Cameron, muscular liberalism and a sense of deja vu…
I woke up this morning to this statement by David Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Britain. Speaking at a conference in Germany, he said (emphasis added):
Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism
He went on to say:
Let’s properly judge these organisations: Do they believe in universal human rights – including for women and people of other faiths? Do they believe in equality of all before the law? Do they believe in democracy and the right of people to elect their own government? Do they encourage integration or separatism?
These are the sorts of questions we need to ask. Fail these tests and the presumption should be not to engage with organisations
and mentioned that “Building a stronger sense of national and local identity holds “the key to achieving true cohesion”
Now where had I seen all this before? From a post in Sept ’06:
I would like to think of myself as a liberal who is prepared to fight to defend his ideals, his beliefs and his principles.
Cameron’s questions reminded me of something else; the questions posed by Lt Commander Zuhdi Jasser that I had paraphrased in this post from Mar ’08, Will the Darul Uloom now declare war on “Islamismâ€? And his talk of national identity resonated with what Sh Tarun Vijay wrote back in Nov ’08:
What are the centrifugal forces that keep the nation as one? A sense of belonging to common aspirations, icons of faith, and a commitment to widely acceptable pan-national vision
…sadly these days the politics of vote bank thrives on these very tendencies of sub-national assertions.
Seems like a lot of people are thinking alike…
Image courtesy: Number10.gov.uk
Add to the list Angela Merkel’s speech on the same issue, echoing the same sentiments. Good that white people are starting to speak out against fundamentalist Islam – hopefully, our brown sahibs and coconuts will follow suit.
@Shantanu
You said: “I would like to think of myself as a liberal who is prepared to fight to defend his ideals, his beliefs and his principles.”
Since you have political ambitions, I would like to know as a concerned citizen what exactly your ideals, beliefs and principles are.
Please don’t consider this a challenge. It’s an honest curiosity because I consider myself to be all that you claimed you are. Clearly, either I haven’t understood liberalism or I haven’t understood you.
Would be good if you could reply.
If you’re interested in politics, it would be helpful if you could list out your ideals in concise a point by point format. Makes it easier for those who wish to align or oppose you to make up their minds…
Nice post! Very very true to ask this questions.
So the jolly good liberal fellows of Britain find multiculturalism to be a bit thick, eh!!!
From NYT comes the reactions and how conservative’s own ghosts are trying to bite their own rear end..
If anyone thinks that dear old David fellow’s speech will make a difference, here come the left-lib reaction following the templates of grand old british liberal:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-my-war-on-multiculturalism-2205074.html
Read the comments.
Its too late. Muslim community in Europe runs a parallel economy, they can survive without the support of the Govt.
I am trying to understand how well they are established in India.
||NamO Bhaartam, NamO Sanskritam||
@Shantanu
Its already too late; we’ve allowed Islamic banking based upon ‘principles’ of banking that RBI does not approve of.
Like @barbarindian says, we’ve let the camel stick in its nose; the rest of the beast will enter soon. And we — including tender ‘liberals’ — will be out in the harmatan very soon.
One thing Cameron can easily do for all new immigrants to his country ask them specifically these questions. If the answer is NO to any of them do not grant permanent visa to live there. It is very simple for him. These are the values we cherish and if you do not respect them then go live somewhere else. But I doubt he can do that.
#8. That would be a classic paradox. You can’t do that. If you do, you would be the first one to be asked to leave because you would fail to answer to the tag ‘liberal’.
@Prakash (#9),
Spot on.
It is right to be aware of developments as in this case the British Government (under American pressure) responding to terrorist threats which have emanated from its shores. It is significant that despite Indian Governments protestations of terrorist funding and santuary provided to its enemies, the UK government had gone by the compact that the UK would be spared as long as they were free to do as they wished eleswhere. It wouls than fiery speeches to dismantle the support networks that has been built into the social and business life of Muslim communities.
All this ignores the even feeble multiculturism of Hinduism which draws succour from inane Vedic injunctions like “the world is one family” or that “all paths lead to one god”. Will we be ever ready to clear out the skeletons from our own cupboards?
see who is talking about Human rights?
http://deshgujarat.com/2011/07/13/should-gujarat-let-uk-vet-state-of-surat-jail-before-extraditing-hanif-tiger/