After yet another attack by Muslim terrorists, European artists rushed to fill Twitter and Instagram with images of the Belgian comic book character Tintin weeping. In reaction, docile Westerners shed cartoon tears and doodled broken hearts on social media.
Meanwhile, emasculated politicians declared that “justice will be served…this must end…we stand united…we are in solidarity…we send thoughts and prayers.”
Where is the courage to take action?
It wasn’t always this way. When German invaders attempted what was a seemingly easy romp through Belgium in 1914 on their way to Paris, resistance fighters, outnumbered 14 to 1, took a brave stand in defense of their sovereignty.
And now? We prostrate ourselves to silly cartoons. We illuminate the Eiffel Tower in the colors of national flags. We declare “love conquers hate.”
Remember the West’s once proud history? Thermopylae. The storming of the Bastille. The Battle of Normandy. Where is today’s resistance?
To create a resistance, we first have to admit the problem. Russian parliament leader Aleksey Pushkov said “it is time for Europe to understand where the real threat is coming from.” We understand the threat’s origins, but at the risk of being illiberal, we cannot concede it. The West was once a pillar of hope, freedom, and strength. We have given up those virtues in the face of a determined enemy who is striving to destroy our culture and society. And yet, we do nothing.
The fall from courage to cowardice is quite steep, but nearly accomplished.
