I can’t read German very well, but for those out there who do here’s an article on the problem of “European commemorative culture:”

Europäische Erinnerungspolitik Revisited
European commemorative culture is an integral component of the post-national process. But how can such a “European memory” be justified? And if we aren’t to refer to a continental, quasi-national memory, how is “European memory” special?

For those interested in such things, there’s a debate going on at signandsight.com regarding Islam in Europe today. It started with an article by Pascal Bruckner, “Enlightenment fundamentalism or racism of the anti-racists?” but has expanded to include responses by Timothy Garton Ash, Ian Buruma (twice), Necla Kelek, and Paul Cliteur.

I just ran across signandsight and have found it a useful, English-language window on contemporary Europe. Do check it out. (And for more on Islam in Europe, see also the current issue of New Perspectives Quarterly, which features “Prada Islam” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali and “The Clash of Civilizations Revisited,” an interview with Samuel Huntington).

UPDATE 2/7: There’s an article in today’s New York Times about Bruce Bawer’s book While Europe Slept.