An empty room with hundreds of seats...
Europe has long been the home to Christians and Jews. From the time of Christ, many Christians flocked to Europe where they both spread the faith and established their domains. The mighty Roman Empire eventually converted to Christianity which only further strengthened and bolstered the region while establishing Vatican City as the central source of Christian doctrine. Multiple times in its history, Europe has been the center of change and progress while the rest of the world lagged behind.
Islam came to Europe through exploration, trade and through Arabic manuscripts and scientific research as well as territorial expansion. It further grew with the arrival of many Muslim immigrants from countries that had been colonized by European powers as the United Kingdom and France colonized much of the North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Yet, despite the influx of so many Muslims into Christian-dominated Europe, the attitude towards Muslims hasn’t changed. Regarded by many European Caucasians as a lesser race that belongs to the immigrants, Islam and Muslims have been subjugated to being second-class citizens in these countries. Muslims are often mired in poverty and inferiority across Europe with a small proportion living well.
My brief escapade across Europe allowed me to get a brief glimpse of this subjugation. While in France, I noticed that the subways and underground were filled with mostly North African migrants. There were several beggars who clearly weren’t Caucasian Franks. The “better” areas of Paris seemed to be almost completely devoid of any minorities. In a short period of time, it became clear that Muslims and minorities truly were regarded as second-class citizens. I talked briefly with some Algerian Muslims – using my poor French skills which were enough to get me by – while in France and learned from the exchange a little bit of their difficulties in France. I suppose it’s no wonder that there were riots in the French ghettos in 2005 because of the poor situation for Muslims in these countries. The impression of change and progress is a mirage it seems with glass ceilings in the way of progress and growth.
What does the future then have in store for Muslims and Europe? Various reports say that the Muslim population in Europe will double by 2050 due to immigration and birth rates. If that truly is the case, does that mean that the Muslim population will be better able to dictate their status or will it just be a growing lower-class segment subservient to their colonial masters?
“Still got that work if you got the right fee…”
- Slim Thug (I Run)
