Jay Nordlinger, senior editor for National Review and music critic for The New Criterion, writes Impromptu columns for NRO. Jay recently attended the Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual human rights gathering in Norway. In Oslo, Part V, Jay talks about his observations in the Norwegian capital.
A visit to Norway will make you think a little about immigration — about “Islamification,” integration, assimilation, civilization, and all of those important things (all of them ending in “ation,” apparently). This is a touchy subject to talk about. But it really ought to be touched.
Bernard Lewis, the great historian, was once being interviewed by a Dutch journalist. Lewis said, “If present trends continue, the Netherlands will be majority-Muslim in 20 years.” The journalist said, “So?” Lewis thought, The poor SOB. He has no idea what’s coming. He thinks Holland will continue to be Holland, just with a different face.
Will Europe be like that? Will Norway still be Norway, but wearing a hijab? Maybe. But maybe not.
These questions are not far off into the future. The future is now, so to speak. The most common male name in Oslo today is Muhammad. “So what?” you say. Well, you may be right. Maybe this deserves nothing more than a shrug. Alternatively, it could be seismic.
For more of Jay Nordlinger’s Impromptus from the Oslo Freedom Forum, Parts I, II, III, IV, and VI go here.
Debbie Young
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