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Theory vs the Real World

Reader comment on item: Europe's Civilizationist Parties

Submitted by Sigmund Derman (United States), Nov 2, 2018 at 14:04

In theory we might expect that all the "civilizationists" would correctly realize that the Jewish People were, on a per-capita basis at least, among the greatest contributors to our modern civilization and Jews could automatically make common cause with them. Also, in such a world there would be a clean, bright line between Muslims who were Islamists and (equally and maybe even more devout) Muslims who were also civilizationists and it would be easy for Jews--in particular--to make common cause with Muslim civilizationists.

In reality, as I know Dr. Pipes realizes, loyalties are often entangled in conflicting ways. You can't even be sure anymore (if you ever really could) that the enemy of your enemy is your friend. I wish there were a pat answer to this problem that could be used at all times and all places but I fear there is not.

Given that the Jewish People are so frequently the target of disparate hate groups of various political persuasions I think it is especially important to work for a strong Israeli nation that will continue its original and key mission to provide a haven for Jews. It is also very important for true "civilizationists" to work hard to support the tenets of this type of civilizationism in their own societies and elsewhere. It is very hard to know how to do this. In the United States I feel that many aspects of Trump's agenda (to the extent that I can discern what his agenda is) are quite positive for the cause of civilization. He is far from ideal, however.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (23) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Regarding the UK and Spain [520 words]RobertNov 4, 2022 02:43288222
The First Time They Cried Wolf .... But Now the Wolf is Real [176 words]RobertNov 3, 2022 18:03288212
History lost or ignored so we're going to re-live it [105 words]CaraxFeb 4, 2019 02:29247516
Europe's Islamization -- any alternative? [162 words]Jeffrey SheffDec 7, 2018 13:48246424
1Jeffrey Sheff's legitimate question [786 words]PrashantDec 9, 2018 13:10246424
Nice analysis [127 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
M.L.LipsonNov 10, 2018 15:13245912
2A fourth point wrt [336 words]PrashantNov 14, 2018 00:09245912
Reaction. [79 words]AlbertE.Nov 9, 2018 23:02245891
2Theory vs the Real World [262 words]Sigmund DermanNov 2, 2018 14:04245772
Refreshing Observations [233 words]Al RodbellNov 6, 2018 20:37245772
Nationalist [24 words]Jan BlachaOct 31, 2018 21:46245755
Re: Nationalist [32 words]Globe ThrotterNov 9, 2018 15:02245755
Nationalism [21 words]John BlachaNov 9, 2018 17:04245755
Europa camina hacia la perdiciĆ³n... [75 words]alfonsoOct 31, 2018 15:52245751
2Nationalist, not civilizationist [125 words]G. LobeOct 25, 2018 16:01245698
2Regarding bloodlines [188 words]AnonOct 19, 2018 11:34245578
Hinge of History [181 words]JD WillOct 19, 2018 11:19245576
2What Needs Protecting And Why [237 words]DaveOct 18, 2018 21:10245557
1Patriotic Nationalism vs. the Uncivilized [184 words]RobertOct 19, 2018 00:43245557
1Yes, Nationalism Takes Many Forms [167 words]DaveOct 20, 2018 20:15245557
2Dialectics of Nationalism [275 words]RobertOct 22, 2018 16:16245557
2How Virtue Becomes a Vice [63 words]DaveOct 24, 2018 09:19245557
I guess culturalism has a point... [243 words]Peter HerzNov 3, 2018 23:24245557

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