"Xenophobes Unite!"

The Economist published a very ironic article a couple weeks ago entitled "Xenophobes Unite!" which documented the recent meeting of nationalist, far-right groups in Tokyo, in order to promote their version of "International nationalism" ??

http://www.economist.com/node/16791740?story_id=16791740&fsrc=rss

Among the great's of far-right politics who attended this conference was Bruno Gollnisch of France’s National Front. France's National Front Party has been dominate in the southern regions and cities of France, where many North Africans reside. The name that first comes to mind is the National Front's infamous and xenophobic Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has run for president five times, and even came in second in 2002,obtaining more votes than the main leftist candidate Lionel Jospin.

These right-wing knights who claim to guard the borders and cultural purity of France, tried to show their "soft" side at the conference in Tokyo. Bruno Gollnisch(National Front Party) explains how "persecuted" the nationalist parties feel.

"The main unifier is a sense of persecution. “We are facing the same enemies, using the same methods, for the same purpose, serving the same interests,” explains Bruno Gollnisch of France’s National Front."

Awwww. Is this supposed to make people feel sorry for the poor, defenseless nationalist parties who demonize both Muslims and sub-Saharan African immigrants in the European Union and beyond? (especially North African immigrants in France). REALLY?! YOU FEEL PERSECUTED?? You all are the ones promoting the fortress Europe approach and marginalizing Muslims, Sub-Saharan Africans, and(see my first post), Roma Gypsies. The list goes on of course.

Of course, America and especially certain states (cough cough Arizona), are hardly models for tolerance and protecting the rights of legal and illegal immigrants.

 And don't even get me started on the Tea Party. I talked to an old friend who has became a fan of Rand Paul and the Kentucky Tea Party movement a few times this summer, and we discussed the allegations of racism, libertian politics, Rand Paul and how he puts his foot in his mouth, etc. My argument was, okay, if a main leader of the Tea Party promotes signs stating "Obama=Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug" then one can be fairly confident race and religion are playing roles in this movement. My old friend, who was nice enough when we played in the sandbox together when I lived in Kentucky from ages 3-7, responded with a bewildered, "how is that racially charged"?  sigh.