Economist's views on Muslims spark controversy in Germany

[pampango]

Source: Washington Post

Sarrazin, a board member of the German Central Bank, has divided the nation by postulating the theory that Germany is being "dumbed down" by Muslim immigrants and their children. Wielding statistics and scientific arguments both in his book and in public comments, he delves into territory largely taboo here since the Holocaust, suggesting that "hereditary factors" are at least partly to blame. Turks and Kurdish immigrants, he asserts, are genetically predisposed to lower intelligence than Germans and other ethnic groups, including Jews.

What has also shocked many is that so many Germans have rallied to his side as the central bank and his political party have sought to oust him for his pronouncements. Among Germany's population of 82 million, about 5 percent are Muslims, most of Turkish descent. A poll published in the national magazine Focus this week showed 31 percent of respondents agreeing that Germany is "becoming dumber" because of immigrants

"It's absolutely unacceptable with the history here that such a large amount of people follow what he says," Kramer said. "The lesson of the Holocaust is not just about Jews, but that human dignity is indivisible. Yet now, they react if there is a genetic comment about Jews, but not if it's about the Roma or the Turks. We obviously still have some homework to do."

The bookish, mustached Sarrazin - who declined a request for comment - is no stranger to controversy. While a member of the Berlin state senate, he famously said civil servants had a physical odor and wrote a diet for welfare recipients who claimed they couldn't live on their meager state assistance checks. But in the past year, he has homed in on the issue of Turkish and other Muslim immigrants.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/09/AR2010090903264.html

[Abq_Sarah]

1. Everyone loves a scapegoat.

[damntexdem]

2. Well, it appears that Germany IS becoming dumber -- but because of Sarrazin.

Just as the U.S. is because of Palin, Newt, Beck, O'Reilly, Faux News, et al.

[jwirr]

3. Nazi philosophy is alive and well in Germany & the good old USA. nt

[pampango]

4. Looks like he's out. "Controversial central banker quits in wake of immigration comments"

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5991445,00.html

A controversial member of Germany's central bank is to step down after sparking anger with his remarks about immigrants and Jews. Thilo Sarrazin claimed in a new book that Muslims are undermining German society.

Controversial German central bank board member Thilo Sarrazin is to step down from his position after making a series of controversial comments about race and religion.

Sarrazin asked German President Christian Wulff to relieve him of his responsibilities, according to a statement from the Bundesbank on Thursday evening.

Sarrazin's resignation has saved the German president from having to make the difficult decision of whether to remove him from the post. Legal opinion was divided over whether the dismissal of Sarrazin for his comments would stand up to any challenge in court.

[Odin2005]

5. So much for europe being oh-so much more civilized then us dumb Americans.

:eyes:

[golfguru]

6. German students overall still score better than American students

at high school level. So before we pick on Germans we should look in the
mirror first.