David Warren: Oncoming [cartoons - the most important thing since Al Qaeda attack on 9/11]

davidwarrenonline.com ^ | February 26, 2006 | David Warren

[PeterPrinciple]

It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed -- when a spineless political class, eager at any price to preserve a peace that was no longer available, performed endless demeaning acts of appeasement to the Nazis; while the Nazis created additional grievances to extract more.

When you are in school, you knew you were going to have to confront the bully, the only questions was when. Sooner is better.

[Tolik]

David Warren:

...people on the eve of the Hitler war could not appreciate what was coming. It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed -- when a spineless political class, eager at any price to preserve a peace that was no longer available, performed endless demeaning acts of appeasement to the Nazis; while the Nazis created additional grievances to extract more.

This is precisely what is happening now, as we are confronted by the Islamist fanatics, whose views and demands are already being parroted by fearful “mainstream” Muslim politicians. We will do anything to preserve a peace that ceased to exist on 9/11. Not one of our prominent politicians dares even to name the enemy...

Nailed It!

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[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough.

Great piece though.

[Lando Lincoln]

Thank you Tolik. Warren indeed, 'Nails It". The fact that no one in the political class speaks the name of the enemy is quite telling, isn't it? I believe that GWB is inclined to, but his advisors are telling him that , if it were to incite "rage" - along with attendant death and chaos - his political opponents would exploit it. So, it comes down to politics. Not until the next 9-11 will we even have a chance. I pray it does not come at the dear cost I fear it will.

Lando

[massadvj]

Excellent post.

This issue has been of great interest to me of late, and so I have taken the time to actually sit down and read the Koran, in order to understand the degree to which the philosophy of the "Islamofascists" coincides with the book itself.

Well, I am in shock. The ideas and philosophy of this book are as great a threat to Western Civilization as those in Mein Kampff or The Communist Manifesto, perhaps more so. The fact that millions of school children around the world are made to memorize its passages is an abomination. This is not a religion on a par with Budhism, Hunduism or Christianity. This is religion as revenge, religion as hate, religion that appeals to the worst inclinations of mankind.

Now it could be that moderate Muslims do not take many of the passages in the Koran seriously just as most Christians do not take much of the bible seriously. Nonetheless, the key distinction between the two religions is this: if I am a Christian, based on the philosophy of the New Testament, I will pray for the strength to forgive my enemies. If I am a Muslim, I will pay for the courage, based on the philosophy of the Koran, to kill my enemies.

This key distinction between the two religions may be, in the end, irreconcilable.

[little jeremiah]

Ping to self for later read.

[Tirian]

"Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough"

I think Warren was limiting his comments to the Canadian leadership. Follow the link to his website and look at some of the other excellent columns, such as "Organized Apoplexy"

[Billthedrill]

With no disrespect intended toward the 3000 dead at the WTC, I think that the cartoon incident may in fact be even more of a watershed. I say that because in reply to the WTC atrocity we took down two sitting Moslem governments, and in response to the cartoon riots we - meaning the self-proclaimed keepers of freedom of speech, the media - capitulated.

This did no service toward those "moderate" Moslems (however few they may actually be) who now may be forgiven coming to the conclusion that death threats from their co-religionists should they speak out against them are quite real and that they will not be defended either by press or police. Under those circumstances it would be a very brave man or woman who would speak out.

For me the real revelation is simply how enervated and thoroughly rotten the intellectual structures of the West in general have become as a consequence of an unreasoning acceptance of the precepts of multiculturalism. This really is appeasement - give them what they want and they'll stop creating pain - and it is more than a little disturbing to see how nearly universal the capitulation has been.

It is also amusing to note who the true defenders of freedom of speech turn out to be - the radical left, the right "wing," the anarchists - nearly anyone but the mushy, fat, complacent, holier-than-thou liberal middle that is more than willing to rationalize any surrender of freedom lest it make waves. Should it come to the barricades you might find Gordon Liddy next to you or Christopher Hitchens or Nat Hentoff but Pinch Sulzberger will be cowering under his bed.

[Tolik]

Yes, and let me add that a large part of our population and probably majority of the other West believes that there is no war and no threat; and the Iraqi "quagmire" is just Bush's trumped up war for ____ [ fill in a grudge, like oil or whatever else]. And anyway all the problems in the world can be solved if Israel cease to exist and Yankee go home.

Even when some of them respond to a concrete problem at hand, they still don't see why we all so worked up. The only optimism I have is to believe that VDH is right saying that quietly they agree with what US doing, just don't want to say it.

[GOPJ]

Nonetheless, the key distinction between the two religions is this: if I am a Christian, based on the philosophy of the New Testament, I will pray for the strength to forgive my enemies. If I am a Muslim, I will pray for the courage, based on the philosophy of the Koran, to kill my enemies.

You're right -- the well springs seem incompatible...

[coydog]

That last line sounds like it should come out of the mouth of Lazarus Long. Heh.

[coydog]

It seems like everyone who stood in the gap were the bloggers, and the MSM stepped in it big time when they told viewers to go online to see what all the fuss was about. They were basically admitting their cowardice in the open.

[stinkerpot65]

Islam is evil.

[stinkerpot65]

Islam is evil.

[Rummyfan]

Excellent excellent post. Thanks!

[Billthedrill]

...the MSM stepped in it big time when they told viewers to go online to see what all the fuss was about.

Yes, exactly. The problem there is if we're going online to see the pictures, why should we go anywhere else for the news? Especially since it's now known that what we get from the MSM is incomplete. Dumb move, IMHO.

[FreedomPoster]

Interestingly, Dennis Prager wrote a column with almost the exact same theme over 3 years ago.

Majority of muslims are peaceful - so what?
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/dennisprager/2002/11/05/164826.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/782621/posts

[NRA2BFree]

Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough.

Yes, he did but then he turned around and renamed it the "religion of peace", and started having Ramadan dinners for Islam's followers at the White House!! How stupid was that?

[darth]

Are you another one of Mr. Heinlein's children? I am. His philosophy was a major influence on me. BTW, I got to have dinner with him in 1984! Now that's something to tell my grandchildren.