WESTERN FREEDOM BY SUSAN MacALLEN

I find this very thought-provoking.

In 1978-9 I was living and studying in Denmark . But in 1978 - even in
Copenhagen , one didn't see Muslim immigrants.

The Danish population embraced visitors, celebrated the exotic, went
out of its way to protect each of its citizens. It was proud of its new
brand of socialist liberalism one in development since the conservatives
had lost power in 1929 - a system where no worker had to struggle to
survive, where one ultimately could count upon the state as in,
perhaps, no other western nation at the time.

The rest of Europe saw the Scandinavians as free-thinking, progressive
and infinitely generous in their welfare policies. Denmark boasted low
crime rates, devotion to the environment, a superior educational
system and a history of humanitarianism.

Denmark was also most generous in its immigration policies - it offered
the best welcome in Europe to the new immigrant: generous welfare
payments from first arrival plus additional perks in transportation,
housing and education. It was determined to set a world example for
inclusiveness and multiculturalism. How could it have predicted that
one day in 2005 a series of political cartoons in a newspaper would spark
violence that would leave dozens dead in the streets -all because its
commitment to multiculturalism would come back to bite?

By the 1990's the growing urban Muslim population was obvious - as was its
unwillingness to integrate into Danish society. Years of immigrants had
settled into Muslim-exclusive enclaves. As the Muslim leadership became
more vocal about what they considered the decadence of Denmark 's
liberal way of life, the Danes - once so welcoming - began to feel
slighted. Many Danes had begun to see Islam as incompatible with their
long-standing values: belief in personal liberty and free speech, in
equality for women, in tolerance for other ethnic groups, and a deep pride
in Danish heritage and history.

An article by Daniel Pipes and Lars Hedegaard, in which the accurately forecast, that the growing immigrant problem in Denmark would
explode. In the article they reported:

'Muslim immigrants constitute 5 percent of the population but consume
upwards of 40 percent of the welfare spending.' 'Muslims are only 4
percent of Denmark 's 5..4 million people but make up a majority of the
country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that
practically all the female victims are non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser,
disproportions are found in other crimes.'

'Over time, as Muslim immigrants increase in numbers, they wish less to
mix with the indigenous population. A recent survey found that only 5
percent of young Muslim immigrants would readily marry a Dane.'

'Muslim leaders openly declare their goal of introducing Islamic law
once Denmark 's Muslim population grows large enough - a not-that-remote
prospect.. If present trends persist, one sociologist estimates, every
third inhabitant of Denmark in 40 years will be Muslim.'

Jews are also threatened and harassed openly by Muslim leaders in Denmark , a country where once Christian citizens worked to smuggle out nearly all of their 7,000 Jews by night to Sweden - before the Nazis could invade. I think of my Danish friend Elsa - who, as a teenager, had dreaded crossing the street to the bakery every morning under the eyes of occupying Nazi soldiers - and I wonder what she would say today.

In 2001, Denmark elected the most conservative government in some 70
years - one that had some decidedly non-generous ideas about liberal,
unfettered immigration. Today Denmark has the strictest immigration
policies in Europe . ( Its effort to protect itself has been met
with accusations of 'racism' by liberal media across Europe - even as
other governments struggle to right the social problems wrought by years
of too-lax immigration. )

If you wish to become Danish, you must attend three years of language
classes. You must pass a test on Denmark 's history, culture, and a
Danish language test .

You must live in Denmark for 7 years before applying for citizenship.

You must demonstrate an intent to work, and have a job waiting. If you
wish to bring a spouse into Denmark , you must both be over 24 years
of age, and you won't find it so easy anymore to move your friends and
family to Denmark with you.

You will not be allowed to build a mosque in Copenhagen . Although your
children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools
in Denmark , they will be strongly encouraged to assimilate to Danish
society in ways that past immigrants weren't.

In 2006, the Danish minister for employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen,
spoke publicly of the burden of Muslim immigrants on the Danish welfare
system, and it was horrifying: the government's welfare committee had
calculated that if immigration from Third World countries were blocked, 75
percent of the cuts needed to sustain the huge welfare system in coming
decades would be unnecessary. In other words, the welfare system, as it
existed, was being exploited by immigrants to the point of eventually
bankrupting the government. 'We are simply forced to adopt a new policy on
immigration'.

'The calculations of the welfare committee are terrifying and show how
unsuccessful the integration of immigrants has been up to now,' he said.

A large thorn in the side of Denmark 's imams is the Minister of
Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshoj.. She makes no bones about the
new policy toward immigration, 'The number of foreigners coming to the
country makes a difference,' Hvilshoj says, 'There is an inverse
correlation between how many come here and how well we can receive the
foreigners that come' And on Muslim immigrants needing to demonstrate
a willingness to blend in, 'In my view, Denmark should be a country with
room for different cultures and religions. Some values, however, are
more important than others. We refuse to question democracy, equal rights,
< I> and freedom of speech.'

Hvilshoj has paid a price for her show of backbone.. Perhaps to test her
resolve, the leading radical imam in Denmark , Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu
Laban, demanded that the government pay blood money to the family of a
Muslim who was murdered in a suburb of Copenhagen , stating that the
family's thirst for revenge could be thwarted for money. When Hvilshoj
dismissed his demand, he argued that in Muslim culture the payment of
retribution money was common, to which Hvilshoj replied that what is
done in a Muslim country is not necessarily what is done in Denmark .

The Muslim reply came soon after: her house was torched while she, her
husband and children slept. All managed to escape unharmed, but she and
her family were moved to a secret location and she and other ministers
were assigned bodyguards for the first time - in a country where such
murderous violence was once so scarce..

Her government has slid to the right, and her borders have tightened.

Many believe that what happens in the next decade will determine
whether Denmark survives as a bastion of good living, humane thinking and
social responsibility, or whether it becomes a nation at civil war with
supporters of Sharia law.

And meanwhile, Canadians clamor for stricter immigration policies, and
demand an end to state welfare programs that allow many immigrants to live
on the public dole. As we in Canada look at the enclaves of Muslims amongst
us, and see those who enter our shores too easily, dare live on our
taxes, yet refuse to embrace our culture, respect our traditions,
participate in our legal system, obey our laws, speak our language,
appreciate our history
.. we would do well to look to Denmark , and say a prayer for her
future and
for our own..