Given the recent events in France and the Netherlands, one
would think that our City Council would recognize the danger of
encouraging multiculturalism. But noooo! Once again, council
member Bill Perkins is attempting to push through legislation
that would allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. This
pandering to immigrant groups in his district is both misguided
and dangerous. Mr. Perkins is joined by eight other council
members who need to do some research before committing themselves
to this foolhardy strategy.
The three Staten Island council members, two Republicans and one
Democrat, have responded responsibly to the Perkins bill,
correctly labeling it "ridiculous."
"We might as well let the folks in Libya vote in our
elections," council member Matthew Lanza said. My own
council member, Democrat Michael McMahon, agreed with Mr. Lanza
that citizenship should continue to be a requirement to vote.
"And those who want to vote should become American
citizens," he said.
Mr. Perkins introduced the bill on behalf of the estimated 1.4
million noncitizen adults who work and live in the city. He
reasons that because they pay taxes, they should have a voice in
how the city is governed. What hogwash! These individuals get
benefits for their taxes. What does he think pays for services
like police protection, fire departments, schools, and
sanitation? Making the effort to become a citizen would
demonstrate the desire to become assimilated into American
society. Any lesser effort does not merit the reward of
citizenship privileges. For heaven's sake, look at what's
happening to the oh-so-tolerant European countries.
While the recent riots in France have been described as the
result of the French neglect of the Arab immigrants, which has
resulted in poverty and destitution, it is actually the truth
that is being neglected. The majority of the rioters are Muslim
youths who, one French official said, have made no effort to
assimilate into French culture. They do not speak the language,
which means they cannot gain employment. Most are on easily
obtained social benefits, which is another disincentive to
achieving gainful employment. The same can be said for the
Netherlands.
Earlier this year, I attended a dinner with two Dutch
conservatives who were here seeking advice on how to turn around
their liberal country beset by radical Islamists. Dr. Bart Van
Spruyt and a Parliament minister, Geert Wilders, were making the
rounds in America to publicize what is happening in Holland.
Because he has called for a moratorium on non-Western
immigration, Mr. Wilders has received death threats and has been
forced to live with armed guards.
The Netherlands and its citizens bent over backwards welcoming
these immigrants to their country. They used government funds to
build mosques and special schools. These Islamic schools
discouraged assimilation into Dutch society, which gave them such
generous social benefits. In return, this country has been the
victim of brazen jihadists who threaten the lives of any public
figure they perceive as hostile to Islam.
Exactly 911 days after the popular Dutch figure Pim Fortuyn was
murdered, the grandson of Theo van Gogh (Vincent's brother) was
slaughtered. Mr. Wilders described the murder: "In broad
daylight, van Gogh was shot eight or nine times, then he was
stabbed several times. His throat was cut and he was almost
decapitated. A five-page anti-Semitic rant was found held in
place by a knife through van Gogh's body."
Television reporters went around to moderate Muslim communities,
and "we heard them say things like, 'he deserved it,'"
Mr. Wilders said. Van Gogh's crime was making a short film called
"Submission," which dared to criticize the Islamic
treatment of women.
Although press coverage of the French crisis seems to promote the
idea that its cause as the disenfranchisement of these immigrant
youths, it ignores the fact that the rioters are yelling to Allah
while burning cars. This is not about the minimum wage or poor
housing. This is about anarchy fueled by misguided liberalism
disguised as tolerance.
As an American of Hispanic lineage, I thoroughly resent the
city's bilingual programs and other patronizing efforts to cater
to new immigrants, because this intimates that we're not quite as
smart as the other immigrants who built America. I have no
problem with English being made our official language. This is a
melting pot of many cultures but the stew is still all-American,
and if the members of our City Council can't recognize the
importance of citizenship, then we American citizens need to vote
them out while we still can.