Thilo Sarrazin - Social Democrat

The German Social Democrats (SPD) demonstrated yesterday once again why they keep losing ground to the Green Party by allowing best-selling author and "gene expert" Thilo Sarrazin to remain in its ranks.  The whole "procedure" was rather preposterous as the SPD leadership formally accepted Sarrazin's lame apology: 

The politician wrote that he did not intend with his book to express either "social Darwinist theories" or a "selective population policy." He said it was also not his intention to discriminate against particular groups or immigrants. "To the contrary, with my theses, I wanted to promote the integration of migrant groups who because of their origin, social background or religion were not prepared or in a situation to integrate more strongly," Sarrazin wrote. "At no point did I have the intention of violating Social Democratic principles with my theories," he added. "If members of the party feel that I have impaired their understanding of Social Democracy, then I regret that, even if it is my opinion that my book did not do so on any occasion."

The idea that the inflammatory book Deutschland schafft sich ab promotes integration is absurd.  The pseudo-scientific "proof" of the inferior intelligence of immigrants, which Sarrazin takes great pains to document with numerous footnotes - giving the book a phony veneer of academic rigor - is totally inconsistant with the ideals and traditions of social democracy in Germany.  I agree with the editorial published in Die Zeit: 

Es gibt Grenzen, die eine Partei nicht überschreiten darf. Als der Christdemokrat Martin Hohmann 2003 öffentlich antisemitische Sprüche klopfte, zog die CDU-Vorsitzende Angela Merkel die einzig richtige Konsequenz: Sie drängte ihn aus der Partei hinaus. Auch Sarrazin hat sich mehr geleistet als ein wenig Stammtisch-Geplapper. Er hat die unterschiedliche Intelligenz der Menschen mit ihrem genetischen Erbe begründet. Damit hat er sich in die gedankliche Nähe der größten Irrlehre des 20. Jahrhunderts begeben. Deshalb ist es richtig, wenn die SPD Thilo Sarrazin nun ausschließt.

(There are boundaris that a party may not cross.  When the Christian Democrat Martin Hohmann resorted to anti-Semitic rhetoric in 2003, Angela Merkel as party chairperson made the correct decision: she forced him out of the party.  Sarrazin too has done more than just shoot his mouth off.  He has based differences in human intelligence on genetic factors  In doing so he has come too close to most dangerous false theories of the 20th century.  Therefore the SPD would be correct in forcing him out. )

The neo-Nazi NPD had it right when they celebrated the publication of Sarrazin's book:

"Hier hat jemand ein regelrechtes NPD-Buch geschrieben."

(He has written a genuine NPD book)

 

Comments

[Strahler 70]

Mit seinem neuen Statement erteilt Genosse Sarrazin allen Ausländerfeinden und Rechtsextremen eine erneute Abfuhr. Die in seinem Buch "Deutschland schafft sich ab" vertretenen Thesen sollen helfen, die Migranten besser zu integrieren. Genosse Sarrazin läßt sich nicht vom brauen Pack vereinnahren, welches seine rassistische Gesinnung mittels falsch interpretierter und willkürlich aus dem Zusammenhang gerissenen Passagen seines Buches salonfähig machen will. Hoch die Integration! Nieder mit Rassismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit! Vorwärts zum Multi-Kulti Staat! Es lebe hoch der Genosse Sarrazin!

[So und nicht anders muß über Thilo Sarrazin geschrieben werden, vor allem dort, wo die Neue und Alte Rechte massenhaft die Kommentarseiten bevölkert.]

[Zyme]

Ahaha, Gabriel is such a big f** laughing stock :-)

"is totally inconsistant with the ideals and traditions of social democracy in Germany."

According to numerous surveys, SPD supporters beg to differ. Changes come along with time passing, nothing remains as it is, David.

[David]

At least some in the SPD reject racism and are unhappy that Sarrazin stays:

"Für „Rassisten wie Sarrazin“ sei kein Platz in der SPD, betonte Dees und fügte hinzu: „Wir fordern daher den Parteivorstand und den Landesverband Berlin auf, erneut ein Parteiordnungsverfahren gegen Sarrazin mit dem Ziel des Ausschlusses einzuleiten.“
Auch die Berliner Jusos warnten, das Signal laute jetzt: „Die SPD akzeptiert einen Rechtspopulisten und Hetzer in ihren Reihen.“

[Zyme]

"At least some in the SPD reject racism and are unhappy that Sarrazin stays"

Absolutely. And who prevailed?

The decisive point is that Sarrazin's ideas are in no way right wing extremist in the Germany of today. He has broad amounts of supporters throughout all parties except the Greens maybe. Leftist Linkspartei supporters are among those who agree most with him.

Multi-Kulti is dead here, and consequently it would have dealt the SPD a serious blow in the upcoming elections, had they kicked Sarrazin out against this amount of support in the electorate.

[David]

"Multi-Kulti is dead". Yes, I heard Angela Merkel say that. But the fact is there are 5 million people in Germany with Turkish or Arab backgrounds. Germany has to find its way to living with the fact of Multi-Kulti.

Here's hoping for a Green chancellor!

[James]

Here;s hoping for a Green President of the U.S. in 2012!

[John in Michigan, USA]

@David:

I agree that it isn't realistic to expect that "5 million people in Germany with Turkish or Arab backgrounds" are going to go away.

But, why is their presence evidence that Germany has to live with Multi-Kulti? Why can't one at least consider the posibility that Germany could make the transition from Multi-Kulti to a model that is both cosmopolitan and assimilationist?

It seems to me you are bracing for a contest in which only two outcomes are possible: left-style Multi-Kulti, or right-style Multi-Kulti. Why not consider other outcomes or models?

[John in Michigan, USA]

@James:

The Greens have their own race problems. Remember this?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641577,00.html

I interpreted this highly problematic image at:

http://atlanticreview.org/archives/1316-Campaign-Slogan-in-Germany-Yes,-Weekend.html#c20030

and

http://atlanticreview.org/archives/1316-Campaign-Slogan-in-Germany-Yes,-Weekend.html#c20040