Americans need to annually re-read the following classic:
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This review is from: America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It by Mark Steyn (Hardcover)
Mark Steyn, like P.J. O'Rourke, is an extraordinarily insightful and witty communicator who is not only an artist in the tapestry he weaves with words, but who has keen and piercing discernment into one of the most pressing issues of our time: the shockingly rapid and rabid advance of virulent violence in the name of religion.
Thankfully, unlike many lily-livered and wrong-headed authors of today, Steyn does not grant moral equivalency between faiths that promote peace and love, with faiths that promote hatred and terror. Steyn tells it like it is, and focuses on the real, specific threat to us all: the spread of Islamist extremism (differentiated from peace-loving Muslims). This aggressive terror movement quite literally threatens the very existence of Western Civilization and the freedoms of every single person reading this review.
Having been to Europe on several occasions, including recently, I can say that Steyn's observations about the encroaching threat are right on. Recently, French law enforcement officials have gone so far as to call for help, noting that what Islamist extremists and hoodlums are waging against them in France is an actual intifada. The Netherlands, also overwhelmed with angry immigrants who refuse to assimilate, is likewise facing an epic clash of cultures. In the UK, key cities are on the brink of becoming majority Muslim--a frightening percentage of whom believe that terrorism is a viable, moral option.
Could this happen in America? In fact, the seeds have already been planted. If you have been unaware or dismissive of this fact, then you absolutely must get Steyn's book and read it immediately.
This is not a book about partisanship. Whether one is a "conservative" or a "liberal," if you love America; if you love your family; if you love freedom...you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get informed and get involved.
This is not a book of racism or bigotry. Steyn does not attack an ethnic group or, specifically, those who practice the Muslim faith. In fact, he sheds light on why Islamist extremism is the greatest danger to Muslims in the world today. (It should be noted that more Muslims and Arabs have been killed and persecuted and enslaved by Islamofacism than any other force.)
Some commentators and comedians casually dismiss or minimize the threat that we all face. For those of us who are Baby Boomers and Xers, it is perhaps deeply ingrained into our nature to pooh-pooh any talk of menace or serious threats to our way of life; this faulty mindset is born out of decades of complacency and relative peace. What is looming on the horizon is simply inconceivable to many. But then again, so was Pearl Harbor. And so was 9/11.
For the sake of the world--including moderate Muslims--it is vital that America (and all of the virtues for which it stands) wins in this struggle. It's high time to refute all of the self-loathing America-hating, traitorous professors and pundits here in this country, and the Euro-weenie hand-wringers on foreign shores, who blame the USA for all of the ills on the planet. Say it loud and clear: the USA has been an overwhelmingly postive force for good in this world, and it's survival is crucial for the prosperity of many nations and peoples.
War has been declared and waged against us; we ignore it at our own peril.
472 of 533 people found the following review helpful:
Serious, Sober & Funny,By Steve Iaco (northern new jersey) - See all my reviews
This review is from: America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It (Hardcover)
Mark Steyn is an astute observer of today's geopolitical scene, especially the rising tide of Muslim fundamentalism in Europe. This is a sober subject with ominous implications for the free world. Yet Steyn consistently leavens his commentaries with razor-sharp wit and trenchant one-liners.
On Russia's abominable 70% abortion rate: "Russian women are voting with their fetuses."
On opinion polls showing 49% of Egyptians believe the Mossad is responsible for a recent terrorist resort-hotel bombing: "Denial is more than a river in Egypt."
How about this anecdote (my favorite): In the fall of 2003, a mass panic swept Sudan. Foreigners were shaking hands with Sudanese men, causing them to lose their masculinity. One merchant reported that a west African entered his store and shook his hand powerfully until he felt his [male organ] melt into his body. "I know the feeling," Steyn writes. "The same thing happened to me when I shook hands with Senator Clinton."
Humor aside, Steyn raises serious questions about the West's willingness to confront virulent Muslim fundamentalism and capacity to prevail in the "long war."
91 of 99 people found the following review helpful:
How Should Europeans and Americas Deal With Radical Religion?
By Bryan Carey "Bryan Carey" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It (Hardcover)
"America Alone" is an apocalyptic book of sorts that bases its pessimistic predictions not on religious dogma specifically but on the cold, hard facts of the present world in which we live. European nations have some of the lowest birth rates in the world- far below the necessary number of births per woman necessary to sustain the population. European nations (and Canada) have a large number of social programs that will be increasingly difficult to fund in the future as the native population dries up. And the influence of Muslims continues to grow in these countries each day as the nations of Europe continue to accept more and more Muslim immigrants into their borders.
The problems faced by the Western world, according to the book, have these core issues to deal with and finding a quick cure will not be easy. According to this writing, the root of the problem is Western Europe's growing welfare state- a system that redistributes wealth to the detriment of the overall society. Unemployment rates in these countries are very high by American standards and young people no longer want to have children. This, combined with the desire to be culturally sensitive, has led these nations to accept large numbers of Muslims into their ranks, leading to a large percentage increase in the overall Muslim population.
Reading a politically and socially motivated book like this one often leaves the reader wondering about the true motives of the author. Many writers voice strong, ideologically based, subjective opinions that are intended to influence the reader in a specific direction. Other books have a stronger basis that is grounded in fact. "America Alone" fits into the latter group.
Starting with the concern about the shrinking populations of native Europeans, what is stated in this part of the book is very true: European nations, as a whole, have very low birth rates and over time, they will see their native populations cut down to size. There is nothing ideological or subjective about this. If the low birth rates do not reverse themselves very soon, the populations will slowly decline until the natives become a minority in their own lands. The book is also correct when it points out the economic problems these nations will face as they try to pay for their massive state- funded welfare system. The only way to have enough workers paying into the system in a country with a low birth rate is to admit more immigrants. And, more than likely, these immigrants will come from the Middle East, bringing their intolerant brand of religion with them. It is highly unlikely that they will want to assimilate into the local culture. They will instead convert the nation to one whose laws are determined by Islamic code. Again, this is not alarmist fanaticism; it is a very likely scenario that will play out if something isn't done to curb the growth of Islamic influence and to increase the declining populations. It could take a very long time, but it is easy to see that the trends are pointing in this direction.
The author of this book feels the Islamic world influence is a grave threat to freedom and our way of life and his fear extends to the United States also. However, here in the USA, the threat is not nearly as bad because our political system, economic system, and lifestyle are in direct conflict with a totalitarian system like that found in the more radical Islamic nations, making a conversion to an Islamic theocracy unlikely in the near future. But the threat is still real and the author feels that Americans should take whatever steps necessary to preserve their culture and liberty. Even though the chances are slim that an Islamic theocracy would take over the U.S. government, the author feels this is something we should take no chances with. We should do whatever we can to make sure this scenario never plays out.
How does the author suggest that we accomplish this task and defeat what he refers to as the "Virus of Islam"? Well, he lists several specific steps to take and most people can at least agree with them in theory. For example, he feels we should strongly support women's rights in the Muslim world. He also feels that we should support political and economic freedom in all Muslim nations; counter the funding of Islamic organizations in the United States and in other western nations; Create a special corps to wage an ideological war; etc. These are good, solid ways to counter the influence and they are actions that most people can agree. Other points the book makes seem questionable, like the assertion that Americans spend too much time in school. According to the author, we should be able to learn and absorb the equivalent of a Bachelor's Degree in much less time than it currently takes and doing so would encourage young people to marry and have kids at a younger age and more frequently, thus eliminating the problem caused by lower birth rates. Hmmm...I can see his point, but I cannot imagine ordinary people taking this seriously.
Overall, America Alone is a good book with an important message about the transformation of Europe and the other nations of the Western world and what needs to be done to reverse this trend toward the new "Dark Ages". Most of it is written with good intentions and it does contain many factual assertions about the gloomy economic picture in Europe.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
Best Read in Years,
By Chris (Southington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It (Hardcover)
This book is not only informative, but as entertaining a read as I've seen in quite some time. You will laugh out loud -- right before you mourn what's happening to our beloved country. For example, he points out how we demand total choice on our cable and satellite dish offerings, but are willing to let the government make our choices for us on far more critical issues such as on raising our children (Connecticut is proposing taxpayer supported universal pre-school -- get 'em while they're young), caring for our inconvenient elderly parents so we won't need to, and soon to assume decisions affecting our very life, should we go to a single payer health care system. I can hardly wait until we, too, will be able to wait 6 months for an MRI? Won't it be cool when everyone has affordable medical coverage, but when we need bypass surgery, the government will say to us, "Geez, you're 65. We can't do bypass surgery on old geezers like you, but we'll pay to plop your sorry butt in a nursing home until you do us the favor of expiring." That's no joke -- it happened to my business partner's Canadian father several years back. He has done the system the favor of expiring. Now, that's progress!
Steyn provocatively addresses the issue of political correctness, as it relates to a number of societal issues. He demonstrates how the press has become a tool in keeping us useful idiots "informed." Manipulated would be a better word, in my opinion.
I can only hope we wake up before our very way of life is no longer an option. We are not far from it with Medicare and Social Security on the brink of bankrupting the country, even as politicians devise new ways to spend our hard-earned money to buy votes.
This book should be required reading for every politician, teacher, preacher, and citizen. Steyn is a demographer extraordinaire, and gives us the big picture on precisely how unsustainable social programs, low birth rates, and "feel good" political correctness combine to destroy societies and the common values that bind us together as a nation. |
