March 07, 2006
Picking and Choosing a Cause
Some feel that conservatives are a bit, well, hypocritical in the recent spate of support for Denmark regarding freedom of speech and the publishing of Muhammed cartoons that have caused (well planned) rioting throughout Europe.
You know what's funny? American conservatives generally hate Europe. Especially France, of course, but the loathing is generally quite continental. Europe may have given birth to Western Civilization, but now it's a socialist secular wasteland that's rapidly sinking into oblivion and irrelevance, that is, in essence, becoming extinct, dying. At best, conservatives want Europe to be more American, hence their enthusiastic support of Italian conservative Silvio Berlusconi and German conservative Angela Merkel. Indeed, it wasn't so long ago that they enthusiastically supported a French conservative by the name of Jacques Chirac.
...
So how funny it is, in an odd sort of way, to see conservatives falling all over themselves in support of that great European power, Denmark, just because a Danish newspaper published a few provocatively offensive cartoons that belittled Islam (see here, here, and here). It's a case of free speech, conservatives argue, but the fact that speech is free, and ought to remain so, doesn't make it right. Are we witnessing a rush of conservative support to Holocaust-denier David Irving? Not so much. But conservatives are jumping gleefully aboard their self-made pro-Denmark bandwagon — see here, here, and here.
The Moderate Voice makes some interesting points. I'd like to address them. This is a long post; you'll need a few minutes to read it if you can spare the time.
Read More "Picking and Choosing a Cause"
Do I hate Europe? Perhaps I hate Europe in much the same way that many Europeans seem to hate America. America-bashing, at least among the chattering classes, is quite popular in many European countries. I suppose I hate the way America is often made a convenient scapegoat for many of the world's problems, whether they are of our making or not. America is the richest and most powerful nation on our planet today. We are also one of the most generous, yet when we give to a cause (the 2004 tsunami, for example), we are criticized for not giving enough quickly enough.
Our transformation from an upstart breakaway colony to being the richest and most powerful nation in less than 300 years is a cause for envy. Instead of their admitting as much, Europeans often mock and belittle us as being culturally and morally deficient. It's much easier to do so, I guess, than to be introspective. Do I believe America is perfect? Certainly not. However, when much of the good we do is overshadowed by snarky backbiting and fingerpointing from countries that have benefited from our largesse, I get a little testy. So no, I don't hate Europe, but I hate the way they see fit to treat us, and I give as good as I get.
As far as wanting Europe to be more like America, I truly believe that moving away from socialism and giving more credence to free market principles would be a boon to European countries. I don't believe European countries should abandon their rich histories and cultures to become mini-Americas. Yet let's remember too, that many Europeans think America should become more like them...
Regarding David Irving, the British Holocaust denier who was recently sentenced to three years in prison in Austria: do I think that's right? Frankly, no. His views should be aired and refuted, but I don't believe that jail time is the answer. Why were there no protests? Why didn't I start one? I guess I am less worried about one man who has legal recourse to an appeal than multiple cartoonists who have gone into hiding because of death threats. And while a protest would show that I support free speech, it probably wouldn't do much to change the Austrian law.
And now to the Danish cartoons of Muhammed. If you've seen the cartoons (I posted them here), you'll see they aren't as provocative as they have been made out to be. They didn't make much of an impact when they first appeared in Jyllands-Posten in October of last year. In fact, the cartoons were printed in an Egyptian paper shortly thereafter, and no one batted an eyelash. However, radical mullahs who were looking for a smoking gun found it in the cartoons and spent three months drumming up support while also showing cartoons not originally included in the Danish newspaper -- cartoons much more offensive, and calculated to get a violent response. Make no mistake; the mullahs are out to topple the pillars of European society, and they are milking this to the fullest potential.
So what happened then? Rioting, death threats, destruction of property. All over cartoons that Muslims deem offensive. However, Arab/Muslim publications have no problem printing cartoons like these. Where is the outrage? There isn't any that I am aware of.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean you should run out and offend anyone you feel like just because you can -- but it happens. Freedom of speech also doesn't mean that you are free from being offended. I see offensive things in the press every day. What do I do? I might write a letter to the editor, I might post about it here, or I might attend a peaceful rally like I did last week (the first time ever, I might add).
Is it possible for me, a lowly conservative, to address everything I find disturbing and/or against my principles in this world? No. I have a job and I have a family. Therefore, I devote my time to the things I feel are more important than others. Such importance is subjective. What I feel important might not be considered as important by others.
Therefore, to answer The Moderate Voice's question: I believe that attending this rally was important because the spread of radical Islam is something that affects Europeans and Americans alike. I also don't believe that any one special interest group in a free society should dictate what is said or printed in a free press.
I am not always happy with things European countries say or do, but I don't hate them -- with the possible exception of France ;-) Why is showing solidarity with Denmark questioned? Because conservatives "hate" Europe we shouldn't show concern when something we feel threatens them rears its ugly head?
Like anyone else, I have to pick and choose what I will support based on what I believe to be its level of importance vs. how much time I have to devote. If that's wrong, so be it. But I will not apologize for it. After all, I'm a conservative, not a leftist. I don't apologize for things I don't have to.
« Hide "Picking and Choosing a Cause"
Show Comments »
Excellent post!
posted by
cookiewrangler at March 8, 2006 09:34 AM
At the moment, I don't have time to read the Moderate Voice post, but just a couple of things...
I don't think American Conservatives "hate" Europe, we are just extremely disappointed in them, especially in light of the American blood shed during WWII and the Cold War and the billions of taxpayer dollars (from our parents and grandparents) that contributed to the rebuilding of Europe after WWII. Some of that "developmental lag" may be due to the lingering effects of Eastern-bloc socialism, Old European socialism, and old tribal conflicts that erupted in the post-Soviet power vacuum.
And I don't think that most Americans want Europe to "become American" either, we just want Europe to adopt some of our successful behaviors and practices, so they can experience some success and get off that jealousy-driven "hatred" they have towards the United States.
posted by
joe-6-pack at March 8, 2006 12:46 PM
Most Europeans don't hate Americans, contrary to your assertion. Most America bashing isn't jealousy, it is anger that our culture is spreading over there and taking over their's (McD's, BK, Starbucks, etc.).
They have the same problem with Arab immigrants, so it has nothing to do with us being an upstart colony. You're so far off base I had to pick you off.
posted by paul at March 9, 2006 09:07 PM
Oh? Then they shouldn't buy crap that they don't want. Then it wouldn't spread, and they wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Do we have a gun to their heads telling them to buy Levis and Big Macs? Hardly. The market will not support what people will not pay for. If they don't like it, they have only themselves to blame.
And if they're angry about what's happening with Arab immigrants, why didn't they tighten their immigration laws earlier? Why didn't they make more of an effort to mainstream the Arabs? What does Arab immigration have to do with their attitude toward America? Again, their own policies are their own undoing.
Oh, and I don't need to be "off base" for you to pick me off. You do it out of habit.
posted by
Pam at March 10, 2006 05:48 AM
« Hide Comments
At the moment, I don't have time to read the Moderate Voice post, but just a couple of things...
I don't think American Conservatives "hate" Europe, we are just extremely disappointed in them, especially in light of the American blood shed during WWII and the Cold War and the billions of taxpayer dollars (from our parents and grandparents) that contributed to the rebuilding of Europe after WWII. Some of that "developmental lag" may be due to the lingering effects of Eastern-bloc socialism, Old European socialism, and old tribal conflicts that erupted in the post-Soviet power vacuum.
And I don't think that most Americans want Europe to "become American" either, we just want Europe to adopt some of our successful behaviors and practices, so they can experience some success and get off that jealousy-driven "hatred" they have towards the United States.
Most Europeans don't hate Americans, contrary to your assertion. Most America bashing isn't jealousy, it is anger that our culture is spreading over there and taking over their's (McD's, BK, Starbucks, etc.).
They have the same problem with Arab immigrants, so it has nothing to do with us being an upstart colony. You're so far off base I had to pick you off.
Oh? Then they shouldn't buy crap that they don't want. Then it wouldn't spread, and they wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Do we have a gun to their heads telling them to buy Levis and Big Macs? Hardly. The market will not support what people will not pay for. If they don't like it, they have only themselves to blame.
And if they're angry about what's happening with Arab immigrants, why didn't they tighten their immigration laws earlier? Why didn't they make more of an effort to mainstream the Arabs? What does Arab immigration have to do with their attitude toward America? Again, their own policies are their own undoing.
Oh, and I don't need to be "off base" for you to pick me off. You do it out of habit.
