Europe - your name is cowardice

I ran across an article from Welt.de that caught me by surprise.
The wording is blantant, meaningful, and striking.
I am not sure what to say concerning this or even willing to speculate why the article was even written and published.
What I will say is that the article simply caught me by surprise to read, especially concerning what is insinuated.

I used babelfish to translate it:
Babelfish translation

Here is what some of the article mentions:

"Europa --- your surname is Appeasement!", Henryk M. Broder in the "world wrote on Sunday" some days ago. A sentence, which does not go to one any longer by heart, because it is so terriblly correct.

Appeasement cost millions Jews and Nichtjuden the life, because the allied ones in England and France hesitated to negotiated for a long time and, until they noticed that one does not merge Hitler, but to only fight can. Appeasement stabilized Soviet communism and the GDR, as parts of Europe clarified the inhumanen suppression state to the ideological alternative. Appeasement laehmte Europe, when in the Kosovo the genocide raged and one is enough in such a way debated, until the Americans settled our tasks there. European Appeasement, camouflaged in the nebula word "Aequidistanz", relates the suicide assassination attempts of fundamentalist Palestinians in Israel, instead of protecting the only democracy in the middle east. Appeasement coins/shapes the mentality, if Europe in the Iraq over the 300 000 von Saddam murdered and tortured victims away-seen and in peace-moved self-righteousness George Bush bad notes gives. And Appeasement in its most grotesque form is it finally also, if one reacts elsewhere to the escalating force of Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and with the suggestion to introduce to Germany a Muslim holiday nevertheless.

Concluding with:

Bush risks for its politics a devaluation dollar, a too high indebtedness of the State of, a substantial and lasting load of the American national economy - because it concerns the whole.


But while the allegedly so materialistic robbery animal capitalists in America know their priorities, we protect the Pfruende of our fearfully defended social prosperity. Do not interfere only, which could become expensive. There we rather discuss the 35-Stunden-Woche, requirements for dental care supplying and listen to television ministers, who hand the hand to the "murderers" want. Sometimes in these days Europe reminds of an aging aunt, who puts its zittrigen hands around their last jewels, while a robber straight breaks in with the neighbours. Europe - your surname is cowardice.

Europa - dein Name ist Feigheit

Fruthermore, I ran across this mention at snopes.com--Urban Legends Reference:
Europe, Thy Name Is Cowardice

Though the article came out in 2004, is it still relevant today?
Any thoughts or comments?






seekerof

[edit on 4-12-2005 by Seekerof]

First I´d like to say that the Snopes translation in some parts is not true to the original, sometimes creating emphasizes and exclamations that were not intended in the original text (the Snopes footnotes stated that serious alterations by the translator in favour of the USA were pointed out by readers, but there are also numerous more subtle differences). But in general it might be a more accurate and easier read than the babelfish translation, if you keep in mind that the translator was biased.

In general, I think the article correctly depicts some of the fallacies of Europe´s policy in the last decades - exceptions being obviously fabricated parts as this one:

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.

Though some parts of the leading european societies were attracted by the communist/socialist ideals (as was the case in the whole US-led world then), there never was a doubt to the anti-communist (but not necessarily pro-capitalist) attitude of western Europe. And even WITH some communist/socialist tendencies I fail to see the connection as to how this would have strengthened the eastern block. And without nuclear weapons most of Europe couldnt do anything else than "Appeasement" anyway.

However, though many statements seem to be applicable on modern Europe, and are valid accusations, there can be found AT LEAST as many counterarguments with similar validity ( and to those there AGAIN couldbe found countering arguments... thats how it works ). If things were so simple as the text puts it, these problems would already have been solved. Above all, one thing is for sure (and I personally hate that this is happening constantly, with whatever reason in mind): the European partnership, ideals and politics still are a result of a vast amount of countries with differing points of view and unequal prepositions trying to come to a compromise - and comparing that to the "streamlined" efficiency of a century-long grown country like the USA does not create any valid arguments.

Of course, it depends on your point of view. What looks like cowardize to some may look like prudence to others. What looks like a "defense strike" for a higher cause (freedom and democracy) to some may be viewed as an aggressive invasion war (for oil) by others.

It also helps to know that, just like best-selling tabloid "Bild", more sophisticated "Die Welt" is published by Axel Springer, who serves a broad conservative/right wing audience. Axel Springer is known to be very loyal to the U.S. and Israel (for example, both hardly mention the ongoing war in Lebanon and its backgrounds). Anyway, these accusations are not new; I read quite similar things about Europe's defense politics in "Rebuilding America's Defenses" (Sept. 2000) by the Project for a New American Century.

I can't speak for all Europeans, of course, but many leftists nowadays understand US politics (especially since the Bush administration) as impostors of a "World Police", and that is maybe how many Americans understand it as well: one may argue that of course they helped Europe in WW II to get rid of the nazi terror. Of course they prevented the SU from installing their communist regime in Europe, and they made sure the Cold War stays nice'n'cool (because Europe would have been right in between them - a perfect battlefield). Since then, European peace seemed to rely on the involvement of US troops whenever something brown hit the fan. Did I say Balkan War?

This time, it's all about the war against terror, fundamentalism, "islamists", maybe even the whole muslimic community. Every small kid could be a suicide bomber!

And now these unthankful Europeans dare to criticize the US for saving them from muslim Terror!

Maybe it's because Europeans got so used to living next door to muslims that they can see through the burka of mystery surrounding islamic fanatism. Europe has had its wars with them already. They're very close to us. Look at a world map and take walk through any shopping mall in any bigger central European city, be it Madrid, Paris, Berlin, whatsoever. True, they are hot-tempered, sometimes they feel misunderstood but basically, they are the best friends you could have around. Hit their brother, call their mother names, touch their sister? You bet you'll get into some serious trouble.

(BTW: I know I'm drawing a caricature here)

PLUS Germany hosts many eastern european neighbors, as does Scandinavia, PLUS France's, Italy's and Spain's southern water borders being overrun by refugees from Northern Africa via the mediterranian, PLUS Turkey being about to join the EU in a few decades. This is the same kind of melting pot that America once has been.

That Welt article bears testimony of some deep underlying European fear: could it be that Islam is bringig its victory over our countries - in their bellies? Immigrant birthrates are significantly higher than those of "pure-bred", "aryan" or "christian" Europeans (watcha call it. BTW, I could hardly name one single friend who hasn't some distant ancestors from abroad; I also have mongolian, jewish, polish, and danish roots). Should EU citizens worry that they could somehow get "extinguished" demographically ? No, Europeans have begun to dispose of (or to supress) that fear 60 years ago. They have learned that any kind of protection against alien influence on our blood and culture could be considered racism. I think this debunks the Welt essay as fascist propaganda and war-mongering.

[continued]

[edit on 9-8-2006 by Akareyon]

[edit on 9-8-2006 by Akareyon]

It has one (arguably) valid point though, and that's where it says: "We instead present ourselves as the world champions of tolerance against the intolerants." From that perspective it's again a matter of your world view: what do you do with someone who is intolerant towards your own ideology and at the same time is demanding tolerance from you (especially when because you have to feel guilty for what your grand-parents may or may not have done - this has, BTW, become a typical neo-nazi question in Germany)? You can fight the unknown that you fear or you can fight your fear for the unknown. How? By getting to know him. That's what I always understood as "appeasement". Sometimes, just listening helps. Most muslims I know say something along the lines: "I hate bin Laden for what he has done because it was not a muslim thing to do. Islam is peace, [Insch'Allah]. But I understand that they're trying to have a voice, because nobody listens when they complain about injustice done to them." If you're unhappy about some vague kind of subtle injustice, all you need is some guy who presents you the guilty scapegoat. For them, it's western decadent ideology. For us, it's oriental fundamentalist ideology. For them, it's coward Europe. For us, agressive America. Them, us. Me, you. Somewhere in between, maybe: some kind of consensus on truth. This, for example, could be that what we call "intolerance" is their refusal to play by our rules of bigot "freedom and democracy" economically, religiously and philosophically... or anything else.

So, what does "Die Welt" do instead of propelling intercultural understanding and bringing light from both sides to the subject, thus unveilig that consensus? Intrigate, infuriate, polarize. It would have been MORE enlightening to mention that, while the USA was summoning the spirits that it is fighting now (like Saddam Hussein or CIA-trained Al Quaida ), European countries (Germany amongst them) provided islamic countries with technology and weapon systems in exchange for oil and other profits, hoping for allies against Russia and China during the time of "proxy wars" in case of a full-scale WW III; at the same time subject them to economic sanctions and installing a small, but strong new state right in their heart that ever since was allowed to do whatever it did. The whole western world has taken part in this betrayal and injustice (or whatever those "fanatic muslim brainwashers" may call it from their viewpoint), so we shouldn't debate wether this is a European issue that has to be solved by the US or if this is an issue that the US stirred up all by itself while Europe just doesn't want to be dragged into a conflict that they never had to do with.

[edit on 9-8-2006 by Akareyon]

the article is sppot on. Appeasemnet is the way to destruction and war. 1939 any one??

And as for european tolerance, watch very very carefully the turkish membership fight for the EU.

If that happens, you have a nation of many millions of illiterate unemployed and unemployable people sat at the borders ready for hand outs from the 'inclusive' countries of the EU. Gaddafi called Turkey the Trojan horse of Islamic terrorism and warned in no uncertain terms the damage of having turkey within the union would do. But they wish to appease the islamic world and having an islamic country in the EU would show we are tolerant... and ripe for take over in the eyes of the islamic world.

Just think, any arabic looking person could get a Turkish passport and wander at will across the EU... we would be a sheep pen filled with wolves - At their mercy and utterly and totaly un defendable. All because of appeasemnet.
www.unicef.org...

Read the caption under the picture if you think im being alarmist.


[edit on 21-8-2006 by D4rk Kn1ght]

[edit on 21-8-2006 by D4rk Kn1ght]

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
And as for european tolerance, watch very very carefully the turkish membership fight for the EU.

The EU has relatively high standards for membership regardless of ethnicity. It took 15yrs for the new members to be able to join. And Turkey is even less qualified now then the former eastern bloc nations were at the end of the Cold War.

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
If that happens, you have a nation of many millions of illiterate unemployed and unemployable people sat at the borders ready for hand outs from the 'inclusive' countries of the EU.

I can guarantee if Mexico wanted to merge with the US you'd be seeing the same attitude from the US towards Mexico for the same reasons.

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
Gaddafi called Turkey the Trojan horse of Islamic terrorism and warned in no uncertain terms the damage of having turkey within the union would do. But they wish to appease the islamic world and having an islamic country in the EU would show we are tolerant... and ripe for take over in the eyes of the islamic world.

Gaddafi!!! He's you source. C,mon the guy was a wannabe Saddam Hussein until he realized that if he kept it up it wouldn't be good for his health.

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
Just think, any arabic looking person could get a Turkish passport and wander at will across the EU... we would be a sheep pen filled with wolves - At their mercy and utterly and totaly un defendable. All because of appeasemnet.

And that link should give you a hint at why the EU is reluctant to put Turkey on the fast track. They have alot of work to do before the can be consider anywhere near being ready for membership.

You guys are always worried about what is the PC thing to do. You worry later what is right thing to do.....

That somebody who sounds like a German should lambast the rest of Europe for not standing up to Hitler is laughable! A truely magnificent shot in the foot.

As to Ronnie Reagen winning the Cold War - what a lopsided view this chap has. I like to think [that] our Maggie, the Iron Lady, as the Russian's called her, also had something to do with it.