The Strange Death of Europe: Douglas Murray Sounds an Alarm

The other night I heard someone reference the writings of Douglas Murray, calling him courageous for being a truth teller. Not being familiar with Mr. Murray I decided to check Amazon to see what kinds of books he's written. Several of these intrigued me, so I next turned to our local library's website to see if they carried his work. Happily I found two volumes which I proceeded to check out. 

The first that I paged through was titled The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam. Murray's book was published in the UK in May 2017, and in June 2017 in the US, and I can understand why it would be controversial. 

The Strange Death of Europe is the internationally bestselling account of a continent and a culture caught in the act of suicide, now updated with new material taking in developments since it was first published to huge acclaim. These include rapid changes in the dynamics of global politics, world leadership and terror attacks across Europe.

...Murray's "tremendous and shattering" book (The Times) addresses the disappointing failures of multiculturalism, Angela Merkel's U-turn on migration, the lack of repatriation and the Western fixation on guilt, uncovering the malaise at the very heart of the European culture. His conclusion is bleak, but the predictions not irrevocable. As Murray argues, this may be our last chance to change the outcome, before it's too late.

Murray contends that European civilization as it has historically existed will not survive. He explores two factors in explaining this: The first is the combination of mass migration of new peoples into Europe together with its low birth rates; the second is what Murray describes as 'the fact that… at the same time Europe lost faith in its beliefs, traditions, and legitimacy.'

The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam is a thought-provoking and controversial exploration of Europe's current socio-political landscape. 

Mass immigration, shifting cultural identities, and the challenges posed by the rise of Islam within European societies is a complex stew of issues.. Murray raises compelling arguments and important questions about the future of European civilization and the impact of these profound demographic and cultural shifts. While some may find his perspectives divisive or contentious, his book offers valuable insights, and in looking at Europe today it's quite apparent that his analysis and concerns were on target.

What makes it worse today is the current assault on free speech which, in England, has resulted in people being arrested simply for speaking up about their concerns.

Murray is not one to pull punches. Here's a quote from his 2024 article “Who put the toddlers in charge?” published in The Spectator (UK edition) on 14 March 2024 (in the issue dated 16 March 2024):

Regrettably, we must conclude that our culture is being dictated by two-year-olds. I do not literally mean children of two years of age, some of whom are among my favourite conversationalists. I mean people with the mental age of a two-year-old. That is, people who have never been told ‘no’ and have gone through their adult lives behaving as such.

The rot began with the green lunatics. I’m all for saving the environment. Most people are. But the moment vandalism became an acceptable way to persuade people of your cause was where things went wrong.

* * * 

This is a big topic which needs more space to properly unwind, but there are lessons here and issues that need a proper vetting. These are times to be vigilant and aware. As the Proverb states, "The complacency of fools destroys them."

Photo: Gemini-generated version of original painting by the author.

A Poem by Siegrfried Sassoon for Memorial Day

Burying the dead at Somme (public domain)

World War I reminds us how quickly nationalism, alliances, propaganda, and political miscalculation can pull nations into catastrophe. Leaders expected a short war; instead it became industrialized slaughter. The conflict also showed how media narratives and public emotion can overpower caution, creating momentum toward war before societies fully understand the consequences.

The war produced many writers and poets of significance. Siegfried Sassoon was one of these, one of the more powerful poetic voices to emerge from the "War to End All Wars." Sassoon rejected the patriotic romanticism common in wartime verse, writing with brutal honesty about trench warfare, exposing its fear, suffering, and senseless waste. His poems often attacked the blindness of political and military leaders while expressing deep compassion for ordinary soldiers trapped in the nightmare of war.

To put Sassoon's writing in perspective, he was a Lieutenant at the Battle of Somme who witnessed this horror firsthand. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme (July 1, 1916), 19,240 British soldiers were killed. This remains the bloodiest single day in the history of the British Army. The total British casualties that day—including those who were wounded, captured, or went missing—reached 57,470.

During the Battle of the Somme (July–November 1916), the British and Imperial forces suffered approximately 420,000 casualties, of which historians estimate around 125,000 to 150,000 were fatalities. This is two to three times the number of Americans who died over a span of ten years in Vietnam.

Here is Siegfried Sassoon's poem Attack.

Attack

At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun 

In the wild purple of the glow'ring sun, 

Smouldering through spouts of drifting smoke that shroud 

The menacing scarred slope; and, one by one, 

Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire. 

The barrage roars and lifts. Then, clumsily bowed 

With bombs and guns and shovels and battle-gear, 

Men jostle and climb to meet the bristling fire. 

Lines of grey, muttering faces, masked with fear, 

They leave their trenches, going over the top, 

While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists, 

And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists, 

Flounders in mud. O Jesu, make it stop!

Copyright Credit: Siegfried Sassoon, “Attack” from Counter-attack: And Other Poems. New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1918. Public domain.

Source: Counter-attack: And Other Poems (E.P. Dutton & Company, 1918)

For the Birds

Painted Bunting. Courtesy John Heino

A number of years back I recall reading about a North Dakota wind turbine firm that was fined a million dollars because their wind turbine killed a predator bird of some kind that was an endangered species. I've forgotten the details now, but do recall the size of the fine.

That story came mind this morning as I read another story about how hazardous wind turbines are to birds. This prompted me to dig a little deeper into hard numbers, and here is what found. Instead of focusing on win turbines I looked at skyscrapers, windows and other human actions that kill birds. 

Actual numbers vary widely depending on the source, but here's a general summary based on the best available research.

Bird deaths from building and window collisions

It is estimated that between 365 million and 1 billion birds are killed annually by birds crashing into windows. Most deaths occur from collisions with residential and low-rise buildings, not skyscrapers. This happens because birds often cannot perceive glass as a barrier, especially when it reflects sky, trees or other vegetation.

Bird deaths from wind turbines
The estimated annual deaths from wind trbines in the U.S. is around 140,000 to 500,000 birds. In other words, wind turbines account for a much smaller fraction of total human-related bird mortality compared to buildings, cats, and vehicles.

Bird deaths from cats and cars

For comparison, outdoor cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S. We have one cat and it's true, cats are quite skilled at reducing the bird population. As much as we love birds, we do not have a bird feeder outside our window for that very reason.

And then you have cars and trucks, which kill about 89–340 million each year. Cars are more aerodynamically designed now, but I remember how when we drove home from Grandma's house in the Fifties, my dad frequently pulled a dead sparrow from the grill of the car. It was a grim business. Back then cars had those wide, flat grills to provide airflow and keep the engine cooler. 

Bottom Line

Wind turbines do kill birds, but windows and other human-related factors like habitat loss and predation by domestic cats are far greater threats to bird populations.  

Life, Death, Speed and Passion: Michael Mann's "Ferrari" is a Winner

Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari

This past week I went to see Michael Mann's latest film without reading the reviews first. Ferrari! I had watched the trailer and knew I needed to see it, having fallen in love with Italy last spring, and being a longtime fan of Penelope Cruz. Being a lifelong racing fan added to my confidence that I would not be disappointed. And I wasn't. 

The film opens with black and white footage of race cars from what must be the 1920s, the camera close up on the grinning face of a young man driving as fast as he can. That smile... exactly the expression on my face the first time I raced in a stock car. We know the man in the film is Enzo Ferrari, who would one day establish Ferrari as one of the most desired brands in the world for its elegance, performance and history. 

This is not, however, a racing film per se. It's a very human story with combustible emotions and tragic flaws. 

Adam Driver is the embodiment of Enzo Ferrari, the fiery founder of the iconic automobile brand, while Penelope Cruz smolders as Laura, his fiercely loving, yet deeply frustrated wife. The film, like a high-octane race across Italian landscapes and tumultuous decades, plunges us into the heart of Ferrari's world, where ambition and passion threaten to consume him.

The film is an exploration of a complex man driven by obsession, though beneath the steely exterior is an inwardly vulnerable human being full of irreconcilable emotions. Driver captures this duality of Enzo Ferrari who is, on one hand, a visionary, pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering and creating coveted symbols of speed and luxury. On the other, he is an obstinate businessman, haunted by the death of his son and consumed by a hunger for validation. 

The problem many people seem to have with this film is not the film itself, because the script by Troy Kennedy Martin and Brock Yates is (in my opinion) flawless. Rather, the problem is that Driver delivers this duality with serious subtlety, conveying both the chilling charisma of a titan and the vulnerability of a man crippled by grief and even fear. He's already lost a son and is on the verge of losing the Ferrari enterprise as well.

Cruz stands tall beside him as Laura, a woman whose resilience and fiery spirit match Ferrari's own. Their relationship is a tempestuous dance of love, defiance, and betrayal, reflecting the emotional toll of life in the fast lane. Their simmering tensions and explosive arguments crackle with raw emotion, highlighting the price of living in the shadow of a legend.

What's amazing is how much of the story is told in the very brief opening scenes. First we see young Enzo racing, then we cut to a morning bedroom. The man is waking, a woman beside him still half asleep. He rises, dresses and we note that the woman is not Penelope Cruz, though we do not yet know who she is. Cut to: Enzo enters his home in Reggio Emilia a moment later his wife Laura enters the room holding a gun, gives him a dressing down and fires a shot past the left of his head. Message is clear: "Do I have your attention? We had an agreement." 

The gun in Laura's hand immediately brought to mind Chehov's rule about guns. Don't bring a gun into the play unless you intend for it to go off. It doesn't take long for Mann (or Laura) to settle that question.

The scene indeed gets your attention, setting up the roiling undercurrent of Ferrari's personal life. In addition to wrestling with the personal crises he's grappling with, he is also being forced to face up to the potential bankruptcy of the Ferrari factory.  

Michael Mann directed the film and I cannot imagine any other setting that would have worked. The story required being filmed on location.  Nothing captures Italy's allure like those sun-drenched Italian landscapes, manicured trees and gleaming race circuits. Mann went out of his way to capture the feel of 1950s Italy, much of it still there today. On my Italy trip I passed through Reggio Emilia where the Ferarri's home was located. At one point I'd hoped to visit the Ferrari factory while being so near, and would have had I known this film was in the works. Alas. 

Though he knew he was on the verge of bankruptcy, he also knew that winning a major race like the thousand mile Mille Miglia would re-ignite interest in the vehicles he was producing, hence the third component of this story. Racing!

Racing has always been a risky business, but it's unbelievable that back in the fifties they didn't have roll cages or any of the safety features we find on today's cars. Ferrari himself understood the game from first hand experience. He'd also lost friends. He knew both the risks and rewards of the sport.

What makes it a near perfect film is the weaving together of these various strands so that the racing sequences, as well as his philosophical admonitions to the drivers, become a metaphor for Ferrari's internal struggles. I look forward to reading the screenplay some day.

Some might say the film is a meditation on the seductive yet destructive nature of obsessions. I think it's more than that, but for sure it does show how greatness has a sometimes soul-crushing cost.

The reviews at imdb.com are mixed. I suspect that in some cases it's due to the expectations people brought to the film. Here are some of them, with the ratings the reviewers offered:

Brilliant characterisation impressively Italian.      10

This film has some serious flaws.      5

7 1/2 stars really… Penelope Cruz was amazing.          8

Not one of Michael Mann’s best movies but still solid.         6

I was expecting more….      5

Stylish biopic with strong characters and great performances.       9

A lot of missed potential.       6

My favorite of the “Ferrari” movies.        8

Very disappointing.       4

A palpable emotional drama.       8

Intense, vibrant and emotional movie.       10

A misfire on all 12 cylinders.       1

One reviewer said the film lingers long after the credits roll. I agree. I've been thinking about it all week. I have but one regret. That I didn't follow through last April on that inner tug to take a day trip to the Ferrari factory in Maranello while staying in Parma. If I could do it all over again I would have added one additional day to that trip of a lifetime.  

MUCH more can be said here, but this is were I sign off. 

Related Links

Where was Ferrari filmed? Uncovering the real Enzo Ferrari in Italy

16 Stories from My Italy Adventure

December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died

"Grief is the response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or some living thing that has died, to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, cultural, spiritual and philosophical dimensions."--Wikipedia

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." 

"Love is a flower, you've got to let it grow."

The death of John Lennon broke a lot of hearts. As Baby Boomers came of age, Beatles music accompanied memories for many if not most of us. When the four broke up at the end of the 60s, the music didn't stop. We had the albums and we were also able to latch on to their individual evolving careers. Each took a different path, and none went immediately into hibernation, and many Beatles fans began collecting the solo albums they each produced. 

Like the assassination of JFK, most of us knew exactly where we were when we heard the news. I was in Mexico City, standing on the Zocalo, also known as the Plaza de la Constitucion, a large central square where proclamations are made. The Zocalo can purportedly hold up to 100,000 people but on December 9 it seemed like I was the only one there.

Surrounding the plaza are magazine stands with newspapers displayed, much like you'd find in New York City in those days. As I walked toward the East I was able to read the headlines. In fact, the headline of each paper was so large it filled the entire area above the fold. All carried the same proclamation: LENNON MUERTE. I stood staring, shocked and disbelieving.

The book by Keith Elliott Greenberg purports to be about that singular day when Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennon. It's actually a retelling of John Lennon's life, but in a format that is probably familiar to you. The story opens at the beginning of December 8, creating a context for the events of that day from commuters on subways to the movies currently playing to the mood of New Yorkers heading into the Christmas season and, naturally, the feelings John & Yoko were experiencing as their newly released Double Fantasy album came out.

And then there's Mark David Chapman. 

Here's a summary written by one of the book's reviewers on Amazon.

John and Yoko

In a breathtaking, minute-by-minute format, December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died follows the events leading to the horrible moment when Mark David Chapman calmly fired his Charter Arms .38 Special into the rock icon, realizing his perverse fantasy of attaining perennial notoriety. New York Times bestselling author Keith Elliot Greenberg takes us back to New York City and the world John Lennon woke up to. The day begins with a Rolling Stone photo session that takes on an uncomfortable tone when photographer Annie Leibowitz tries to maneuver Yoko Ono out of the shot. Later Lennon gives the last interview of his life, declaring, "I consider that my work won't be finished until I'm dead and buried and I hope that's a long, long time." We follow the other Beatles, Lennon's family, the shooter, fans, and New York City officials through the day, and as the hours progress, the pace becomes more breathless. Once the fatal shots are fired, the clock continues to tick as Dr. Stephan Lynn walks from the emergency room after declaring the former Beatle dead, Howard Cosell announces the singer's passing on Monday Night Football , and Paul McCartney is lambasted for muttering "Drag, isn't it?" -- his bereavement confused with indifference. The epilogue examines the aftermath of the killing: the considerable moment when 100,000 New Yorkers stood in silence in Central Park, the posthumous reunion of the Beatles in the studio with George, Paul, and Ringo accompanying the recordings of their old friend the unveiling of a bronze John Lennon statue in Fidel Castro's Cuba, and the durable legacy that persists today.

The chief criticism of the book (by those who disliked it) was that they expected more about the day Lennon was killed, but that much of the book was filler with details of John Lennon's life that everyone (they believed) was already aware of. I think these critics are people who have already read everything else about John, so when there was "nothing new" they panned it.

For the rest of us, it's got plenty to like, and when it gets to the shooting itself, the writing does make us breathless as we get a close up view of that tragic night.

The story of James Taylor's experience was brief but tangible. Taylor lived just around the corner from the Dakota where the Lennons lived. He was on the phone talking with a lady friend who was in California when he heard the gunshots. He didn't think much of it since this was New York and police firing guns is not entirely unusual. As they continued talking a news flash crossed the screen and Taylor's friend said, "Someone just shot John Lennon." It was a disturbing revelation and he understood that those were the shots he'd heard.

Earlier this week a friend sent me a link to this interview with James Taylor, who had become friends with John Lennon through his recording experiences with Apple. It's a half hour and you may not have time for all of it, but I found it authentic and worthwhile.

It's been 42 years now. The shooting occurred at a time when Lennon was emerging again. It seemed that things were coming together. But like the proverb says, "Who can tell what a day will bring forth?" It's a reminder to not take our tomorrows for granted.

Who Killed Davey Browne? Widow Amy Lavelle's Story Brings to Mind Early Dylan Song

In recent years there has been quite a bit of controversy regarding NFL player safety and head trauma. Boxing's checkered history has produced similar discussions, which Bob Dylan addressed in an iconic song titled "Who Killed Davey Moore?"

Davey Moore was a champion featherweight boxer who died after a fight with an upcoming Cuban boxer named Sugar Ramos in March, 1963. The incident triggered debates about the morality of boxing. Like Dylan, Phil Ochs had also written a song about the incident.

This fall I was introduced to Amy Lavelle whose husband lost his life inside the ring while fighting for a championship title. Surprisingly his name was Davey also, with a one syllable last name. Who killed Davey Browne? 

Davey Browne, wife Amy and sons.

* * * 

Amy Lavelle was born in Bathurst, Australia in New South Wales. She met Davey while she was on a girls weekend in Melbourne. Davey, who happened to be on a boys weekend in Melbourne, met Amy in a bar and they hit it off. 

Davey Browne as doting father.

Davey had won the Youth world title belt when he was 22, but quit boxing for a period of time. After Davey and Amy were married he began training again in 2013 and got back into the ring. On September 11, 2015, while fighting for the IBC Pan Pacific super featherweight title, Browne took a devastating 11th round blow that caused a serious concussion. Video footage shows clearly that the fight should have been stopped. Unfortunately he was ahead in points, so no one wanted to interfere because if he simply stayed on his feet in the 12th he would win. Unable to defend himself, he was  mercilessly pummeled by his opponent who needed a knockout to win. 

Stephanie Convery, in a Guardian article titled "The avoidable death of Davey Browne: how an inquest exposed boxing's failures," wrote, "Boxing is inherently dangerous and requires a lot of trust from participants: trust in their trainers and managers to be able to properly assess whether they are adequately prepared for a fight and still performing at optimum during it; trust in the referee, inspectors and the ringside doctor to intervene if their safety is at risk. The outcome of the inquest into Browne’s death highlights a number of betrayals of that trust."

Browne died within days, on 15 September, 2015, leaving two children without a father, his wife a widow.

EN: Did you ever go see boxing matches before meeting Davey?

Amy Lavelle: I did not see them live, no. I followed some of the bigger matches that were well known and promoted in mainstream media but more in the background.

EN: What was your first impression of the sport?

AL: I certainly was intrigued by the sport. There was something appealing about the discipline required to be a professional boxer and the physical effects of the training, the elite fitness that could be attained. I appreciate the skills and mindset required beyond the physical action of it. It is glorified and, like many sports, only a small percentage actually get to the elite level and "make it." It's tough and only few have what it takes because it is inherently dangerous. 

EN: Ron Jackson wrote in Boxing Magazine, “After the death of a fighter there will always be calls to ban boxing.”  But you responded differently. Why?

AL: Because there are conditions and rules stipulated under which officials are supposed to stop a fight. Even if none of them want to, it's their role and it is supposed to happen. There is a requirement for a ringside doctor. He is not there just in case, he has an active role in monitoring the fight. Otherwise when fighters are getting injured and the fight goes on, it's like a street brawl and that's not the sport of boxing as I see it. It is a sport with rules and can be great if it is conducted properly. 

In the fights leading up to David's last one, 2 or 3 of them (which he won) were stopped by the referee and the losing opponent walked out of the ring and woke up ok the next day. It was clear David dominated and a TKO was called before David punched them so much that they were unnecessarily injured. This discernment was not exercised at David's fight.

Now, I understand that a freak punch can happen. A single punch to the head can cause unforeseen injury, even kill, and it's part of the risk of the sport. That I accept. But when a fighter is showing clear signs of concussion, does not know where he is, bounces off the ropes, is knocked to the ground, gets up unbalanced and needs help getting to and from his corner when the bell goes, that is when a fight needs to be stopped. To me that is no longer boxing.

EN: Stephanie Convery, in her book After the Count (which is about Davey’s death), stated that in 23 years and 2000 fights the ringside doctor never stopped a fight. Until I watched the 60 Minutes segment, I didn’t realize how many people had the power to stop a fight. What went wrong? And will it ever change?

AL: Davey was supposed to win the fight. It wasn't his night, he needed it to be stopped. He lost his own sense of what was going on because he suffered a head injury prior to being knocked out. Everyone was just going through the motions instead of attentively calculating what was actually happening. Maybe no one believed how hurt he was getting, or they just never thought it was going to be the worst case scenario. But I know he was not ok. 

I sat back and thought there is no way he will go out for that last round, he is too hurt. The officials were simply incompetent and it was a "professional" fight organized and run in an unsophisticated and disorganized way. They expected Davey to come out like he had done for his previous fights and dominate. But he didn't, and there was no safety net for him. There should have been. But I think that is part of the boxing culture in Australia in that sub-elite category. Until you make the big time with the big money it's, evidently, not safe if you aren't on top of your game, every fight.

EN: Just out of curiosity, do wives of boxers ever get together and talk about boxing? If yes, what are some of the things they might talk about (with regard to their husband’s choice of careers)

AL: I didn't really discuss boxing much with other wives ("WAGS"?). I was close to my sister-in-law at the time (David's brothers' wife) and the most we talked about was the training and lifestyle of boxing I guess. Maybe some politics of it and frustrations. The usual stuff, not exclusive to boxing I'm sure.

EN: Thank you, Amy, for sharing your story. Wishing you the best as you continue to re-build a home for your growing sons.  

Related Links

"Who Killed Davey Moore?" Bob Dylan, Live at Carnegie Hall, 1963

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY31HqK135Q

Bob Dylan, Live at Newport 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us_yCFnP95I

60 Minutes Australia: Death of a Champ (warning: includes disturbing fight footage)

Photos courtesy Amy Lavelle

What Should We Do About Fentanyl?

From time to time, when not too busy, I enjoy reading the comments at the end of articles or news stories. You can get the same effect reading a lengthy Twitter-feed discussion. It's interesting to see people attempting to hash out solutions to problems or contemporary issues.

This morning a lengthy discussion about how to deal with the fentanyl problem was generated by Scott Adams (Dilbert creator) posting a 10-point plan on how to deal with it. His recommendations were controversial, but in his defense (a couple of respondents defended him) he did at least propose a set of actions as opposed to just ignoring it all. 

For the record, here is the size of the problem at this point in time, according to the CDC:

More than 932,000 people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose.1 In 2020, 91,799 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. The age-adjusted rate of overdose deaths increased by 31% from 2019 (21.6 per 100,000) to 2020 (28.3 per 100,000).

To give you an idea of how much fentanyl is entering the country, check out this ABC News story from Phoenix:

One million fentanyl pills seized from Avondale home Wednesday

(Article includes photo of the goods seized.)

By posting a ten-point plan out in the Twitterverse Adams does succeed in generating a discussion around the issue. Here are a few examples of responses to his plan...  

--Make people eat a proper diet because a bad diet leads to health issues that cause pain.

--Legalize all drugs so as to put the cartels out of business.

--It's a supply and demand issue: eliminate demand. 

--Better fathering.

--Addiction is a series of decisions. Remove victim status.

* * * * *

Scott Adams' Fentanyl Policy Idea:

And there you have it. Is this a solution?