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Older Talkback
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(Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG)
A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, 'Europe - your family name is appeasement.' It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.
Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives, as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.
Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe, where for decades, inhuman suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.
Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.
Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European Appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word 'equidistance,' now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.
Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program.
And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement.
How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic Fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a 'Muslim Holiday' in Germany?
I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our
(German) Govern ment, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State 'Muslim Holiday' will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists. One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler and declaring European 'Peace in our time'.
What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.
It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by 'tolerance' and 'accommodation' but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness. Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for Anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.
His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against Democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.
In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.
On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those 'arrogant Americans', as the World Champions of 'tolerance', which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes. Why?
Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic, so devoid of a moral compass.
For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.
While we criticize the 'capitalistic robber barons' of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation... Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to 'reach out to terrorists. To understand and forgive'.
These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.
Appeasement?
Europe, thy name is Cowardice.
Excellent! Mr. Dapfner clearly expresses the truth, refusing to be initimidated by the culture that surrounds him. Thank you for your clear thinking, I applaud you.
prey tell, what exactly has non appeasement (which we all know is just another name for war) ever got anyone?
> prey tell, what exactly has non appeasement
> (which we all know is just another name for war)
> ever got anyone?
Freedom from the Nazis.
Freedom from the Soviets.
Protecting muslims from Serbian genocide.
Note: anti-war pacifism has allowed the genocides in 1930s China, 1940s Europe, 1970s Cambodia, 1990s Rawanda and 2000s Darfur. (I probably missed a few more.)
The greater deathtoll has always been due to western fear, pacifism, and isolationism. Millions (of civilian minorities) die when we are pacifist-idle, while war kills thousands (or tens-of- or hundreds-of-) of our (US/EU) soldiers and the genocider's military & population.
=-=-=-=-=
'Except for Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism, War Has Never Solved Anything,'
'Communism has Only Killed 100 Million People. Let's Give it Another Chance.'
Poster: a Muslim woman wearing a burqa with a leash around her neck and tied to a pole with the slogan 'Protect Islamic Property Rights Against Western Imperialism! Say No to War!'
Cudos to 'EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE' finally someone from Europe that has woke up and smelt the coffee. The Euro's need to realize the value and continuos benifits that the USA has brought to them.
I totally agree with Mr.Dapfner analysis. Do you know why China is doing so well economically because all their tree huggers and peace activists are all too busy taking care of their family first instead of telling other people how to live their life!!
SFBEST
You are right, China is taking care of itself. But we have to stick our nose in your business because you dont see what's happening right in front of you.
Europe, that was an awesome well worded post.
The United States has become the world's nosy neighbor that knows everybody's business but it's own. Example: Leading debtor in world. Example: Even while proclaiming superpower status and military supremacy, let wounded soldiers languish in pest infested facilities near nation's capitol. Example: While proclaiming compassion and religious guidance as Christian nation, violates one of Ten Commandments, 'Thou shalt not kill' repeatedly in foreign interventions.
My comments are written as a dis-abled veteran disgusted that we would sacrifice so much of our blood and treasure in the pursuit of foolishness. It would also please me if we had a reawakening in honesty and truthfulness by our leaders. Lying our country into war places our leaders in the position of a similar person on death row in our prison system. Pre-meditated and first degree. America is no longer the home of the free and brave, It has become the land of the liar and welcher who didn't have enough respect for his country to serve when it came time to go.
'My comments are written as a dis-abled veteran disgusted that we would sacrifice so much of our blood and treasure in the pursuit of foolishness.'
As one disabled veteran to another I will gladly wheel your ass to the airport if you wish.
Mr. Dapfner's article seems like a page out of NeoConserative's handbook.
Let me clarify some history. Europeans are not pacifist nations. Europeans went and seized Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and North and South America. When Europeans conquered these lands, they either killed the natives or subjugated them to accept alien culture.
It is only last Century that British, French, Spanish and others were forced out by natives. The natives of USA and Canada live in dire straits without clean water and electricity in their reservations.
Strong arm tactics by Israel against the natives for 60 years have done nothing but spilled blood on both sides.
If you invade a nation and grab its resources, they will be repecussions,
but sadly in Dapfner's analysis they are 'terrorists' not freedom fighters.
When truth is spoken, it is seldom published, lets see if its same here.
Conquest of other nations seems to be underlying aspiration of Mr. Dapfner.
His view of a black and white world is an affliction from poor knowledge of human civilization. Empires from Pharoahs, Romans, Greeks, Persians and Babylon have gone to ruin.
USA and Europeans are most prone to attack and invade other peoples than anyone else on the planet
Mar 4th, 2007 - 00:01:27
'It is only last Century that British, French, Spanish and others were forced out by natives. The natives of USA and Canada live in dire straits without clean water and electricity in their reservations.'
Hehe another poster who posts crap that he clearly dosnt know zip about. Majority population of North and South America is Spanish, English and other Euro decendants. And clearly you have not been anywhere near any reservations around here.
Americans have really done their fair share of good work... but the capitialists and fascists have taken the lead in America, and it is scary; America is now the modern money machine, putting dollars over lives.
We live on a planet of many modern democracies, not only one, and the US needs to learn how to work together to find global solutions to global problems within our global democracy. Any more rampant use of force outside of the global consensus will only break America.
Europe is currently the strongest and safest community on earth in regard to human rights and peacable society, and America should take some notes.
It's much easier to calm the wild places on earth by improving education and using trade as a tool (to nuture or strain a market) than by using war, and the global democracies are able to do this together!
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