Some thoughts on the Danes and on Danegeld

We have heard a great deal of talk about the Danish newspapers and the recent cartoons that have so upset many Muslims. We have also heard of endeavors by Muslims to attempt to impose Sharia on non-Muslim nations, with the threat of violence in the event that such nations do not stop "disrespecting" the Prophet Muhammad, or the religion of Islam.

We have also heard (though not through the mainstream media) that Danish Imams went to elaborate efforts to spread knowledge of the offending pictures, and even to manufacture additional pictures (which were far more offensive than the originals) in order to foment violence. As a consequence of this fomenting of violence and of fraud (I can find no better word than "fraud" to describe this deception), hundreds of people have been killed, largely Christians, and at least one martyr has been made as result of this fraud. Muslims are threatening more such violence, unless their will is respected.

What they are demanding is an end to freedom of speech, of the press, and even of thought. They are demanding that we censor ourselves so as not to say things which would offend them. What they are threatening is more violence if their will is not followed.

There are many words which can describe this course of action. I find that the word which best describes that course of action is Danegeld. Wikipedia has rather simply and eloquently defined Danegeld as follows:

The Danegeld was an English tribute raised to pay off Viking raiders (usually led by the Danish king) to save the land from being ravaged by the raiders.

Danegeld was continued later under the name tallage. The term has come to mean protection money, or any coercive payment.

While it is true that the Muslims in question are not asking for the coin of money, they are asking for a more precious coin: our freedom. Some, who do not value that coin, are more than willing to pay it, simply to prevent more violence from occuring. Others (and I am in that number) are not willing to pay that coin, at any price. Certainly, the Danes, who have been the recipients of Danegeld in centuries past, have at least learned from their own history, and their Queen has rightly commended her country to resist the payment of this tribute to fear.

While I am willing to pay respect to the religion of Islam (for there is much in Islam worthy of respect), such payment can only be reciprocal: respect must be earned. The actions taken by many Muslims in rioting, in killing, and in martyring, have earned only the world's scorn. If such people seek respect, they must first earn it. So far, they have not done so.

In closing, I think that the counsel of Rudyard Kipling is well worth following. I give you that counsel as follows:

Danegeld


It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbour and to say: --
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld
And then you'll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say: --
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we've proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that pays it is lost!"