Marrying Turkey
Did anyone else read the opinion piece in The Telegraph today about Turkey acceding to the EU? It started with "Poor Turkey"! Poor Turkey, indeed! How ridiculous was the rationale used for letting Turkey in!

I don't know whether you have noticed, but the press in the UK have given very, very little coverage of the case against Turkey acceding to the EU. It has also been playing all dissent down. And this is what they call democracy!

It seems to me that these people espouse democracy, but prefer not to practise it! Were they to practise it, then they would heed the calls from the people not to allow Turkey in. The British seem to take the view that 'our betters' know better! Interestingly, feelings on this topic are running high in central Europe.

If you can read German, you might like to take a look at Die Presse

This is a good Austrian newspaper; and they have been offering its readers in-depth coverage of this controversial move for weeks and weeks now. By contrast, what do we get from the British newspapers? Sweet Fanny Adams!

The way The Telegraph views this is absurd. This is like a man marrying a woman because she's been chasing the pants off him. The fact that he doesn't wish to marry her is neither here nor there. She's chased the pants off him, and if he doesn't marry her, she's going to act the bitch.

This, as we all know, is no good reason for the man marrying the potentially nasty woman; the reason The Telegraph gives for 'marrying' the Turks is not a good one either.

Such marriages end in divorce. This 'marriage' will be no different.

Mark Alexander

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More Reasons Why Turkey and the EU Should Not Join in Union!
Muslims, I firmly believe, will never come to understand what democracy truly means, since they cannot comprehend one simple concept: the separation of religion and politics, the separation of church, or mosque, and state. Of course, the reason why they cannot comprehend this separation is because their religion teaches them that politics and religion may not be, and cannot be, separated. So, all power, to a Muslim, rests with Allah; all power, to a democrat, rests with the people. In Islam, Allah dictates their politics; in a democracy, it's the people who dictate them.

To perceive each other's differences, and to understand them, is not in and of itself to dislike or hate one another. It should just be a question of using one's intelligence and foresight to see the dangers that lie ahead of us in this union of opposites.

Moreover, this union, if it does come about - and God forbid that it should! - is certainly not going to be a marriage made in heaven! It will be nothing other than an 'arranged marriage', a 'marriage of convenience' for the plenipotentiaries.

But these plenipotentiaries will certainly not be speaking for the people of Europe. Public opinion in Europe is firmly against. From my readings, and from my understanding of the situation, there are many in Turkey, too, who do not relish this 'marriage'. I read only yesterday in the German press - the German press are generally more forthright than the British press on matters of dissent - that many academics, economists, and 'men of religion' in Turkey are four-square agin Turkey's accession; and many fear that it will be Turkey's downfall. This is the quote I read in Die Welt by these dissenters in Turkey: Im Westen liegt der Untergang der Türkei!

I would add to this. I would say: Im Westen liegt der Untergang der Türkei; in der Türkei liegt der Untergang Europas!

By the way, marriages that are not based on love and mutual respect usually end up in the divorce courts, for they are like dwellings built on the shifting sands. Expect, too, that this marriage of convenience will eventually follow a well-trodden path - to the divorce courts!

©Mark Alexander

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By the way, if you want to read great comments on this subject and Jihad and Dhimmitude, then click here to be taken to Robert Spencer's great website: JihadWatch
Look out for Hugh Fitzgerald there, too. His comments are always very inciteful and interesting to read.

Turkey in the EU
It is ludicrous even to sit down and discuss the possibility of Turkey acceding to the European Union.

If the US government has its way, Turkey will be allowed to join. If the British government has its way, it will be allowed to join. Fortunately, there are examples of countries in Europe with a tad more spunk. Austria comes to mind. That country is in the process of putting a sprag in the wheel. It is to be hoped that they hold out.

Before I go any further, I find Bush and Blair brazen in their dogged insistence on getting Turkey admitted to the 'European Club'. Brazen, because these two men are the very men who have the nerve to talk about bringing democracy to the backward Middle East, while at home, they both ignore - totally ignore - public opinion by insisting on Turkey's accession. How democratic is that? Their dedication to democracy is but skin deep!

Public opinion in Europe, especially in countries such as Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands is very much against Turkey coming into Europe; yet the arrogant Bush and Blair, both of whom know diddly about Islam, are adamant that Turkey should be allowed in. How can anyone have any respect for people like that, people who speak from both sides of their mouths?

We can all see the bloody mess these two men have made out of Iraq; now they want to do the same for Europe. God! These men have got to be stupid! Tony Blair is full of bullsh¡te; George Bush, full of dangerous concepts!

Even to think of allowing Turkey into Europe is ludicrous. One doesn't have to complicate the issue with the steadfast refusal by Ankara to recognise the genocide of the poor Armenians. That was certainly a tragedy, but there are far more pressing reasons why Turkey should not be allowed to join.

A more immediate one is Ankara's insistence on not recognising the legitimacy of the Cyprus government. If they are this arrogant before they're allowed in, think of how arrogant they'll become after they've been let in!

One can think of a whole host of reasons why there should be no place for Turkey in Europe. The most obvious ones are:

1. Geographically, Turkey doesn't belong in Europe. Only 5% of Turkey lies on the continent of Europe; therefore, if Turkey is allowed in, where will it all end? With Iraq? With Iran? With Morocco? With Libya? The possibilities are endless!

2. Europe can do without borders with the politically-fragile Middle East. To have borders with the Middle East is in itself fraught with danger, and will certainly be very dangerous for the future of Europe. One can imagine all kinds of cross-border disputes and conflagrations, to start with.

3. The history and culture of Turkey in no way fits in with the history and culture of other European countries. They are poles apart.

4. The religion of the West, or these days, perhaps, one should speak of the lack of it, was/is/should remain Christian, or at least be based on it. It is Judeo-Christianity which is, after all is said and done, the basis of our culture. Islam (except, perhaps, for the dangers it posed) has had nothing to do with it. The ramifications of this alone are enormous.

5. History shows that Christian/Western values and Islamic ones do not mix. These are two immiscible religions, cultures, ways of life. Why, then, should we ignore the lessons of history? Can the politicians give us one good reason why we should, other than the vague notion, now flying around, that to accept Turkey into the Club will avoid a 'Clash of Civilizations' à la Huntington? And that's nonsense! Instead of avoiding a clash, we will be precipitating one - one right here in the heart of Europe. The clash, then, will not be international; rather, it will be intranational. Bürgerkrieg, civil war to you and me, will ensue in the fullness of time. This is madness! Sheer madness! Unadulterated madness! It will bring about the slow death of Europe. No less; and maybe, just maybe, it won't be so slow, either!

6. Economically, Turkey is a poor country. It will be a huge expense and drag on the taxpayers of Europe. It is simply not worth it.

7. The population of Turkey is 95% Muslim, and it is already around the 80 million mark, and counting. It is expected to exceed 100 million in a relatively short period of time; it will then overtake Germany as the largest country in Europe. With all the political ramifications that this will have on voting rights within the European Parliament. We all know what will happen then: Islam-friendly laws will be demanded, and the Turks will ride roughshod over the rest of the declining 'Christian' population!

8. Apart from all this. We have already seen this year the European electorates in France and the Netherlands reject the constitution for Europe. This was because they don't like the pace of enlargement and change within Europe, and are certainly against Turkey's accession. After previous enlargements, there has been no period of consolidation. It is essential that there be such a period; otherwise, the European project is destined to fail.

9. Regardless of what the liberal media tell us, Turkey has so, so far to go to give women equal rights, to say nothing of writers freedom of expression, or rights to gays.

I could go on and on. I shan't. I'll stop there, for I feel that the list is long enough. You get my drift.

Just to say this, though: I don't believe in the 'secular' state of Turkey. Kemalism brought one about, yes; but it has only been held together by military and police force. What's going to happen when they will be set free because of European laws? My guess is that there is a strong fundamentalist element within that country; and this group will come to the fore after it's allowed in. At the moment, they are largely gagged. We'll see what they'll do when they are given the freedom of Europe!

©Mark Alexander

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