Subject: Europe- Appeasement Commentary



Strong words from Germany

Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 08:22:01 -0400

Matthias Dapfner, Chief Executive of the huge German publishing house
Axel Springer AG, has written a blistering attack in DIE WELT (The
World), Germany's largest daily newspaper, against the timid reaction of
Europe in the face of the Islamic threat.

EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE

Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG)

A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in WELT AM SONNTAG (Sunday World):
"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 UN. 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) Government, 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 Adolf 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. (Joan bolded this!)

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.

Edit: Removed Layout

Made me cry...

Tony Blair knows what up anyways. I'm glad to see there are some people in Europe that have some sense in them.

Finally someone frikin read it. I was amazed cuz noone would read it cuz it appears too longs... but its acctually kinda short. Yea, this was a really good article.

Well actually I skimmed throught the first half... And just read the last 4 paragraphs lol. I got the point anyways. I don't think this is the majority view in Europe. Even though I'd say that the American press makes it look like everyone hates us everywhere because we are all so frickin dumb.

Yea, your running in circles from 9-5 and from 5-9 the media owns you. They tell you what they want you to hear, and you consider it the truth. Nobody is opening their eyes here........*rambles on with his little quote rant*

Wow. I just read the whole thing, and...I...wow. Yikes.

I'm surprised, actually. I also thought there were too few American supporters overseas. My fault for watching television and reading the newspaper, I suppose.

But MAN! It was refreshing and pleasing to read that article. I'm glad that at least there's SOMEONE out there who thinks of our nation as more than fat oil-grubbing scumbags.

What the **** do they mean with cowardice?! ><

And from where do americans get the impression that they are so much better than everyone else!!?

Sorry, had to get that out.

If you are saying that we think we are better than everyone because of that article, you can't really do that, a German wrote that not an American.

Also many people think that their ideas are best. The English think that tea must be served hot and to serve it cold is like you are killing it. And the French cannot stand for you to butcher their language. And not all American's think they are better than everyone else, so don't group everyone together.

It wasn't the article, there are alot of minor things, but here's an example:

"But MAN! It was refreshing and pleasing to read that article. I'm glad that at least there's SOMEONE out there who thinks of our nation as more than fat oil-grubbing scumbags." (Stoney, above)

I completely understand what Stoney means, as here in Europe, for example, americans are often pictured as, yes, fat oil-grubbing scumbags. I know this is wrong, and many good friends of mine are american. But to the point. Exactly what do americans think of europeans then? I remember things like "Europe is a waste of space" or something...

Really I think the French are the only ones most Americans would think less of (except for the people that think less of every other country, which I would guess there are people like that in most countries). I don't really know of any other nations in Europe that we have a negative view of.

Oh yeah BX98 just don't start spelling words weird like "colour" instead of color. lol just kidding.

Hehe, that's the "english english" way, right?

Yeah that's the "English English" way. I was going to say not to come over here and start asking for cigarettes using the "English English" term as well. Most Americans would look at you really funny.

But like I say I can't think of any European nations Americans think less of (except France). I remember the exchange student we had from Norway during my junior year of HS. She was pretty cool.

I really think the view that we think we are better than other people is blown out of proportion. I mean I'm proud to be an American, but I'm not going to go out and say I'm better than somebody else just because of where I'm from.

We don't think we are better. I think we think our country is better. Those of us who have PRIDE and RESPECT for our country. Those who are PATRIOTIC. We don't think we are better. We think our counry is better. How can you not? Built on christianity.

I think it's ok to say that you're good, but not to say others are bad. But now I know you don't think others are bad (except France), so it's sorta ok then.

"Arms keep peace"
"Let them hate us, as long as they fear us"
"Great empires are not maintained by timidity"
"If a man does not strike first, he will be struck"
"We should provide in peace, what we need in war"

Those are some ancient philosophical statements, that hold true today.