I have many friends in Europe and elsewhere in the world. A recent poll would have you believe that the majority of them are blundering morons. However, there is always a kernel of truth even in the most skewed of polls. Consider the last quoted paragraph and the news that Britain has re-classed shari'a courts as tribunal hearings, making their rulings legally binding in Britain. Sea2Sea has chronicled the run up to this legal event in Britain.
More than 50 percent of Britons believe that polygamy is legal in the United States; in fact, it is illegal in all 50 states. Almost one-third of Britons believe that Americans who have not paid their hospital fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care; in fact, such treatment must be provided by law.
Seventy percent of Britons think the United States has done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000; in fact, America’s rate of growth of carbon emissions has decreased by almost ten percent since 2000, while that of the EU has increased by 2.3 percent.
Eighty percent of Britons believe that “from 1973 to 1990, the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons.” In fact, the United States sold just 0.46 percent of Saddam’s arsenal to him; Russia, France, and China supplied 57 percent, 13 percent, and 12 percent, respectively.
The majority of Britons believe that since the Second World War, the United States has more often sided with non-Muslims than with Muslims. In fact, in 11 out of 12 major conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims, Muslims and secular forces, or Arabs and non-Arabs, the United States has sided with Muslims and/or Arabs.
There are good people in Europe, and a spectacularly talented blogger/author in Paris - of all places! A good place to start interacting with European's not profiled by this recent poll is Non Pasaran. Prepare to be shocked and awed.
Erik Svane - Non Pasaran! - at CPAC 2008
Erik at home in Paris
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