In which Sam Tom remembers the world we have lost

[sam_tom_sam]

In the early 2000s, I visited Cologne with my mother. It was one of the nicest places I have been in Germany. I have fond memories of the chocolate museum and the great zoo that offered much better conditions for animals that anywhere I have ever been. I loved the architecture and Mrs Lyle loved the beer. The only bad thing that happened was an

Comments

[esoteria80]

I wonder if the problem is who (it seems, allegedly, etc) committed these crimes? I think the left would have more to say if it was a massive crowd of German soldiers on leave, for example. The problem here is if you believe in equality for everyone, including women, how do you include in your equality a group who whole-heartedly do not believe in equality of women? Whose equality do you cherish? In this instance, and a lot more lately, it's not women's, which is terrible. That's why there's still articles about sexism in Star Wars, because Star Wars is a nice western tradition "that should know better" so it's easier than asking how far respecting other cultures means excusing abhorrent viewpoints.

[sam_tom_sam]

I am sure that is the case. I think the German establishment is still a hostage to its past, always trying to prove it has overcome racism. Ironically its actions only serve to stoke it.

It is strange to see people who claim to believe in the rights of women and sexual minorities stifle any criticism of societies that really don't treat these groups nicely at all. It's moral relativism on steroids.

But perhaps it's good to revise one's opinions from time to time in life. This whole affair has shown me that concerns like women's rights can't be neatly slotted into a left-right spectrum. I think many on the left would like to take ownership of this issues but they have proved themselves unworthy of doing so, which is why they are complaining so much that 'bigots' (i.e. people who disagree with them) are stealing 'their' concerns.

[joysilence]

"The problem here is if you believe in equality for everyone, including women, how do you include in your equality a group who whole-heartedly do not believe in equality of women?"I think this is especially a problem for left-wing liberals because they seem to feel a bizarre and somewhat arrogant need to come across as totally open-handed and unbiased, like a God, and a duty to treat everyone the same. This something right-wingers just aren't burdened with

cologne, less fragrant, more flagrant

[vieannelyle]

Yes, I remember Cologne very well; the cathedral (Dom)just behind the train station, and the square beyond the cathedral, overlooked by impossibly expensive hotels. Mrs Merkel probably regrets her open door policy now, if only because it has provided her political adversaries a stick to beat her with. It looks like Cameron was being canny to announce Britain would take people already in refugee camps in Lebanon/Jordan: those people would have been 'processed', and the ones likely to integrate the best would have been chosen

No de Cologne

[sam_tom_sam]

Yes I remember that, I also remember helping the Afghan Miriam downstairs in Peckham. She was very nice and definitely grateful, although some aspects of British life seemed to surprise her, like the fact black and white people mix here. She seemed open to adapting though.

I feel it's a numbers game: a small number of well-disposed people can be integrated perhaps (although really, the liberal establishments of most Western European countries don't seem to encourage this), but large groups of furious men with an overwhelming sense of entitlement aren't good news.

Actually quite a few men were among the crowds being attacked in Cologne but anyone is a 'soft target' when they are surrounded, outnumbered and not used to having to defend themselves.

NEIN NEIN STACKENBLOCKEN

[joysilence]

I'm quite interested to find out exactly who was responsible for these attacks - Syrians, "real" German citizens with appalling beliefs, terrorists, or what - but only in an academic kind of way, because really if they catch any of these people the correct procedure would be to chuck them into a bottomless pit, regardless of where they come from. The whole cover-up was appalling, especially that "code of conduct" thing that mayor was said to be peddling, but if Germany thinks we're going to forget the concentration camps just because they do an energetic "la la la I can't hear you" to bigots today, they are clearly not as logical as one had been led to believe.

DAS IST UNWANG

[sam_tom_sam]

Some of the tinfoil hat brigade have been mooting the idea of it being the fault of the "Far Right" but I doubt they'd have gone to that much trouble when Merkel is doing their job for them anyway.

According to the reports I've read, nearly all the suspects they picked up are immigrants, mostly from Morocco as well as a few Syrians and other nationalities. Apparently the whole region has had a problem with organised crime gangs from North Africa for a while.

I won't be visiting Cologne again until its mayoress Reker is out of office. Utterly vile comments. Proof that just getting women into positions of power achieves nothing in itself.

Re: DAS IST UNWANG

[joysilence]

Well I hope those suspects get jolly went sent back wherever they came from if they are found guilty. Canada tried to address this problem of feared sexism among Syrian immigrants by saying it would only take in women, children, and men who can prove a relationship with women and children, but that seems very unfair to male immigrants whose families have been blown up in the bombings. Plus just having a wife and kid is hardly a sign of honour.

I'm OK with large numbers of Syrian immigrants coming to France, and certainly don't feel unsafe around the Muslims we see in Caen etc., though that's partly because I suspect the French police would come down on this sort of behaviour like a ton of briques. I just don't understand why the Germans are't doing that, it would be a rare opportunity to make both feminists and right-wingers happy for once!

Re: DAS IST UNWANG

[sam_tom_sam]

I think most of the people in Cologne (and all the other cities affected) felt safe before the attacks. As far as I know the German police were unprepared and overwhelmed, having never experienced anything like this.

France's public spaces will indeed be safer since it is in a state of emergency. Not a great situation for anyone though really. Unbelievable how the actions of one leader can ruin so much for so many people.