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| Europe |
| Danish Queen: We must show our opposition to Islam |
| 2006-02-05 |
| Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has called on the country "to show our opposition to Islam", regardless of the opprobium such a stance provokes abroad. Her comments further undermined the image of Denmark as a liberal haven for those seeking a new life in northern Europe. The Danish government has already been accused of fuelling xenophobia by introducing measures which effectively closed the country to asylum seekers. But in overtly political passages from an official biography published yesterday Queen Margrethe makes comments certain to complicate her nation's relationship with Muslims. She said: "We are being challenged by Islam these years - globally as well as locally. It is a challenge we have to take seriously. We have let this issue float about for too long because we are tolerant and lazy. "We have to show our opposition to Islam and we have to, at times, run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on us because there are some things for which we should display no tolerance." "And when we are tolerant, we must know whether it is because of convenience or conviction." The Queen, who turns 65 tomorrow and has reigned since 1972, wields no political power but does occasionally comment on political issues. Denmark has seriously limited immigration in the past three years and the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party, an ally of the centre-Right government, has pushed through laws making it harder to bring in foreign spouses or qualify for asylum. The queen told her biographer, Annelise Bistrup, apparently referring to Muslim fundamentalists: "There is something impressive about people for whom religion imbues their existence, from dusk to dawn, from cradle to grave." She said she understood how disaffected young Muslims might find refuge in religion. This tendency should be fought by encouraging Muslims to learn Danish so they could integrate better, she said. "We should not be content with living next to each other. We should rather live together." |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #19 Well the Queen may have backbone, but several thousand (so claimed, no way to tell if it was a couple of hundred) of her subjects do not. I just watched a piece on CNN International showing a march in Denmark where the people were holding candles and Little cards with peace signs and the word SORRY. Also some guy playing guitar on stage (kumbaya?). It made me want to puke. The muzzies sides must be aching because their sides hurt so much from laughing at the sight. What freaking idiots these people are. Their signs should have read Please Kick Me. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2006-02-05 23:58 |
| #18 The viking blood of Harald Bluetooth runs in her veins. The Danish monarchy runs back over a thousand years. You don't stay in power that long without understanding how the world works and being bold enough to do and say what is necessary. God save Queen Margrethe! |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-02-05 19:38 |
| #17 re: #7 "Did you ever hear of Plato? Aristotle? Socrates? Morons!" |
| Posted by: Hupeting Chesh3148 2006-02-05 14:45 |
| #16 a monarch with backbone AND an attention span - yeehaw |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-05 13:45 |
| #15 What's interesting is that the quote is from a year ago or so, cited in a bio that just came out. She's been worried about this issue for longer than the cartoon mess. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-05 13:22 |
| #14 Let's hope she is the authentic voice of the nation. The Muslims need to learn that if they can't live by the rules of the West they will be forced to leave it and go back to their countries of origin. No one here will cry to see them go, either. |
| Posted by: mac 2006-02-05 13:12 |
| #13 What a woman! I am so proud that Aussies are now affiliated with the Danish throne. God save that Queen. Now if only the house of Windsor could come up with something like that I'd have a reason to be a monarchist. The Danes truly have spine. They helped out in Afghanistan too, didn't oppose Iraq too much and also printed those cartoons in defence of freedom of speech. long live Denmark! And as for the puke in aisle #7, that's the next President of the USA you're talking about. Wash your mouth out. |
| Posted by: anon1 2006-02-05 12:26 |
| #12 I hope she has good protection around her. I foresee death threats I love her backbone |
| Posted by: Jan 2006-02-05 10:58 |
| #11 I'm with Mark Z, Nimbles, Throsing, TW, Mr. 6, wxjames, Doc8404, Fred and lotp. Ima born again Monarchist, you go girl. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-02-05 10:56 |
| #10 AT4353 must be quite some intellect, since s/he is able to see how stupid Dr. Rice really is. Amusing. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-02-05 10:47 |
| #9 In WWII, when the Germans occupying the country required Jews to wear the yellow star, the king of Denmark began wearing one. Guts appear to be a family tradition. I'm impressed. |
| Posted by: Fred 2006-02-05 10:46 |
| #8 Clean up - aisle #7! |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2006-02-05 10:45 |
| #7 Good . She's not stupid like Condolezza. |
| Posted by: Angose Threreling4353 2006-02-05 10:41 |
| #6 The Queen has thrown down the gauntlet. One would have expected a man to do that. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-02-05 10:40 |
| #5 I sure there must be some mistake. Translation problems? She said that? That's a |
| Posted by: 6 2006-02-05 10:37 |
| #4 "There is something impressive about people for whom religion imbues their existence, from dusk to dawn, from cradle to grave." A common misconception, and a dangerous one. It parallels the idea that one is either a teatotaler or a drunk, which is absurd. Likewise, religion can be a very positive force, so long as one doesn't insist on requiring others to also conform to one's own beliefs, either through forced conversion or dhimmitude. Which is the problem with militant Islam today, so ably demonstrated by that obnoxious idiot who posted yesterday -- demanding the imposition of Islam's rules on everybody. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-02-05 09:14 |
| #3 At least the Queen still has some starch in her corset. Most of parliment cannot make the same claim. |
| Posted by: Throsing Pholuting7025 2006-02-05 09:12 |
| #2 Long live Queen Margrethe, Defender of Freedom. God Bless the Queen. And further, given the militant nature of the alien fascists who reside in her realm, may I say: God save the Queen. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-02-05 08:53 |
| #1 Happy Birthday, Margrethe, and many, many returns. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-05 08:51 |