The war within the west

Maurice, MD

This epistle is rambling, incoherent, and sub-literate. Either the author is incapable of using the language of the country in which he was born, or else schools in Scotland do not teach English composition. Or perhaps both.

John

You are right Melanie what a worrying email. I suspect that there are many people who have like minded views to his. I wonder what nationality he claims on his passport etc - British? There is no Moslem passport I know of but it seems he would like that. Perhaps he should consider moving to a more moslem country? He says he wears an arab scarf to show he is a moslem - it's not a religious scarf just a fashion statement. Clearly he has not read or understood your articles as they have never been anti - moslem.

D Gray

He sounds confused and laden with all the hang ups he accuses Melanie of.Weird.

Ethan

It's not really surprising, is it? The ruling elite in Britain, and probably the whole western world, have been sending out entirely the wrong messages for many years now. This man is a product of the foolishly misguided ideology of multiculturalism. He is a product of it, and thrives in it, yet most likely, deep down, doesn't believe in it one little bit. I may be harsh if I tar this man with the brush of Islamism, but the aim of Islamism is the creation of a theocratic, MONOcultural society. That's why I find it so baffling that the multiculturalists are so ready to bend over backwards to appease it.

Ian C

Isn't it incredible how someone who was born in the UK can have so (deliberately?) misunderstood what you were saying. It also shows just how dangerous the multiculturist experiment was/is. There is no doubt that in 100 years time Britain will be as different then as it was a 100 years ago to today - as will all developed countries that will have attracted immigration on a large scale. But to have subcontracted the management of freedom to international bodies such as the UN and the EU because of the two big European wars of the 20th century will come to be deeply regretted, if not a source of greater conflict.

Austin Barry

Oh, look, why don't we stop this tedious choreography and just establish the Caliphate right now. I'm sure I would look jaunty in an "arab" scarf, and the prospect of Mrs. Austin attending meetings of her WI coven in a Burka is almost incentive enough.

EyeSee

Not sure what point our visitor is making, except he doesn't like you Melanie. I say 'visitor' as you feel British if you understand the culture you live in and feel comfortable with. He declares he isn't comfortable, so no matter what he might protest, to benefit from this society, he isn't British. That is not to say he is not welcome to live and work here. But Britain has its own identity and he declares he doesn't want to be a part of it. That, clearly stated, is why multiculturalism was a false ideology. Like saying 2+2=5, it just had no substance in fact.

Sounder

"Anyone, including you who don't like it, can lump it. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. This is what sticks in the throat of people like you, and their is very little you CAN do to make me a Muslim change my way of life." Well at least the message is consistent. You dhimmis will submit to Islam, "or lump it". Anyone need any more proof?

Jan Maciag

As Mark Steyn writes...a nation is more than just a giant zip code. That this Moslem writer (as well as many so called western liberals) thinks precisely of our country in this way is the worry. Indeed, it is the starting point that will pilot a direct route to the eventual ‘Balkan-style’ turf war that we will face in about 20 years time. Leave while you can or prepare?

Si, N

Er, Maurice, when you write, 'This epistle is rambling, incoherent, and sub-literate', one can only assume it is to your own writing that you refer. And do you know what, you are entirely correct.

Ravi

The idea of allegiance to The Queen is half-hearted and bound for ridicule and dissent. It should be allegiance to the Country to include its foundational basis of Parliament (Government), Legislature AND Royal Family. Jewish prayers in the synagogue have always included a prayer for the Prime Minister, Government and individual members of the Royal Family. In the USA I know for a fact that a synagogue prayer session included the Stars & Stripes in one corner with an Israeli flag in another and the oath of allegiance to the USA flag is part of the ceremony and comes BEFORE any prayers for the State of Israel. I'd like to see that implemented in all churches and mosques.

Michael H.

Muslim extremism is not a reaction to, nor exasperated by the "failure" of multiculturalism. Muslim extremism is a non-reactive ideology strongly bolstered with the authority of the Koran.

Multiculturalism is a liberal outlook based on the freedom of the individual to practice their culture without demands ("cultural imperialism") from the host dominant culture. Swimming lessons for Muslim girls are a case in point. To force Muslim girls to attend swimming lessons without their parents consent is authoritarian.

Mass immigration, not multiculturalism, has brought our civilisation to the brink.

ramjam

Sorry,Melanie........He may not speak for all muslims in UK but I'll bet he speaks for the vast majority.

Hergaman

There is certainly fragmentation in British society and there is a desperation about the Government scurrying round trying to look busy on the issue of re-creating a sense of cohesion. I think this is now impossible; we are too complex and too many groups (or pressure groups) are itching to get their 'rights' enshrined in law. The Government, wishing to appease all, will comply. The result will be a loss of freedom of speech and the right to criticise, caused by a swathe of legislation generated by our own politicians. Hitler couldn't get that far.

kate b

A very worrying epistle indeed. Many good writers, Melanie, Bat Ye'or,O Fallaci and most prophets of the Bible have predicted what is happening today, that we would sell ourselves for oil to a people who do not regard women nor silver or gold. Perhaps this is the reason Bibles are not allowed in Saudi. Of course they can keep our laws, they are bent to accommodate them; polygamy, non-prosecution of terrorist internet downloads, single sex swimming times, the wearing of what is, effectively a mask and of course the lack of freedom of speech for the indigenous peoples. I and many others were called names for being half-cast, yet born in Britain, but no more than the child with red hair, the bespectacled child, or any other child who was slightly 'different', when did people get so thin skinned?

Chris Ashton

Good point Kate B: we are surrounded by the thin skinned and we are walking on egg shells. It's only a matter of time before the omlette is in the pan and boling oil starts spitting on the ever-so sensitive. And everyone else. Start making plans for a bumpy road ahead.

peter

"People like him have the upper hand" ....you say. Who are you trying to kid, Melanie? Are you suggesting that 'people like him' have taken over 'The Spectator', unlike people like you? Or that there are more 'people like him' in Parliament than there are subscribers to the massive Parliamentary Friends of Israel? Or that 'people like him' exert more power and pervert more policies in the States than people like AIPAC? Or that people like him exert a strangelhold on the right wing press in this country, from Sky to the Times to the Express, unlike people like you? Or that 'people like him' peddle their fanaticism for another country behind a cloak of Britishness, slyly, surreptitiously, like you? My worry is that 'people like him' WILL take over, Melanie, precisely because of 'people like you'.

Frank Pulley

Peter: as far as I know no Jewish Israeli has either attacked or threatened this country since Israel became a state. No Jewish organisation within or without the UK has ever acted subversively or in any way inimically to the UK, or indeed the West in general. All Jews seem to have assimilated well and contribute greatly to our professions and to our commercial prosperity. Those that are religious are not evangelistic. Why are you implying that APIAC is a subversive agency? Israel is on the front line of a war against The West that will engulf us all unless it stands firm and we support it to the hilt. Militant Islam is on the march, makes it quite plain that this is the case in both word and deed and has sent some very clear signals over the past decade or so that as far as it is concerned it is a no-holds- barred jihad. Why should Melanie who is both Jewish and British not strive to expose the duplicity of British Muslims and to point out the dangers of jihad? You imply Jewish bogeymen (and women) she merely points to the wolf barking at the gates, not to mention those already in and skulking in the shadows, waiting for main chance or the inexorable demographic inevitability: a short term and long tern strategy in deadly unison. Where are you coming from?

KateA

Methinks the dhimmi here are hoisted by their own petards. a) Ridicule of Maurice's delightful prose style (by the incoherent Si N). b) Undisguised and uninformed prejudice towards Melanie (from Peter). A bit of the same old, same old ... How dare a Jew claim to be British! Eh? Perhaps these (oh so scrupulous) individuals might enlighten us with a considered analysis of the topic i.e. Muslim arrogance and/or incomprehension?

Roy

No Austin B. to dress up the middle eastern way would be to surrender to fashion. Since we don't have blowing sand and the penetrating heat in the UK. Or a wish to hide our wives from the bestial glare of our neighbours. Dressing up for all these things would be an hypocrisy. But then . . . there's global warming . . . !!

Barry Larking

In its own way as perfect a demonstration of the reality of multiculturalism as one might wish to read. No shared culture, no meeting of minds.

However, I am not so despondent (or in any way aggrieved by the writer's views – lump what?). Despite lacking a certain flow, these words are based upon English; English ideas and sensibilities inherent within the language. As long as Ms Phillips correspondent keeps having to think in English, he (are we sure its a male?) will absorb certain principles by the osmosis that is language, thought and logic. Already in an unenviable position vis a vis identity, culture and geography, the contradictions are piling up for this displaced person.