BrianGarst.com

A German orchestra is heading for Iran to perform some classics, such as Beethoven and Brahms. Sounds like a great chance for cultural exchange, yes? Perhaps. But I think it’s also serving to reinforce impressions of Western cultural weakness. The women of the orchestra will submit to Iranian requirements that they wear hijabs.

A German orchestra arrived in Tehran on Monday, defying increasing political tensions to give the first performances in Iran by a full Western classical ensemble since the Islamic revolution in 1979.

. . .The German orchestra, whose female players will have to wear Islamic headscarves to obey Iran’s dress code, will be boosted by six Iranian musicians for the concerts.

The orchestra’s directors were at pains to emphasise their visit would not stray into politics and was purely aimed at increasing cultural understanding between Iran and the West.

Increasing cultural understanding is all well and good, but we need to ask ourselves just what it is the Iranians are going to understand about us. That we will debase ourselves to please them? That we’ll submit to the rules of Islam in order not to cause trouble?

The rule seems to be that, no matter the location, Islam must be accommodated. Westerners in Muslim countries must conform. Fine, but why then must Western countries bend over backwards to accommodate Muslims? This kind of pathological cultural weakness does nothing but invite Islamist aggression. It’s the cultural equivalent of appeasement. As long as we continue to signal to Islamists that we will submit to the dictates of Islam, Islamists will continue to believe that world subjugation is attainable.

Hat tip: Dhimmi Watch