FNs generalsekretær Ban Ki-moon, benyttet sitt besøk i EU-parlamentet tirsdag til å klandre europeerne for å lage negative stereotyper av muslimer. Dette var noe hverken Europa eller verden trengte, sa Ban Ki-moon og minnet om europeisk historie. Han så en farlig tendens.
Ordene kunne tolkes som et svar på særlig tyske politikeres uttalelser den senere tid om vanskeligheten med å integrere landets muslimske befolkning.
Men at en koreaner pisker europeere med fortidens forbrytelser virker svært umusikalsk. Ban Ki-moon risikerer å pådra seg irritasjon og diskrediterer FN. Folk opplever ikke at politikere appellerer til lave instinkter og spiller på frykt. De opplever tvert imot at de for første gang tør å si det folk har tenkt i mange år. Så kommer FNs generalsekretær med spanskrør og munnkurv. Det tyder på dårlige rådgivere og plasserer FN som symbol på det politisk korrekte.
“A dangerous trend is emerging, a new politics of polarization. Some play on people’s fears,” Ban said at a meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “They accuse immigrants of violating European values,” he added.
“Europe’s darkest chapters have been written in language such as this. Today the primary targets are immigrants of the Muslim faith,” Ban said. “Europe cannot afford stereotyping that closes minds and breeds hatred, and the world cannot afford a Europe that does this.”
Ban’s comments followed statements made by German President Christian Wulff earlier on Tuesday, in which he said Turks living in Germany must learn to speak German.
“We cannot close our eyes to the fact that immigration to Germany has brought with it a number of problems. The basis for a solution to many of the problems is tied to learning German,” said Wulff.
On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed similar sentiments, saying that Germany’s attempts at multiculturalism had failed.
She stated that too little had been required of immigrants in Germany, and that they should learn German so they can better succeed in school and in the labor market
Ban warns against European intolerance of Muslims
By JPOST.COM STAFF
10/19/2010 19:32
UN chief: “Europe cannot afford stereotyping that closes minds and breeds hatred, and the world cannot afford a Europe that does this.”
