Friday, March 17, 2006

Turkey: Too conservative to join the liberal EU?

Did we really need a poll to inform us that the Turks are conservative? Isn't it ludicrous even to think of allowing Turkey to accede to the EU?

This from the BBC:
An opinion poll in Turkey has revealed deep conservatism on all matters concerning the family and sexuality.

The survey from across the country showed a strong intolerance towards homosexuality and co-habitation.

The survey, which polled over-18s of both sexes in 15 regions, also revealed a considerable fall in support for European Union membership.

There were also signs of strong scepticism about some of the EU's intentions towards Turkey.

You would not know it from a night out in cosmopolitan Istanbul, but it seems two-thirds of Turks across the country disapprove of people who go to bars and nightclubs.

Even more are apparently uncomfortable with homosexuality. And 56% say they disapprove of men who wear earrings.
Read it all here: Poll reveals Turkish conservatism

Mark

9 comments:

cybercrusader said...

I wonder how our "enlighteded" politicians expect deeply conservative Turkey to fit in to and contribute to modern, liberal Europe?

cybercrusader said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Always On Watch said...

Doesn't sound as if Turkey will fit in very well.

Mark said...

Always:

No, it doesn't. I have been saying this all along. But nobody seems to be listening!!!

Mark said...

Bld:

Too cryptic for me, I'm afraid! You know, I'm just a poor country boy trying to get along! Duh! :-)

Dan Zaremba said...

Being too conservative wouldn't worry me a bit.
What seems to be the case though is not being tolerant to anything that isn't considered Islamic.

Turkey proves once again that the golden rule in Islam is just a myth.

Mark said...

Missinglink:

Their being too conservative worries me a lot! Why? Because being 'conservative' to them is not the same thing as being 'conservative' to us. This isn't about whether Europe adopts Thatcherite policies, or not!

To us, conservative merely means being right-wing, with all its connotations. To them, it is all bound up with Islam. (Remember: There is no separation of religion and politics in Islam.) The more conservative, the more Islamic!

It bothers me, too, because Europe IS liberal. How on earth are such conservative forces going to fit in with such a liberal state of mind. Sparks will inevitably fly.

Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said that "politics is the art of the possible". To try and bind Turkey to Europe is the politics of the impossible!

Such a step, for Europe, will be a step into a very bloody future. Either that, or else we just allow the Turks to Islamize the EU. One way or the other, it's BAD!

Dan Zaremba said...

Mark,
We agree on each and every point.
I was simply objecting to associating the term "conservatism" with islam.
From its very definition "conservatism" dislikes radical measures (or rather leaves them as the very last resort).
Islam is a "radical" or "extreme" dogma and I think "fundamentalism" should be used instead of "conservatism" in this context.

Mark said...

Very Concerned:

Welcome!

I've been of the same opinion for some time now - even considering Turkey for membership of the EU is wrong and would only serve to accelerate the Islamising process - despite how "moderate" its citizens are perceived to be.

How true are your words!

As you know, the situation has been allowed to escalate to its present stage, where an estimated 20m Muslims now reside in Europe - with all the deleterious consequences to our Western values/freedoms.

Yes, and it's a disgrace that this dire situation has been allowed to escalate.

My husband, being originally from Holland, is very sad about how that country's socially liberal way of life is being eroded away.

Holland, sadly, will not remain 'liberal' for much longer. Islam will see to that!

As Dutch politician Prof. Pym Fortuyn asked prior to his assassination in Rotterdam in 2002: "Why should citizens welcome a cultural group that threatens their rights and safety?"

Pym Fortuyn was so right in his assessment: Why should citizens welcome this cultural group when all they wish to do is destroy all that we stand for?

"In Rotterdam we have third-generation Moroccans who still don't speak Dutch, oppress women and won't live by our values."

Yes, and it's a disgrace! A disgrace to Holland, and a disgrace to the EU!

Sadly, these effects are being felt right across the Western world, including here in Australia, where Lebanese Muslims started arriving in the 1970's. At least two imams have commented that Australia is destined to become a Muslim nation.

Yes, I am aghast that Australia has allowed this to happen.

When I was a child, Australia had an 'all-white' immigration policy. The poor blacks were a threat to nobody. Then they changed that policy only to let the people in who wish to destroy your free way of life! How dumb was that?

Civilisation is certainly under attack - I hope it's not too late!!

Yes, so do I! And so do all who think like us.

By the way, thank you so much for the links. And do drop by and comment again soon.

Best wishes,

Mark