Is it an escapist fantasy to talk about reversing Muslim immigration?

(Note: Be sure to see, below, Patrick Henry’s speech from March 1775, every word of which is relevant to the theme of this entry.)

This is a comment I wrote February 17, in a discussion on Geert Wilders:

[O]n Lilli’s troubling point that the Muslim are now so ensconced in Western Europe that nothing would make them voluntarily leave, that remains to be seen. Every appropriate measure must be thought through and attempted. Jeff in England is always telling me that I’m living in a fantasy world when I say that Muslims must leave. Well, then, I’m living in a fantasy world when I say that I want Western society to survive. Because if the Muslims do not leave, Western society will not survive. Therefore every measure, starting with money offers to get them to leave voluntarily, graduating to outlawing the practice of Islam to get them to leave voluntarily, graduating to forced deportations, must all be considered. If people recoil from the thought of civil war in European countries, imagine the civil wars European countries will be facing in 25 years if the Muslim population and power continue to grow. So there is no escape from this problem. If it is not faced, it will only keep getting worse. If the Europeans dread war now, they will face a much more devastating war later. Unless their ultimate aim is simply to surrender to Islam.

And I would ask those reading this to ask yourselves: Am I ultimately willing to surrender to Islam?

- end of initial entry -

Alex H. sends this:

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
—Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

Karen writes from England:

It is not a fantasy to expel Muslims from the West. Muslims are here for the money and because they want to Islamise the countries of the West and thus expand their territory and resources. However they lack the intellectual and physical resources of Western people. Thus if there is a significant movement amongst whites to remove Muslims, Muslims can be displaced. The banning of the practice of Islam, the closure of mosques, the banning of Muslims from working in specific occupations (security, civil service, law), the banning of further Muslim immigration and the resistance to Islam in all aspects of social and political life would make life unpleasant for Muslims and many of them would leave. Any form of repression applied to them would make large numbers of them flee and the rest could be contained until they can be deported.

Some diehard liberals are beginning to realise the futility of their beliefs. There is hope for the future.

Stewart W. writes:

Am I ultimately willing to surrender to Islam?

That is a question that I have examined for some time, and to the best of my ability to speculate about such matters, the answer is a resounding NO. Of course, the standard corollary to such a statement is “Am I willing to die defending what I believe?”, for which my answer is yes.

However, I have heard it stated that the truly revealing question is not “are you willing to die for what you believe”, but rather “are you willing to kill for what you believe?” That is the question that we as individuals and as societies must answer for ourselves, and which is especially challenging for individuals. The very question goes to the heart of the liberal belief in equality and non-discrimination. There is no more discriminatory act than to take another person’s life on the basis of belief.

For myself, I believe the answer is still yes, but I fear that if enough people don’t share that belief, we are in the long run still doomed.

Mark G. writes:

You write, “And I would ask those reading this to ask yourselves: Am I ultimately willing to surrender to Islam?” Well, the shahada is just a few words, and if I found myself trapped in a repressive Islamic state, I would be sorely tempted. Just say the words, then you’re no longer a second-class citizen, and you escape the infidel tax—it’s no wonder Islam conquers every society it touches. I’d tell myself I could still believe whatever I pleased in my own mind, my own heart, but it would be a spineless rationalization. I wish I could say I’d stand up for my beliefs against any tyranny, but I don’t know for sure, and I dearly hope I never find out.

From: Jeff in England
Subject: GOTTA CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING

While I reiterate am in agreement with you that Muslims (in combination with huge amounts of other immigrant groups including Eastern Europeans) can and will destroy European Western Civilisation, I repeat to you that the reality is that they ain’t gonna be going back to where they came from. Yes, the problem needs to be faced so that means NOT suggesting solutions that have no chance of becoming reality. None. We don’t have that sort of time to waste.

So, I say in the best possible spirit, you’re going to have to “change your way of thinking” when trying to work out how to deal with this menace.

LA replies:

My thrice weekly sermon from Pastor Jeff!

Jeff replies:

Just doing what Jesus would have done.

LA replies:

You’re not him.

LA continues:

My last reply to Jeff is a joke. It’s a line from “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream,” on Bringing It All Back Home:

I said, “You know, they refused Jesus too.”
He said, “You’re not him.”

But Jeff thought I was being serious. So probably not many other people would get it either, without the explanation.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at March 19, 2008 12:38 PM | Send