Ghosts of Nazi Past

Philosopher Roger Scruton, who also spoke at a VB event:

As the British conservative philosopher and author Roger Scruton said in a speech in Antwerp last year, the charge of racism and xenophobia in the EU countries “has become the equivalent of a charge of heresy in medieval Europe, of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, or of ‘deviationism” in the Stalinist state.” However, as Mr. Scruton pointed out, “we have a duty to brave the charge of ‘racism and xenophobia’, and to discuss every aspect of immigration.”

Mr. Scruton made his remarks in a speech to the Vlaams Belang party – a party which has been accused of racism and xenophobia by the Belgian authorities. “There are many people in this country,”Mr. Scruton added, “who believe that I should not talk to you at all, and that by doing so I become tainted with the very charge that has been levelled at you: the charge of racism and xenophobia. By talking about this charge, I hope to deflect it. I am neither racist nor xenophobic; I am in the habit of assuming that the same is true of others, until they have shown evidence to the contrary; and I am glad that a Party exists that is willing to brave this charge, in order to discuss the problem that is in the minds of all ordinary Europeans today.”

Paul Belien takes a cool and sober look at the facts in the latest smear campaign here.

BELIEN:ARE WE ALL NAZIS NOW? Brussels Journal 

The Egyptian-born Jewish author Bat Ye’or (a pseudonym meaning “daughter of the Nile”) and her family were expelled from Egypt in the 1950s because they were Jewish. She, too, is worried about the trivialisation of the Holocaust by the left and the far-left for the advancement of its own political aims. When recently she expressed her worries at a public meeting she was insulted and called… a racist. A lawyer who was present says that though Bat Ye’or was treated most disgracefully “few people reacted. People are not ready to fight the new anti-Semitism.” The Europeans did not fight the previous anti-Semitism in the 1930s, and they are not fighting the present one. Europe did not prevent the previous holocaust. It does not seem able to prevent the coming holocaust either. And maybe, paradoxically, feelings of guilt for the horrors of the past are preventing some people from doing so.

As Roger Scruton says it needs courage to brave the charges of racism, xenophobia or neo-Nazism in order to speak out. This courage is what Europe lacks.

[...]

Why do I mention all this today? Last week almost 80 people from 15 European countries, plus sympathizers from the US, Canada and Israel, convened in the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss a common strategy to fight Islamism. This important and historical event, which shows that there still is a fighting spirit among some Europeans, has been criticized by Charles Johnson, the owner of Little Green Footballs, an influential American neo-conservative website, because members of the Vlaams Belang were present. Though the VB did not organize the conference, it provided an important part of the logistics and the security of those attending. Johnson says the VB is a neo-Nazi party. His arguments are:
(1)    that the party abstained in the European Parliament from approving the above mentioned Holocaust resolution;
(2)    that early this month the party organized a “white supremacist” demonstration;
(3)    that Nazi skinheads applaud the party;
(4)    that neo-Nazis link to VB videos.

Instead of being able to write about last week’s meeting I have been busy answering emails from friends who, because Charles Johnson is such “a respected anti-Jihadist,” fear that they have been fooled by the VB. The issue is hotly debated on American blogs (here is a detailed account for those interested).

There is, however, no beef to Charles Johnson’s allegations. More here

Read it all and weigh the facts. Not the ad hominen attacks, not the innuendo, just the evidence.

Moreover if I might add that Andrew Bostom was SPECIFICALLY  requested by the organizers to speak about Antisemitism, AND I included at the end at the of his remarks a specific mention of NAZI Antisemitism in the guise of the annihilationist Johannes von Leers. This concluding section was even entitled, "Islam Uber Alles." Here's Bostom's whole speech at the Counter Jihad Summit in  Brussels - read it.

Comments

[Michael_B]

Solid commentary. Scruton is most always thoughtful, deliberate and illuminating.

Btw, he edits a small online periodical titled Risk of Freedom, something of a quarterly covering a fairly wide range of topical issues, most recently on "Theory of Risk," "Therapy Culture," "Obesity" and "Freedom of Religion," all thoughtfully covered, incisive and without any politically correct set of assumptions governing its commentary, while avoiding any reactionary impulses as well.

[Macker]

Sorry Pamela...I don't think any movement which wants to fight the Islamization of Europe should ally themselves with any organization which has had in the past, or currently has, ties to Nazism IN ANY FORM WHATSOEVER! It would be as if they would sell their souls to the Devil to accomplish their goals.
I. Will. Not. Submit.

[Pamela Geller]

Nazi collaborators is the problem of the whole of Europe, Austria, France, Italy etc. even America. If all the collaborators would had been jailed or boycotted, there wouldn’t had been one European politician. De Gaulle took in his cabinet former collaborators and declared an amnesty.

[RISE_UP]

Through out history, nations have used the most vile of sorts to fight a common enemy. Even the United States does this very thing. So EVEN IF....they are Nazi. They are not likely to sweep over us. They do not have the numbers such as does ISLAM!! So to hell with those who want to turn away an important ally to victory. Stick to your guns Pamela. Being a supporter of Israel, I have no fear of a nazi ever being of consequence again except to use as a common ally against an enemy with Satan embrossed on their heads. Keep going pamela

[Surak]

I am not comforted by the presence of Roger Scruton; quite the contrary. I used to admire him, as a fluent expositor of Kant's philosophy, and an excellent writer on philosophy and Western civilization in general. I was dismayed, however, to read his commentary in "The West and the Rest", written right after 9/11, where he complained about Israel's treatment of the Palestinian-Arabs (you know, building them hospitals and schools, raising their education, income and life expectancy). Indeed, I believe he questioned at one point the legitimacy of Israel's existence. I reply by questioning the legitimacy of the United Kingdom's existence. I don't know how we can recruit people into a war against one of the most bigoted forces in world history by allying ourselves with other bigots. At a time when Israel is being threatened by annihilation, the thought of people like Scruton playing the same role as people like Heidegger or Nietzsche did is sickening. Ms. Geller, people like him wouldn't shed a tear over Israel's demise, my demise or your demise.

[Stogie]

Pamela,

I have been following and commenting on the posts at LGF, and I do agree that many people tend to jump to conclusions about the Celtic Cross and its meaning. However, that bookcase cross in the VB video does appear to be a white supremacist symbol.

The message of the film is quite reasonable (I can read the French subtitles)- that Turkish immigration into Europe should be restricted.

If you are correct about VB supporting Israel, that would be a strong refutation of their alleged Nazi sentiments.

I would like to see VB explain the use of the Celtic Cross in that video and I would like to see them publicly repudiate the White Power movement. If they would do that, it would be very convincing to me that they are on the level and worthy of our support.

By the way, your examples of Celtic Crosses in Christian churches here in America was a very strong argument that such symbols should not automatically be considered racist symbols. The thing to remember here is this: think critically, weigh all the evidence, and don't jump to premature conclusions - about VB or anything else.