From the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/article838215.ece;jsessionid=C991B5EEF83ADAAE360A5FB0E87E6ED6?postingType=posting&mode=thanks&postingId=839014
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Monday, 2 June 2008
"The best champagne and the best people" I was told, celebrated the launch of Standpoint, a magazine aiming to "celebrate Western civilisation", to reassert its dominance, shaken up by the effrontery of 9/11. It is edited by Daniel Johnson, son of Paul Johnson, the leftie who turned rabid right. His other son Luke, a libertarian, presides over Channel4 as chairman. Enthusiastic guests included Sir Tom Stoppard, Sir Vidia Naipaul, Frank Field and Nasir Ali, Bishop of Rochester, who appears to want to compel us all to join his church.
The sun now rises on the right and those of us on the other side are left despondent as we anticipate a prolonged winter of discontent. We, who believe in fairness, equality, human rights and universal justice, are of no consequence. The fever of failure consumes our hopes and there is no relief as we witness the collapse of the British Left and the ideals that defined post-war advancement in this country, turning an obstinately class-riven, imperial nation into a model of progressive politics.
Local election results show the country lurching right, in some parts even embracing the BNP. Instead of condemning the scum, Britons are instructed to "understand" why these voters are "driven" to vote for neo-Nazis. We are simultaneously warned to show no such understanding of young Muslims who are seduced by hate-filled Imams. White resentment of "foreigners" is no more respectable than Muslim hatred of Westerners. Yet in our unequal world it is.
The coup was complete when Boris took over our London, world city, colourful home of mavericks, revolutionaries and monarchs, radicals and cultural conformists, money makers and penniless refugees, the hopeless and hopeful. And so power inexorably shifts towards authoritarianism, new imperial arrogance and design (bafflingly known as "liberal intervention"), fundamentalist Christian revivalism, enforced assimilation ("You WILL love and only ever praise this country"), racism and cultural protectionism, Anglo-Saxon privilege and unregulated capitalism which creates both appalling levels of wealth and poverty. The media serves the new master class and credo, with some notable exceptions.
How did we get here? Are right-wing ideas and policies irresistible to the British public (always more conservative than most European partners) and is this a return to the natural state of this nation? Or do we blame the wretched cowardice of the Left, which took power by surrendering its body and soul? Labour elected Tony Blair as leader knowing he was never a socialist; he continued Thatcherism, only with the zeal and underlying self-doubt of someone who felt trapped in political disguise. She stood as an equal to Reagan; Blair was a supplicant to Bush.
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown is too scared to be the authentic leftie he was believed to be and instead flaps around, allies himself with preposterously extreme measures, so extreme that Cameron, can, with easy conscience oppose them.
Banging up suspect terrorists for forty two days in detention without charge is exactly that kind of Big Boy gesture that reveals wobbly conviction, shaky commitment to those principles that make this nation a free and great democracy.
Almost more depressing is the sight of black and Asian Britons following the wind blowing the Tories to victory. Boris has recruited Afro Caribbean "leaders" who believe in physical chastisement and smart young Asians who deny the existence of racism and want an end to political correctness. The more old-fashioned Uncle Toms and their female equivalents are now expediently making themselves known to the Tories and right-wing think tanks.
For reasons I have yet to fathom, two weeks ago, I was invited to address a meeting at the House of Lords organised by the Conservative Muslim Forum. The room was full and the discussion on Muslim women lively. Many there were previously New Labour acolytes; others were young and ambitious and now devoted to the charismatic Cameron. To see such enthusiasm for a party whose members have always opposed our presence on these shores was a wake-up slap. All over now. The right has crushed the left.
By the time our time comes around again, I will be pushing up the daisies or dancing half naked in some home for sufferers of senile dementia, a blessing perhaps, to be and never again to care about what happens to politics. Still, between now and then there will be plenty to moan about.
A note from Radarsite: Pity the poor downtrodden British Left. They have been abandoned by the very people they were determined to save. The ungrateful British electorate have turned them away and rejected their glowing vision of a better tomorrow, a fairer tomorrow, a tomorrow freed of all nationalistic perversions. Their Internationalist Utopian dream has fallen to pieces at their feet and they are lost without it. Left to contemplate the stupidity of the populace, the petty narrow-mindedness of the common man, who could not, or simply would not, embrace the glories of multiculturalism.
Wow.
One cannot read this teary-eyed maudlin lament without wondering how anyone can become so utterly removed from reality, can become so pathetically delusional and blind. Incredible as it may seem, this is how they actually see themselves: great fallen heroes, betrayed by cruel fate. Superior beings, who visited this small planet for a time and offered it their wisdom. And they were rejected. If only they believed in Christ, they could make great parallels to the Crucifixion.
Well, my leftist cousins, we feel nothing but joy at this fortuitous turn of events. We have no pity, no sympathy for your well-deserved fall from grace.
After all but destroying your lovely country with the insanities of your multiculturalist fantasies, after all but ruining a proud and noble heritage, it is truly a pleasure to watch you squirm and whine and loudly lament your recent losses.
You ninnies, you fools, you incompetents -- you still don't get it, do you?
You have let your precious ideology get ahead or your reason, and the poor British public have suffered the consequences of your worldly naivete. For all of the needless destruction and despair that you have caused -- and are still causing -- you have no remorse, no conception, no understanding. You refuse to even acknowledge the wreckage.
To this Yank across the sea, who cares deeply about the fate of your great country, your well-earned demise is a nothing less than a gift from heaven.
Now, if we can only copy this success story here in America --
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I fear that you are wrong Roger. The left is far from defeated. It is still very strong and has a great voice in the MSM. Until voices like Lionheart's are allow to be heard without the government harassing him, until the Muslim community is made to live in British society and not their own little world, until the British people gain back their heritage, the struggle must go on. For the left is winning. They just had a setback.
ReplyDeleteThe pendulum swings, findalis, and none knows how far it will swing nor how long it will remain to the right before swinging back to lunacy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis; one battle is won, not the war.
But the defeat of Red Ken may signal a flood which will sweep out the loony left and bring reason and logic back to power.
Certainly the fizzle wits who wrote the quoted piece has jumped to the obvious conclusion. Let us pray that her pessimism is well warranted!
Long live Anglo-Saxon privilege and unregulated capitalism !
ReplyDeleteThank you Faultline.
ReplyDeleteAnd to Ben and Faultline -- If I gave the false impression in this particular article that I feel the war is won, then I wasn't as clear as I should have been.
In the preceding article I talk about the roller coaster ride of reports that we've been getting from overseas about the battles for our Western culture.
This particular battle, however, was a battle won, and I am making the most out of it. It is a true joy to hear them whine and complain about losing some ground.
I'm sure that if you look back over the many articles I have written on this subject, you'll agree that in almost all of them I have been sounding the alarm and lamenting our losses. But when we finally win a battle -- such as recently in London, or in Italy, I'm going to celebrate our wins loud and clear.
rg
Yes, Roger, it is good to celebrate a rare victory, always bearing in mind that we must persevere in combating evil and never relent.
ReplyDeleteThe enemy views our victories as temporary setbacks. We must make them permanent.
If that liberal lament is correct, can I come to England and live?
ReplyDeleteIt's looking more and more likely that we in the States are going to end up with Barack Obama as president.
We must applaud enthusiasticly the turn-about in London and, maybe even indulge over the "despondency" of Britain's left. But, let's not forget Lionhart, those with him, and those whose cases he raises for us to consider.
ReplyDeleteAs we watched Britain struggle prior to our entrance into war in 1941, The Isle was also on the invasion plans of Adolph Hitler.
Clearly, it has been rather successfully invaded by people with little heart for, "Duty, Honor, Empire" (in the words of Richard Meinertzhagen {soldier and advocate for a Jewish state}).
Circumstances put us swiftly at Britain's side.
But, as now, this country, USA, was hedging; hoping further negotiations with Japan would ease the threat that would become a reality.
Let us remember that history segment this election year. The wins in London, France and Italy don't secure the standing of the USA. Frankly, they should raise the standard for us. Look at what has happened to the social-democracies of other European lands. An Illinois Senator would deliver us into that morass. Let us recall (those of us who have attention spans greater than ants), episodes we have read from Lionheart. How about the recent news of Brigitte Bardot? (We have "hate crimes" laws here too - now.) Do you think a pandemic of political correctitude will ensure our "domestic tranquility", maintian our national integrity; keep us safe without ransom?
Remember, there's no limit or "last call" at the font of knowledge. So don't just gargle.
My dear friend Shawmut. You are now the second or third commenter to admonish me not to forget Lionheart. I find this particularly ironical considering the fact that, after several days of back and forth, Lionheart has now agreed to be a regular contributor to Radarsite.
ReplyDeleteSince the very first articles came out about his plight I have been on top of this story; i have written several articles about him myself and have maintained contact with him via personal emails. I could hardly forget about our friend, and Radarsite's newest contributor Lionheart.
This whole episode began because I reprinted an article from a sorely disheartened London leftist -- similar to those letters we uncovered from Al Qaeda, complaining about losing ground in Iraq -- and I celebrated this sense of defeat by reposting this article and highlighting some of the more absurd passages. It is a rare occurrence these days to read a leftist complaining about the right's victories, while revealing so much about their own flawed ideologies. to me it was a simple joy to read.
It is beyond me how anyone who has been reading my articles regularly on Radarsite can honestly believe that I need to be reminded that the war is not won. It is all I think about from the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night
rg.
To "Once upon a time" -- Hello and welcome to Radarsite.
ReplyDeleteBut please -- don't even joke about that horrible possibility! lol
rg
Good Heavens, I was not admonishing anyone. In fact, I would not have the frequent access to Lionheart without this site. It would certainly be an irony, if not outright impudence on my part to convey other.
ReplyDeletePlease allow that I am prone to write reflectively, often declaring to myself not to be complacent or forgetful.
What is irony here is my own fear of manifesting alienating hubris. With you, I too have nightmares about where history is leading us; it is not a concern unique to me or anyone else.
However, as my tone was read as arrogance, then let it be noted, before you and your community of readership that I am not so small that I can't stand up to be corrected.
Chastened and humbled.
Thanks Shawmut. You have never exhibited anything even close to hubris, and you are one of my most valued commenters.
ReplyDeleteI think perhaps I should have added an addendum to this article, explaining that I realize that this is just one small victory in the ongoing war. But at the time I didn't think that that was necessary. Evidently it was. lol
Hi RogErBaBe! Well, well, well - I suspect ye be correct foreign policy wise about the "Left" - indeed their hand in the political philosophical game is weak - plumb pitiful. Example? Lots of dangerously retarded relativism (realpolitik too!) "...easy going belief that all points of view are equal (hence none really worth passionate argument, deep analysis or stalwart defense) and then into the strident belief that anyone who argues for the superiority of a distictive moral insight, way of life, or human type is somehow elitist or antidemocratic and hence immoral."
ReplyDeleteThat is mighty weak game!
Like Brit Cat Douglas Murray author of the essential "Neoconservatism: Why We Need It" says "What matters is that the case for democracy and universal rights as well as the refutation of the lies and misunderstandings of our enemies – at home and broad – continues."
"plumb pitiful."
ReplyDeleteluvit GSG.
Rogerbabe