might be insufficient to exactly express my thoughts. And I have to declare my apologies to the German reader, too. This article is in English only, because it is for the World, this time.
What I call the Pegida-phenomenon is an unexpected flash of patriotism. After World War II and the Holocaust the Germans were educated to hate their country and to hate themselves. Now they suddenly developed a feeling of Germany a place worth living there and of themselves as creatures worth living. And they have worked hard for it. To make that point absolutely clear: Their patriotism is not hatred against those coming from a place somewhere else; it is deep-rooted love for their homeland.
The Pegida-people are not against Europe, they are for Europe. They do not even call themselves Germans in the first place, they call themselves Europeans. And they are standing up for the preservation of the Judaeo-Christian tradition they believe to be the core of what we call the West.
Therefore they are honestly concerned about millions of people coming to Europe – whether they are coming as refugees or as conquerors – when it has to be feared by certain evidence that not all of them are sharing the values of the Western Civilisation and possibly are about to import other values strongly opposing the Judaeo-Christian tradition. They are not ignoring the fact that Muslims are a part of modern Europe, but they are doubtful that Islam could ever be a part of it.
Those people are seeking the dialogue with politicians unaware even of the obvious problems and unwilling to listen to them. So the Pegida-people were remembering the Greek roots of the word Democracy, that it should be, speaking with Abraham Lincoln, a government of the people and by the people and for the people, and not an elitist club of politicians and journalists deciding for the commoners as parents would do for their children. Pegida-people don´t want to be treated as children but as citizens; and they want the people to be respected as the sovereign again.
Unfortunately the government is not taking them seriously. Back in the 90s many professors of economy warned the European governments that the Euro – one currency for many countries with very different economies – is a stupid idea. Politics was not listening. In the 10s we have to face a serious and devastating crisis that shows: Politicians should listen.
Since the 60s governments imported people from Islamic countries to European countries and hoped them to be turned into good citizens without any efforts of a well thought-out policy of migration and integration. Many of them found a new home – but others are still at war with the countries they are now living in. Those protesters felt the question arose whether that is an accident or possibly has to do with the religion of Islam that is not quite a religion but a political system potentially regulating all aspects of individual lives and of a society. Especially after the events in Paris they will not stop asking these inconvenient questions.
Michael Copeland says
Following the outrage in Paris there will from now on be a far stronger participation in PEGIDA walks. People are not buying the spin any longer.
noellsq says
Being an American and the son of immigrants I was raised as an American. I was taught about free speech and respect for others. My parents talked a foreign language at home but never in public. My view is if a person comes to a country from a country they are fleeing from they must assimilate and obey their laws not change their laws for themselves. People who migrate must sign a pledge to obey their new countries laws and learn their new language and the countries customs.
Michael Copeland says
There remains a problem unique to Islam, though: taqiyya, authorized deception. The Times Square would-be mass murderer, Faisal Shahzad, was a naturalized American citizen. The judge reminded him that he had sworn the Oath of Alllegiance. His reply:
“I sweared, but I did not mean it”.
Remember also U.S. citizen Samir Khan:
“I am a traitor to America because my religion requires me to be one.”
Islam remains the problem: it is “incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy” (European Court of Human Rights, Welfare Party case).
HenK says
In Sweden the islamists are now changing the laws for their own benefit. And to protest against this is considering racism. Its fucked but its the truth.
We desperatly need pegida here, asap.
Chrissie07 says
Yes, thanks to Iuvenal for taking the time to write in English.
You would not believe the names by which official German politicians have called this mass movement.
Angela Merkel has warned everybody not to follow those who hate. These people were called ‘rats’ and ‘riff-raff’ and worse from highest positions.
First worry of our social democrats after Paris was that Pegida might utilize the attack for its goals.
The movement is demonized in a manner that is unimaginable.
Allegedly, they are all xenophobic and Nazi.
No factual public discussion with regard to the list of 19 issues was allowed or has ever taken place.
But somehow it seems, this groundless animosity and lack of fairness is even helping the movement. They growing in numbers each time.
Salah says
Peaceful and MASSIVE demonstrations are the only way to avoid a civil war or worse (i.e surrender.)
They’ve done it in Egypt, a muslim country, and they won. Egypt has avoided its Islamization and is gradually moving away from Islam itself.
No one knows Islam better than Muslims. They have been living in this huge prison for centuries. A prison where they are both the prisoners and the jailers.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-end-of-muslim-brotherhood.html
voegelinian says
“After World War II and the Holocaust the Germans were educated to hate their country and to hate themselves. ”
This is exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you guys.
And what this writer describes about Germany may be applicable to other European countries in subtly different ways, and also magnified in many other ways with regard to all the other nations of the West and their own regional, historical “shameful chapters” (e.g., Australian aborigines; American Indians; French Algerians; etc.) they irrationally fret over and have culturally solidified into psychological, cultural and institutional White Guilt. This is the crux of the PC MC worldview. Along come Muslims on our radar, and since our PC MC perceives Muslims as an ethnic minotiry (or a wonderful diversity of ethnic peoples), all those aforementioned hot buttons get pushed and the PC MC goes into auto-pilot, bending over backwards to “respect” and defend (if not outright promote) the Muslims of the world and the millions it has foolishly invited into its societies..
Molly P says
Brilliant post; hit the nail squarely on the head! Until Islam has its’ own Martin Luther step forward, or One World political whores love their country and heritage more than profit, we are screwed!
Western Canadian says
Your understanding of Martin Luther is badly flawed….
Fritz says
I think its even not patriotism.In the east people had also enough from the open boarders.Poland and Czechs are much poorer then germany so many came to steal.And they steal everything.Even children came across the open boarder and steal bikes.
And some years ago near Dresden imn Leipzig an Mulitculti Gang terrorized the City stabbed one and killed one(the killer is still free)because they wanted to have the power about drugs dealing and security in the Discos.When they attacked Discos police was standing(it was in the TV)hundred meters away and was afraid to do something!
eldocent says
I can say something different – recently German Polizei found out, that reports from citizens about stolen cars and property are more and more fake – the Germans are attempting to take money from insurance companies, claiming that Poles and Czechs stole something and ran away. And since your East Germany is so rich, richer than Poland and Czech Republic – why you all people move to west, leaving ghost towns, huge uninhabited areas ? The land is cheaper than at the polish side of border, because nobody wants to live there. Border-towns are printing leaflets in polish now, welcoming every new settler or family, helping to learn language, helping to fight with German alcoholic Hill-Billys (which i think are the big problem now in your east) that are burning polish cars, polish stores, threatening polish kids at schools.
I see your point of view – and it is not your fault, that better educated neighbor is making you angry. You still seem to live in East Germany in your head. Sorry – times have changed, either you will accept us as your ‘European brothers’ and your neighbors or soon you will pray five times a day. Or you will run away to Poland or Czech.
Acha – Ich kann es alles auch auf deutsch schreiben, kannst du deine scheisse auf polnisch? Hehe 🙂
Kenny says
Let’s hope that Pegida and the brave people who have formed it gain in strength and momentum.
Let’s also hope that this ‘people power’, movement spreads accross Europe and to here in England. My wife and I will sign up to it immediately.
Let’s get it going, but preferably not by facebook for a number of very good reasons e.g. not to be intercepted by idiots like Hope not Hate and their fellow travellers.
Kenny says
PS Germany, you are now a proud and civilised nation again with much to be proud of. I know,. I’ve been there!
Keep doing what you’re doing!
peter weber says
I grew up in Germany (born in Switzerland). I live in Ireland since many years now. I thought, Germany is lost. But, maybe there is hope … We would need something like PEDIGA in Ireland …
pongidae rex says
At some point, even cows and sheep and multiculturalists can recognize a clear and present danger to their existence.
somehistory says
I understand very little of reading in languages other than English…a few words or phrases in French, or Spanish and a few others…but needing English to understand an entire article. I understood this one perfectly well, thank you.
Michael A says
The American president is a born and raised Jihadi, steeped in taqiyya and kitman.
Agreed: standing up for the preservation of the Judaeo-Christian tradition I believe to be the core of what we call the West is paramount to the survival of our character and way of life. The progressively fascist liberal movement has moved from Germany to the United States and it is only fitting that Germany warn the rest of the world this is a fatal mistake. Islam is a theocracy, that means a form of government. No conscious nation should want their own government displaced! Islam is medieval form of government construct by a common bandit and thug.