Terrorism, Political Violence, Liberal Democracy and the failure of the political establishment.

In the 1980s, during my research into terrorism and revolution, I reflected deeply on the nature of the infamous Baader Meinhoff gang which morphed into the left-wing militant German terrorist group, the Red Army Faction.

A product of the post-war ‘baby-boomer’ student protest movement and its concomitant social dislocations, the Baader Meinhoff gang was, at least in Germany, the apogee of New Left Marxian radicalism and political violence. Over the course of its history it came to epitomise the ‘style’ of the ‘urban guerrilla’.

Its founders Andreas Baader and journalist Ulrike Meinhoff came from solid middle-class backgrounds – at the time I found it ironic that both their fathers were respected art historians before the war.

The Red Army Faction attracted disaffected university educated adherents – in another irony, Baader himself was the only member of the Red Faction not to attend university. Their cause was the rejection of the political establishment which they saw as being corrupt, self-serving and unrepresentative of the people.

The group embarked on a thirty year era of assassinations and kidnappings of bankers, politicians, media moguls and ‘establishment’ figures. The so-called ‘German Autumn’ of 1977 was witness to their bloodiest period in which it was responsible for some thirty-four deaths.

The group formally dissolved in 1998.

In contemplating the polyglot mess that is Western Europe today I can see certain parallels with this period.

In the 1970s the political disaffection of large elements of bourgeois German youth was palpable. They had lost faith in their political classes and thus, feeling disenfranchised; they took the law unto themselves. In some respects I could well understand their objectives, if not their modus operandi. Setting aside the ethical rectitude of their actions, the twin points I wish to highlight from this period are the ‘loss of faith’ and the sense of being ‘disenfranchised’.

I shall argue that, moving on half a century, these critical points are very much in evidence in the current crisis facing Western Civilisation, namely the Islamisation of the West. 

This cultural invasion of the West has been ongoing by ‘creep’ for decades. Europeans, by which I include Britons, particularly the apathetic middle classes, are very largely to blame for this. Under their noses the political agenda was hijacked by the liberal progressives decades ago. Gradually moral relativism replaced Christian values and political correctness curtailed freedom of speech. Inevitably and inexorably the all caring all sharing, inclusive and thoroughly secular society subsumed individual rights, responsibilities and obligations. Minority groups took precedence over the majority; laws were passed to enshrine a raft of ‘non-discriminatory’ minority privileges; ‘positive discrimination’ became the watchword of the day as social engineers mindlessly dumbed down the education, health, law and order and other civil service sectors. Patriotism and cultural pride in the achievement of Western Civilisation was replaced with cultural cringe, guilt, and one-world internationalism. Finally and importantly, feeding upon a manufactured notion of moral guilt, mass scale immigration from diverse third world cultures was encouraged under the social engineering shibboleth of multiculturalism. In turn this spawned ghettos of guest workers and immigrants across Europe. These hot-houses of ‘outsiders’ fermented multifarious feelings of racial and cultural alienation amongst each other and from the host culture.

Instead of recognising the very obvious, that the fires of fragmentation were crackling within, the political classes encouraged increased immigration programmes that allowed cultures that, at best, were at variance with and at worst totally antipathetic to the host European culture, almost unfettered entry.     

They continued to fund special programmes for such racial and cultural minorities and justified their policies by pointing to happy-clappy ‘multicultural’ festivals and the ‘feel good’ forums especially staged to engender inclusiveness. Such did not still the embers of disaffection. In the Australian context it has been noted that:

This disaffection is, for example, reflected in numerous urban gangs of Aborigines, Somalis, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Maoris et.al. that hold sway in sections of our cities. Racial violence against Asian students by Aborigines, outright gang warfare between Aborigines and Somalis, Lebanese chauvinism towards Australian women and Australian culture generally, stand in direct contrast to stereotypic public-funded cultural festivals highlighting carefully choreographed happy, clappy, dancing and singing migrant groups.[1]

Those hard-headed members of the host culture that did voice their doubts and increasing concerns about the reality of the situation were banished to the political nether-world. Instead of dealing with their legitimate and democratic expressions intelligently, the political establishment, under the aegis of nonsensical United Nations protocols and under the banner of the great God ‘Multiculturalism’ hounded, ridiculed and excoriated its critics. To take two divergent examples from the Anglo-speaking world - the tragedy of ignoring the prescience of Britain’s Enoch Powell stands as example and, in Australia, the political knee-capping of Pauline Hanson by future Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the behest of the Liberal Party was a disgraceful thumb-jab in the eye to a large constituency of the Australian electorate.   

Political classes have consistently presented a united front on the question of multiculturalism. Under the aegis of this sacred cow the liberal-progressives have embraced the world-view of open arms immigration without any real questioning of this dogma. This world-view is amply supported by sections of a compliant and ideologically driven media. I cite a very recent example from the Fairfax stables: on 1 January 2016 a Ruth Pollard opined in the Brisbane Times that: Europeans open their hearts to vast numbers of the desperate.[2]

Really! Does this explain the crisis in the EU – the crisis in Cologne; the unseemly clanging shut of borders; the Paris Tragedy; the rise of the Pergida movement[3] – I think not. But it demonstrates how the elites will cling to their own perception rather than the reality of the world.

In recent years, the fallen angel of Germany’s political ‘right’, the egregious Merkel, has amply demonstrated her credentials as a cultural equivocator. The following extracts are instructive:

From the book, The Smiling Autarch[4]:

Indeed, on 17 October 2010 German Chancellor Merkel was moved to publicly admit that multiculturalism was a failure.[5] She expanded by stating that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have "utterly failed". She said the so-called "multikulti" concept - where people would "live side-by-side" happily - did not work, and immigrants needed to do more to integrate - including learning German. Her comments were a reflection of rising anti-immigration feeling in Germany. A recent survey by the Friedricht Ebert Foundation Think Tank suggested more than 30% of people believed the country was "overrun by foreigners" and that the same number were of a view that some sixteen million of Germany’s immigrants had come to Germany for the express purpose of enjoying the country’s social benefits.[6]

And from the journal Quadrant[7]:

The part of our brain that has fallen for the myths all these years has pushed restriction on speech and behaviour and it is pushing them now. Sitting beside Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook at a UN lunch the other week in New York [2015], Chancellor Merkel was heard by a microphone that was still live asking Zuckerberg what he was doing to stop Europeans writing anti-immigration things on Facebook. “We’re working on it,” was his reply.

This from a leading member of Europe’s political establishment - the one whose brain snap precipitated the current crisis. Her singular stupidity has, over a few short months, radically altered the demographics and cultural composition of Europe – where is the accountability? She should be tried for treason by the European court!

Thus do our political elites value our opinions? So much for accountability! So much for freedom of expression! Indeed, on that subject, previous Australian Prime Minister Abbott cravenly backed down on long-standing Liberal policy and a core election promise to water down the Racial Discrimination Act by changing Section 18C of that particular legislative monstrosity. Citing national security and the need for ‘closer consultation’ with the Australian Muslim community, Abbott’s volte-face signalled his capitulation to the political establishment.[8] It was a defining loss for political common-sense and morality in Australia.

I could go on but to do so would be to tire your patience and my time. But my point I think is made that it is increasingly apparent that the political elites of the Western World have failed their constituents over the questions of multiculturalism; the diminution of Western culture and the demographic and cultural direction of the West.

The further details of this spineless failure have been the subject of countless learned papers, essays, polemics, critical comment, emotional diatribes and reasoned argument. To this end it will not do to add yet further verbiage to the ineffective mountain already penned. Suffice to say that the political establishment and its political elites are just not listening and that they simply don’t get it.

The manifold failures of the political establishment in this regard is not only an unacceptable state of affairs, it is a dangerous development. When your political classes have let you down, your country is crumbling and transforming before your eyes and your way of life seriously threatened, who can blame you for being angry?  And make no mistake – our political classes have let us down – badly.

In simple and direct terms, the principle of democracy implies that ‘the people’ have an overarching say on how they are governed. Deny them this and you no longer have a democracy. Deny those who feel strongly about an issue an effective outlet for their concerns thereby alienating them from the political system is to tempt them to seek solutions other than the useless ballot box – foremostly through political violence.

Which brings us back to the Baader Meinhoff phenomenon?

Anti-establishment terrorism resurgent! In my view, it speaks for the sheer civility and remnants of old fashioned social decency of Western Europe that political violence aimed at the political establishment and its elites hasn’t already happened. In my view such acts would be totally understandable if not desirable.

I am both sorrowful and angry that so many of us are just too busy; too preoccupied; too polite and bourgeois; too pathetically tolerant or, just too damn apathetic to stand up and speak out. Most of us will “tut tut” on the sidelines, in the pub or over a cosy dinner party and a bottle of red with select and safe friends, but in reality we have effectively delegated all our civic responsibilities to our elected representatives.

In reflecting upon my angst I am reminded of the views of a good friend, the late, cerebral and delightful Dr Colin Jack-Hinton, who was fond of quoting G.K. Chesterton’s immortal lines:  

They have given us into the hands of the new unhappy lords,

Lords without anger and honour, who dare not carry their swords.

They fight by shuffling papers; they have bright dead alien eyes;

They look at our labour and laughter as a tired man looks at flies.

And the load of their loveless pity is worse than the ancient wrongs,

Their doors are shut in the evenings; and they know no songs.[9]

Jack-Hinton’s was a world weary view of bourgeois society and all its pretensions. Cutting through the flim-flam that passes as politics in the Western world, we have to face the reality that it is we, the people, who have delivered ourselves into those unhappy lords. We have no excuses. It is by our apathy and failure to take responsibility for our political decision making that our political classes have led us into the wilderness.       

Too many times in recent years have I heard the mantra that, as individuals there is nothing we can do to change the way of the world. Often I have been told to give up; stop pissing on a hot stove; shut up and enjoy life. To this I can only revert to my sound Anglo Celtic heritage – Bollocks!

I ask myself the following:

Do I feel let down by our political classes? – Damn Right I do!

Do I feel alienated from the political system? – My oath I do!

Would I counsel political violence? In some circumstances I consider it nobler than surrendering my birthright. Yes!

My support for this latter position has been a lifetime in the making. I have undergone in my lifetime a 180 degree circle – from supporting the political establishment to being its enemy. In this, my last battle, I feel as alienated from the political establishment as any youthful student might have done in the 1960s.

I have to admit to a personal loathing of the cultural revolution of the 1960s and ‘70s. At the time I perceived the damage they were doing to our civilisation. I had been brought up with the civic notion of obligation and responsibility rather than rights. As a military man I fought Communism. In academia I fought leftist-revisionism and the cultural wars and now, I am still fighting, this time in defence of the very civilisation to which I belong.

Having studied politics, worked in politics and written about politics I am totally disillusioned with our ‘democratic’ political process. It is, in my view, completely out of step with the times and it fails to reflect the real feelings of the electorate. Moreover, like the completely skewed and crooked legal system, it is resistant to change and impervious to criticism.

Sadly, with the exception of one who is always welcome at my table, I hold that politicians as a species are ill-principled, pusillanimous, egotistical and self-serving. And I despair that these showers of contemptibles run the country!

So, what to do – other than filling glass bottles with petrol?

I reject the view that we can do nothing; I reject the view that some of us are too old to care and I thoroughly reject the view that we are all too busy to bother. We can all make a difference if we would only but try.

Anti-establishment terrorism can be prevented, but only if our citizens stand up – no excuses, no weasel words – and demand of their politicians effective policies to protect their way of life.

Foremostly we have to ask ourselves whether our civilisation is worth fighting for.  Of course it is. Without being blind to its vices we must hold up its virtues of spiritual humanism, freedoms [including of religion], decency and the Moral Law - The alternative is unthinkable!

Secondly we have to ask ourselves whether the continuing decline is now set and inevitable. I answer no – not if people act now and resolutely and play an active part in the way we are governed. Remember - the only thing politicians understand and more importantly, fear – is losing their seats. So, give them a damn good shake up. The good news is that you can do that without having to join a party and you don’t need to spend endless boring hours at meetings. Here is a real beginner’s guide to lawful political activism:

Contact your political representatives – e.mail, social media and the internet make this very easy – they are only at finger-tip length away.

Contact their political adversaries

Go and see your political representatives face to face and let them know you’re for real. Don’t let them spin cock and bull stories about why it can’t be done. Leave them with no doubt in their mind what you want and that you’re prepared to change your vote to get it. Remember, they are your representatives working for you – you tell them – they don’t tell you!

Demand explanations from your politicians, civil servants, policy makers, clerics and so forth.

Write to your political leaders – politely but firmly. Remember he or she is not God. He or she is there as your steward of the country.  

Social Media is not only for fatuous messaging. It is a potent political tool. Use it for spreading the word.

Join an on-line political or pressure group. There are many to choose from. They can be remarkably effective in swaying political decision making.

Sign online petitions.

Complain on line, by post and/or in person about injustice, government stupidity, overt political bias and doctrinaire public policy.

Be proud and assert your own cultural identity. Acknowledge and be proud of your Judaic-Christian heritage.

Our Western Civilisation needs no apology.   

Assert your own civil rights and point out others responsibilities.

Speak out against nonsensical minority positive discrimination.

Support the symbols of national culture – the Flag; National Anthem, traditional songs, the spirit and symbols of Christmas and Easter, national days and so forth.

Assert civic pride. Do you really want your neighbourhood reduced to a slum?

Ignore political correctness. Just call it as it is. Remember to do so is your cultural heritage and right.  

Ignore political edicts from Government.

Assert the superiority and priority of your own national language and customs. This is of prime importance.

Demand the overarching application of national laws. In Western society there should be no such thing as Sharia Law. Period.  

Be prepared to be combative in support of our national values and traditions. Have the courage of your convictions to politely say what you mean, what you believe in and to speak out in defence of your country and its peoples.

I conclude this essay with a slight digression. Many years ago I read a British author that at the time I thought very prescient. Today I commend as interesting reading G.K. Chesterton’s cousin, British public intellectual, politician and proto-Fascist A.K. Chesterton. Despite the treatment he received at the hands of the British political establishment his several books offer many prescient insights into the culture wars.[10]

Fifty plus years ago there existed a number of quite brilliant minds who foresaw the mire into which our overly tolerant, weak-willed and spiritually void society would sink. The great sadness is that at the time nobody was listening. Had the idealism of the age been tempered with ‘realpolitik’, reasoned policy based on muscular ethical confidence and a realistic world-view would have obviated the so-called ‘Refugee’ crisis of today.

It is not too late to reclaim our birthright from the political charlatans who have hijacked and abused it. The question – as ever - have we the ‘Will’ to do so?

If not, those bolder than us, those others that actually do care, will feel quite justified in resorting to lethal political violence. Then will we have blood on our hands.  

…………………………..

 Patriotism is Good.

Pride of Culture is Good.

Pride in Yourself is Good

Taking a Stand is Good. 

***

Moral Equivalence is bad.

Relativism is Fence Sitting.

Over-tolerance is damn Stupid.

Keeping Silent is just plain Cowardly.

[1] Coe, John J. The Smiling Autarch. writersandebooks. Sydney. 2013. Pp.91-92

[2] http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/my-message-is-i-need-peace-20151231-glx8by

[3] Origin Germany: Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the Occident (German: Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes). Thus PEGIDA.

[4] Coe, John. J. The Smiling Autarch. Writersandebooks. Sydney 2013. P. 172

[5]    BBC World News 17 October 2010. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559451

[6]    loc. cit.

[7] Douglas Murray. “Europe’s Fatal Contradiction”. Quadrant. December 2015. P.9

[8]Sydney Morning Herald. 5 August 2014.

[9]G. K. Chesterton. "The Secret People”

[10] For example: A.K. Chesterton. The New Unhappy Lords. Candour. London. 1965.

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