The Spectator this week also publishes an article by Rod Liddle (pictured), commenting on the Swiss ban on the building of minarets, ‘It’s not just the Swiss — all Europe is ready to revolt’.

Liddle writes:

'In the last ten years the people of Europe have begun to revolt against what, at one extreme, they see as the ‘Islamification’ of their countries, or else they hold the more moderate position of being disquieted by the high number of Muslim immigrants they have been forced to receive, most of whom are antithetical to the indigenous way of life and have cultural values that do not accord with the resident majority. That they are told to shut up and stop being racist and Islamophobic by the EU...'

'Across Europe, opposition to Muslim immigration runs at a steady 60 to 65 per cent; the people of the Continent didn’t want the immigration in the first place, are not happy with the way in which the incomers have failed to integrate and do not want any more, regardless of what Rog[er] (Hardy, BBC Islamic Affairs analyst), Angus (Roxburghe) and their political leaders might choose to think or how often they, the general public, might be written off as Islamophobic.

'[Christopher] Caldwell’s book ended with a warning that Islamic cultural values might one day come to dominate in Europe, because of the lack of vigour and commitment from our own politicians. Maybe — but at least the public know what is happening and are not too cowed to complain about it.'

Liddle’s irritation at Roger Hardy’s article on the BBC website is perhaps to be expected from someone given to using terminology like ‘Muslim savages’ when writing about Muslims (here and here). We wonder, would the Spectator allow the use of such vocabulary if Liddle were writing about the abuses of Israeli soldiers in Gaza referring to them as ‘Jewish savages’?

It’s ironic that while Gilligan in the Spectator this week pens an article seeking firmer action by the government against what he considers to be the Muslim equivalent of far right extremists, Liddle argues that the outcome of the Swiss vote on banning the building of new minarets represents no more than a benign and growing popular revolt against the perceived ‘Islamification’ of Europe. As Gilligan argues for more robust action against Muslims who vilify western education and democracy as corrupt, Liddle argues in defence of those among the Swiss who supported the SVP campaign that minarets were ‘symbols of Islamic power’ and thus to be rejected on Swiss soil.

What’s the bottom line here – that the only extremist ideas that threaten community relations in the UK and Europe are ones of the Muslim variety?

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John  - Muslims come out in numbers to ban minarets in Walsall, UK   |2009-12-04 20:52:28 Muslims come out in numbers to ban minarets in Walsall, UK http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/12/04/mosque-plan-for-town-is-thrown-out/ Amazing how Muslims turned out to oppose this mosque. There isn't a single white man in site.

Fahd  - Liddle Rod and his hatred of all that isn't "white"   |2009-12-05 09:09:28 This article is no real surprise. "Liddle Rod" is a man who beat up his pregnant girlfriend and has no qualm with lying openly to everyone as his ex-wife pointed out. “I was left alone on our honeymoon in the Far East while he flew home — claiming work commitments — to see his then mistress ... He has absolutely no qualms about lying.” Liddle's ex-wife, Rachel Royce, 2008 Liddle Rod is one of those chaps who has lost all sense of identity. He's so confused about himself, his masculinity and national identity that he's chosen to align himself with the most filthy and extreme ideas in order to give himself some inkling of meaning. He reminds me of Martin Amis, smug, self-assured and totally ignorant of Islam, Muslims or even of other minority cultures in Europe. Yet, their ignorance does not overcome their bigotries or inadequacy. No, it works hand in hand to espouse their chosen bigotries. Both are quite happy to mesh their ignorance with their far-right ideas and lurid claims. In essence Liddle Rod has just become a nutcase like a secret BNP voter, one who's not comfortable to say it out loud but on remains enchanted with a right-wing nostalgia about the past. A past where the 'darkies and women knew their place' and the 'white man reigned supreme'. I wouldn't at all be surprised if we see him calling for the return of the Empire, that is, after he and his cronies stop the "Islamicification of Europe" and send the "pakis/muslim savages back". He's chauvinistic, violent towards women and bigoted. And all this, because he can't get a grip of contemporary society or himself. Makes me feel slightly sorry for him; will Liddle Rod just accept that his 'Rod' is smaller than that of the "dark folk"? I'm not a fan of Freud, but I sense this to be the problem. Maybe this is why he wishes to assert authority over women so much, it does go along way in explaining his criminal and nefarious behaviour on some occasions. And maybe that's why he feels so threatened by minorities. Anyhow, I'm sure he will find solace reading a BNP leaflet in the next few days. There he will find minds like himself. Limited, deranged and fearful of all that is not white.

John  - When Is Banning a Mosque Not Islamophobic?   |2009-12-08 13:20:33 When Is Banning a Mosque Not Islamophobic?http://www.spittoon.org/archives/4076

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