Bat Ye?or, renowned author of two prominent books on Islam and the West, cautions us against what he calls Eurabia.
In fact, the EU has been completing a slow metamorphosis into the “Christian” arm of the Pan-Arab world, different in religious observation (or lack of same) but united in its views of Israel and America.
The reasons are well-known to even a person–like me–with a basic knowledge of history and politics. Israel (re)kindles the fire of religious hatred–despite the post-Enlightenment years and adoption of secularism (not the Indian kind); and America stands as a proud and herculean symbol of Europe’s (well, I use the term Europe to denote the EU nations) own past glory that ended post-WWII. While Europe’s past glory resided almost entirely on colonialism–a euphemism for thievery–America’s rests almost entirely on economic factors.
Beyond a fleeting awareness, the overwhelming majority of Europeans and Americans do not understand the new Eurabian entity, which only the first step in a steady progression toward its Arabization and Islamization. Europe has evolved from a Judeo-Christian civilization, with important post-Enlightenment/secular elements, to a “civilization of dhimmitude,” i.e., Eurabia: a secular-Muslim transitional society with its traditional Judeo-Christian mores rapidly disappearing.
Closer to home, what Ye’or calls Dhimmitude, was practised by a host of Islamic rulers (the “tolerant” Mughals included) with great zeal. Only, they were called, Zimmis. The physical/political practice of Dhimmitude has is no longer in existence in India, but its ideological equivalent–in the form of secularism–thrives still. Dhimmitude as defined by Ye’or is a state of fear and insecurity of infidels who are required to accept a condition of humiliation. Thus we see a sense of fear, to cover up which, howls rent the air (in the media), when somebody raises an uncomfortable question about Islam. We are an open, democratic nation, which allows free speech and examination of ideas objectively. Why then should one section of the society shout when such questions are asked, even in innocence, or out of a genuine need to learn about Islam? This is Refined Dhimmitude at work.
This evolution of Europe has been duplicated internally within every EU country. This deliberate, comprehensive process has taken place through several means: the control of Middle Eastern Studies departments at European universities, and the re-writing of historical textbooks; allowing Euro-Arab bodies to screen cultural exchanges and publications relating to Islam and the Arab Muslim world for unwelcome content; taboos imposed on issues related to immigration and Islam; disinformation campaigns demonizing Israel (and America), while fostering a comprehensive and ?brotherly? alliance between EU and Arab League countries on the political, economic, cultural, and social levels; and the servile obedience of the EU’s mainstream media to all these initiatives.
Three points come to mind, which I’ve emphasized in several posts earlier: wherever Islam feels that its numbers are substantial, it begins a very slow process of taboo-fication; in a veiled manner initially by proclaiming that it is a Religion of Peace, and second, by imposing an unsaid ban on examining its core. The second point is related to the first: the media’s role–unfriendly journalists are weeded out, and those whose secular credentials are firmly established are given preference. The third point is the increasing emphasis all over the world on rewriting history. Back home, this has generated enough heat. However, does anyone notice the connection? In countries where Islam has either wreaked havoc historically, or is in significant numbers at present (such as France, UK which harbour a huge Islamic population), this game is being enacted. Why this is so is anybody’s guess. Also notice the fact that in India, several worthies howled when the erstwhile NDA government adopted a pro-Israeli stance.
… this program of Euro-Arab symbiosis has been codified in a detailed report entitled, ?Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean Area.? …. this report… was to establish complete interdependence between Europe and the Arab-Muslim world.
The rage of helplessness against America that is manifest in Europe today has compelled it to find a suitable ally because America looms large over the world: in its foreign policies, in its McDonalds outlets, fashion, what-have-you. And it has found an ally that both feeds its ego and shares its fury against the USA. As the adage goes, you lose your wits when you are angry. Europe whether knowingly or no, has become party to something, which if ignored now, is bound to have disastrous consequences. Read what Ye’or has to say:
This May (2004), the EU followed this report up by accepting the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures, named after Anna Lindh, the Swedish minister… Lindh was a staunch defender of Arafat and advocated an economic boycott of Israel by the EU, a policy long desired by Eurabian politicians…. The Anna Lindh Foundation endeavors to fight what it dubs ?Fortress Europe? on Arab immigration issues, and to establish a totalitarian academic structure which alone will be entitled to teach and publish material on the Euro-Arab Mediterranean. It will also monitor the texbooks and university curricula for all of the EU. Moreover, the Foundation promotes the vision of a unified Euro-Mediterranean world where people are not even defined as being from the North or the South, (terms considered too provocative as they might evoke visions of a once-Christian North and a very Muslim South). The Euro-Arab continent will instead be populated by an amorphous mass called only ?Us,? without acknowledged ethnic, national, or religious features. In reality, Europe is creating a gigantic Muslim community, or ?umma,? which is also inhabited by an anonymous (and precipitously dying) European dhimmi population.
And what will eventually follow provided inspiration for the title of this entry: Dar-ul-Europe. The Muslim Ummah stands for what Islamic raiders of the Yore carried with them wherever they went: convert to Islam or perish by the sword and/or fire: extreme, violent intolerance. Tags: Commentary, Discussions, History, Society & Culture
Sandeep, it’s nice to know that you admire and are fascinated by Rajiv Srinivasan/Swapan Dasgupta and others in their general category. It shows in your style of writing (rambling I would say) I like writings of those people too. I also find your style interesting.
It would be a good idea to do a little research before you publish your articles. Bat Ye’or is “she” and not “he” as you might have imagined after going through various Internet sources to gather your material.
Anonymous,
Please do me a favour by posting your real name so we can have a conversation on a name-to-name basis. And I know that Ye’or is a lady; the he was an oversight, thanks for pointing it out to me. But I don’t see how her gender in anyway matters to the relevance of her message.
BTW, my research is fairly detailed and accurate. And no, I’m not “fascinated” by Rajiv, etc al. If I were you, I’d be more choose my words better and rambling isn’t certainly one of them
Hi,
Nice to know great natioalistic and intelligent Indians like you.
Dhimmitude is everywhere in India. There is even a newspaper named Hindu which revel in it.probabluy one should make a list of all these well bribed dhimmis ad publish it.It is time that the dhimmi line of thinking is shown to be what it is.