Once upon a time, there was a rosy picture painted about diversity being a magical force that would unify everyone into a psychological group hug. Then reality came knocking, much like an unexpected guest who doesn’t quite grasp social cues. This time it made a jingling entrance right around New Year’s Eve, with fireworks going off in more ways than one.
In lands across the pond like Germany and Iraq, a rather startling scenario unfolded. In Iraq, a girl faced harassment for celebrating New Year’s Eve without wearing a hijab. Meanwhile, in Germany, a rather gutsy Twitch streamer decided to venture into areas populated by migrants to show that all was safe and sound. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. She received an unwelcome pelting of rocks, seemingly just for making the attempt.
The plot thickens as similar scenes played out across Western Europe, leaving many to question the wisdom of embracing cultural diversity without, well, a bit of critical thought. Smugglers of old could probably learn a few things about “importing problems” from this modern era nod to wide-open borders. Though diversity was marketed as our strength, it’s looking more like a mix-up of clashing ideals attempting to coexist in cities that were once heralded as beacons of Western civilization.
Islamist warnings against New Year’s festivities metamorphosed into street chaos in places like the UK, where migrant gangs expressed their dislike for the event by attacking law enforcement and rescue services. Even Australia, Germany, and France found themselves hitting the cancel button on celebrations due to threats that were less than festive. It seems the New Year’s Eve spirit is visiting retirement in some parts of Europe, asked to hang up its dancing shoes in favor of more serious safety measures.
The scenario illustrates what some brands of liberal politics seem to overlook: actions have consequences. While there’s nothing wrong with inviting someone into your home, forgetting to set out some house rules can result in rather unruly house guests. As the Western world has opened its doors wide to unprecedented levels of migration, it appears some regions are struggling to maintain the harmony once promised by this cultural stew.
As this saga unfolds, it’s hard not to wonder if this grand social experiment has gone awry, or if it’s still just a work-in-progress. Either way, more thoughtful addressing of integration and setting clear expectations might just shift this turbulent narrative back towards a more promising horizon. Until then, it’s a New Year’s bash for the record books, just not the cheery kind we grew up hearing about.
