In Theory: Reviewing the Czech leader’s anti-migrant stance

Czech President Milos Zeman said this month that it was “practically impossible” to integrate Muslims into European society.

“Let them have their culture in their countries and not take it to Europe,” said Zeman, who went on to say that Europe would “end up like Cologne,” referring to the large number of assaults on women during New Year’s Eve in Germany.

Zeman, known for his anti-migrant stance, referred to the wave of refugees last year as “an organized invasion.” This month, he also said the surge was a calculated effort by the Muslim Brotherhood to “gradually control Europe,” according to Agence France-Presse.

“Integration is possible with cultures that are similar, and the similarities may vary,” said Zeman, highlighting the integration of the Vietnamese and Ukrainian communities into Czech society.

Q. What do you think of Zeman’s comments? Do you attribute his rhetoric as largely reactionary toward recent events?

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President Zeman’s comments do seem reactionary. Possibly they are based on recent troubles a handful of European countries have had with some refugees from Muslim states. His sentiments might reflect a frustration, or even negative bias, felt by many of his fellow countrymen. One can’t help but compare his comments with some of Donald Trump’s recent public statements about immigration, and how his opinions have resonated with many in our own country.

When there is a clash of cultures, or any human conflict for that matter, it takes the effort of both parties to create a sustainable climate of peace. The host country’s citizens must understand and accept the sometimes profoundly different cultural preferences of immigrants, but the immigrants, if they wish to participate and thrive in their new homeland, must also show sensitivity to the prevailing culture. Simply put, it’s a matter of being sensitive to and considerate of others. Tensions will rise if either or both parties fail to show regard for the other.

Jesus’ words in Matthew, chapter 25 about his future commendation of the righteous should give us all pause to consider how important this issue is to him. In the coming judgment of mankind “the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in.’” The righteous will answer: “when did we see you a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe you?’ … The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’”

Immigration sometimes introduces complex problems into a society. Some countries remain closed against any who are different than themselves. And some immigrant cultures refuse to integrate with the larger society around them. In the eternal perspective, the most important question to ponder is how we personally respond to the “stranger.” Will Jesus commend us, or will he say, “to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” The people thus addressed, the Bible says, “will go away into eternal punishment.”

Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank

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Zeman’s comments make me uncomfortable, but I also think he has a point. I have heard elsewhere that Muslim culture cannot be assimilated into Western culture, but I am not convinced. I have Muslim friends right here in La Cañada Flintridge who have assimilated and gladly so. Also, there is a large community of Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan, who had been established there long before 9-11. And there have been no problems.

We believe in democracy, supposedly, so I am for letting in as many Muslims as others who come to these shores. Let them engage in the democratic process, and if they elect a few “radicals,” they elect a few “radicals.” We already have one Muslim in Congress, Ron Ellison of Minnesota, who is a Democrat. (Of course he is! Can you imagine a Republican Muslim? But I digress …). Again, we say we believe in democracy. So if enough Muslims band together to elect “their” people, so be it. That’s the democratic process. It should be obvious that I do not fear ISIS or ISIL or any other group “taking over” America. They certainly aren’t going to take us over militarily, and if enough of them ever get here to register to vote, they aren’t going to take us over at the ballot box, either. Jesus said one time to his disciples, “Where is your faith?” or “Oh ye of little faith.” I’ll ask the same thing of every voter who is reading this: Where is your faith in America and the democratic process? If all of us good, patriotic Americans register to vote, there is no force in the world that can take us over.

The Rev. Skip Lindeman
La Cañada Congregational Church
La Cañada Flintridge

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I think Zeman is stating the obvious. It is almost impossible to have a people with cultural and religious disdain for European society blend and become one with their neighbors that society. This would probably be the case anywhere. But I don’t think it totally impossible. It just takes resolve. If there were steps made to teach them the ways, language and manners of their new residence, then perhaps they would warm to their new climes and ultimately succeed. I think you need to insist on their allegiance, and then place them strategically throughout the country to avoid the giant neighborhoods of foreigners who merely set up microcosms of their original countries in the new place. You then monitor their progress, and if they aren’t working out, if they are behaving criminally, they can be deported. If they meld well enough, open shops, pass the tests and whatnot, then they stay and lend their unique flavor to the mix of the new country. I don’t think immigrants should ever come to a new country and disparage the place, try to establish their past culture as a present one in the new country, or insist on foisting their traditions upon a culture that already has plenty of its own.

When my grandfather came from Germany, he didn’t make the family learn German and wear lederhosen. He spoke English and made sure everyone else did as well. After all, America isn’t Germany, and he was now American. Of course Germans are a lot more like Americans than Africans or Middle Easterners are like Czechs, but it makes reasonable sense that if you must leave your own country because it is a bad place — a place of unemployment, murder, war and slavery — then embrace the good stuff of the new. All the things for which an immigrant leaves their homeland are the things you’d expect them to leave behind, but such is not always the case. And if newcomers are so barbaric as to gang rape and rob the good citizens in the welcoming nation, then they need to be publicly punished and excised. And forget putting everything in various languages. If you come to a country that speaks Czech, then learn Czech. That, too, is part and parcel of the culture.

Rev. Bryan A. Griem
Tujunga

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Successful integration of Muslims is not impossible, but it will require goodwill, compromise and sacrifice on the part of both the European hosts and the immigrants themselves.

Europeans will need to accept, as many already have, the economic cost and social adjustment that comes with the arrival of so many people who speak different languages, follow a different religion and are used to different customs.

Muslims who wish to live in Europe must respect European culture and values. They must, for example, accept that European women dress differently, that the absence of a chador or hijab does not mean a woman is open to sexual overtures and, certainly, that she is not deserving of abuse. Migrants should not expect — or insist that — Europeans change their traditions, celebrations or lifestyles to avoid offending Muslim sensibilities. However, it is reasonable to expect Europeans to avoid needless offense that might exacerbate tensions.

The European countries that have accepted large numbers of refugees deserve our respect and support. The enormous challenges they face have been exacerbated by the fear of more terrorist attacks like those that those in Paris last year.

We, in the U.S., can’t resolve the issues of conflicting culture, religion and perspective, but we can help ease the logistical burden, especially for the less-wealthy nations of Eastern Europe, of dealing with more than a million newcomers. Last year, the LDS church pledged to contribute $5 million to help house and feed migrants in Europe, and encouraged members to contribute individually as well. The faster migrants find housing, learn new languages and get jobs, the less likely it is that tensions will escalate to violence.

The prospect that millions more migrants may flood into Europe points to the need that we do more to assist refugees in the Middle East to reduce the desperation that has led to the migration to Europe.

Michael White
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
La Crescenta

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No culture on earth admits to sanctioning assaults on women, yet women face constant violence everywhere. A contributing factor is that the attackers in Cologne were very, very drunk. Public drinking has been traditionally tolerated there, long before any refugee influx. The police were criticized later for not having a stronger presence, after having closed off the entire square by the station and not allowing anyone on the trains when thousands were trying to head home from a fireworks display.

I think it is also important to remember that 4.6 million Syrians have fled the war there. Most are women and children — in fact over half are children. About 10 percent have made it to Europe. Many have been taken in by Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, along with numerous refugees from other conflicts in the area, with several very rich lands such as Saudi Arabia and Gulf states not helping much, if at all. The United States has admitted about 3,000 Syrians.

So I don’t think that we are in a position to say much about the reaction of President Zeman, racist though he may be.

There is an even bigger picture: the extreme chaos in the Middle East causing this diaspora. Our long history of unsuccessful military meddling there contributes to this mess, to say the very least. Because sending our sons, daughters, husbands, nieces, etc. (calling them “boots on the ground” is disgusting to me) has become politically unpalatable, the Obama administration in recent years and continuing today has brokered a flood of major arms sales to the region. This bonanza for weapons manufacturers is described by experts as “unprecedented,” as widening the fighting, and making it more deadly.

This is the organized invasion we need to end.

Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose