Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Tarek Fatah's "Litmus Test" for Assessing Muslim Integration in Austria

He articulated it last week at a conference at the University of Vienna:
At the university conference, a young, second-generation Austrian woman of Turkish descent asked me how one could tell if one had integrated into Austrian society or failed to do so. 
I suggested one litmus test for Austrian Muslims was relatively simple: 
“When you think of the 1683 Siege of Vienna, if you feel for the besieged inside the city walls, you have integrated. But if you cheer for the Ottomans, you have not.” 
There were a few gasps, then complete silence in the room. Later, the student came up and shook my hand. 
“Thank you,” she said to me as she and her mom beamed ear to ear.
Works for me. But what sort of test would you employ in North America, where the Siege of Vienna doesn't have the same resonance that it does in Austria?

Here's one: "When you think of the 9/11/01 attacks, do you cheer for the jihadis? If you do, you haven't integrated."

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