re: #3 oslogin

A fellow Norwegian blogger (he’s a socialist! boo!), points out another Fjordman text which is worth noting:

[Link: indregard.no…]

It’s in Norwegian, but the Fjordman quote isn’t. I’ll add it here anyway:

This also implies that for the first time in centuries we are the underdogs. There are many historical examples, from the Persian invasions of ancient times to the Muslim invasions later, where Europeans have performed at our best when we have been the underdogs. Perhaps we can do the same once the Multicultural madness retreats. We need to make sure, though, that those who have championed the toxic ideas of Multiculturalism and mass immigration of alien tribes disappear with it. If that happens, we can give our descendants a fresh start and lay the foundations for a new Renaissance, where European civilization can flourish once more.

The reference to the Renaissance in this context got to me.

The Renaissance originated in Florence in great part as a result of the patronage of the wealthy Medici. They got that wealth from the textile trade.

Great cultures and great civilizations always come from trade - the opposite of what this xenophobe advocates. People trade out of necessity. They need materials and goods. They trade to make money. But in the process they also trade culture, ideas, customs, art, food, and religions. They great cultures of Europe originated from their convenient trade locations, either on water or on Eurasian land routes. The reason the Renaissance originated in Italy was in part because of its ability to trade with Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Great cultures come from vibrant multicultural port cities (or the land equivalent) full of foreigners (and venereal disease, but that’s another topic.)

Just what was Norway’s contribution to the Renaissance, anyway?