Here’s another good talk, though not as good as the preceding one. But it does get better in the last third.
‘Yes, Douglas Murray is a conservative, and yes, the Manhattan Institute is a generally conservative think tank, but Murray is eloquent also sensible on many issues, including the war and (in this case), the courage of Israelis, and it’s worth listening to his 24-minute acceptance speech from May 6, when he was given the Alexander Hamilton Award from the Manhattan Institute for his “unwavering defense of Western values.” I hate to have to qualify things this way, but yes, I disagree with Murray on several issues, the main one being his consistent opposition to widespread immigration into Britain. (I’m sure many of you will agree with him, though.)
In some ways, including his memory and his eloquence, Murray resembles Hitchens. (When he makes a crack about “Queers for Palestine,” remember that Murray is gay.)
The transcript of this speech is at The Free Press.
Prof Coyne,
I’m also a fan of Murray who is the best exemplar of an intellectually honest and eloquent representative of the right (I tend lefty) that I’ve found. What are your reasons for opposing his position on limiting immigration into Britain? You surely know his position which instead of being some rightwing, nativist defense of his home country and its values is rather a reasonable plaint that the rate of immigration (and against the desires of a majority of the British electorate) is too rapid to properly manage effective integration, integration of people with very different values who insist on creating alternative sets of laws to British law, and loss of British culture which is the cultural glue that made it such a great country and a great place worth immigrating to.
You disagree? If so, why?
Sorry to hold your feet to the fire, Jerry, but I too would like to hear why you are in favour of unrestricted immigration. This has become a difficult issue in my homeland, where the vast majority of people are concerned that it is uncontrolled. The politicians know that, as they keep promising to do something about it and yet it simply gets worse. The most charitable interpretation I give that is that they are advised that without continued population growth GDP will plummet, and they feel there is no choice.
I am in favour of all countries allowing immigration of individuals who will add something, be a net benefit to the nation. I had to get through a difficult points system to immigrate to Canada, and that was as a couple with two medical degrees and fluency in both official languages! It hardly seems fair that anyone can just turn up and start living the life of Riley, on benefits, in public housing.
I agree with Murray. That’s one of the reasons I like listening to him, because I was looking for someone who could articulate my own views on the immigration problem so eloquently. I’m concerned every day in my country about all these immigrants coming in. Very serious issues.
I am disappointed that you think that Murray objecting to substantial immigration to the UK is wrong. Britain has a relativity good record in assimilating people fleeing oppression. We have a tolerant system for taking our fair share of genuine refugees, but today we are one of the most densely populated countries in the world: we are running out of room. On top of that too many immigrants refuse to assimilate, in particular in respect of the worst religion in the world.
Furthermore, many are not poor refugees. They pay thousands of pounds to be smuggled into the country. And why the UK? If they want to live in the west, why do they not simply stay in France or Germany, both with much lower population densities?
Maybe they don’t stay in Germany because they don’t come from Germany? Maybe it’s because they see the UK as their second home since they are from the commonwealth?
Nevertheless I would be interested as well in the reasons why our host is FOR wide spread immigration into the UK.
Not only “running out of room” but running out of those common things that are needed, water, waste disposal, housing, land for farming, the list goes on. The population has doubled in my life time and Murray is very correct when he talks of those who have little intention of integration and make no secret of it either. It is completely unsustainable.
Many of them come from countries where English is a second language; many of them come from extended families who already have members in the UK; but many are attracted by a country where it is all too easy to slip into the black economy. We have no form of ID card, and pretty poor means of keeping tabs on who’s come in. Plus, there are a number of major trafficking gangs that specialise in recruiting what amount to slaves to work in their bit of the black economy, especially drugs: Albanians and Vietnamese to name but two.
Our border control and our ability to track entrants to this country are beyond a joke.
I strongly agree with you, well said.
He is very articulate, but I found him unbearably smug and humorless when I heard him talk at the Munk Debates in Toronto last year. He’ll be there again next month.
Darn! I’m glad I saw this comment, because I’d never heard of these Munk Debates, and I don’t live far from Toronto. I’d love a chance to meet Douglas Murray in person, but, alas, the event is sold out ): … but I will certainly watch the live streaming of the debate! Thank you for posting your comment, sometimes I find out about interesting things just by chance like that, like how I recently got to meet Richard Dawkins in Brooklyn, New York. A huge moment for me.
How great to meet Richard Dawkins!! I should clarify that I livestream all the Munk Debates, though do go in person to Roy Thomson Hall for the symphony and other concerts. I’ve forgotten the date of the next debate, but it’s on my calendar in the kitchen…something like June 17??
Yes, June 17th.
I enjoyed that. Our mis-guided youth who sit behind barricades on campus, sh*tting in a bucket, and literally wrapping themselves in the keffiyeh, are really grasping for a great cause with meaning. They want to do something good that matters, but unfortunately they are as blinkered as anyone can possibly be. Meanwhile the heroic youth of Israel are clearly rising to the occasion.
I love Murray. He was far less acerbic than Hitchens, whose sharply honed attacks displayed a touch of smugness too, but so what? We were privileged to have had the benefits of his intelligence, knowledge, comprehension and consequential
opinions on truth, honesty and freedom. Dawkins and Murray and Hitchens and a few others are the handful of heroes defending what is important for civilization.
Hi Lorna. I was thinking about you yesterday when Jerry posted the conclusion to the story of the 29 year old gal who sought the right to die and, finally, got her wish.
I thought real feminists would support the right to die as much as they support the right to control their living bodies.
Some people are ‘funny’ about stuff like that. I think each of us owns our individual life and can do what we choose with it. Period.
I’ve never referred to myself as a “feminist”, though. I tend to resist labels.
Just thought I’d say hello to you.
And hello back to you! and thanks for your comment. I dont believe in labels either. I detest Ideology. I believe in Issues and Principles. So old fashioned. If you have time and inclination check my website: lornasalzman.com…..
Among other things, I fear that misogynist cultures will bully women to choose suicide so that the husband would be free to remarry without the trouble of a divorce.
I will never forget the Terri Schiavo case.
Murray is largely dismissed as a ‘right-wing provocateur’ by the mainstream media in the UK, I don’t think that’s fair, but he does come across as a poor man’s Hitchens, or a more articulate Nigel Farage – ‘if migrants in the UK wanted to be British they would go out and drink lukewarm beer like everybody else’, for example,; Christian conservatism is the answer to saving Europe etc
Murray is honest; Farage is a liar. No comparison. Murray is at least as informed as Hitchens
Trudeau has brought in migrants at such a rate that young people can no longer afford to rent much less buy anything. They are staying with their parents.
I am very opposed to this policy.