The American Spectator

Reader Mail

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As I read the latest article by Jed Babbin, two thoughts occurred to me. The first was that, as is usually the case, Jed has again hit the spike squarely upon its big flat head with maximum force. Our immediate response to virtually all pronouncements of outrage emanating from the Islamic world should be that the truth hurts doesn't it. Then we could add that, if you mend your ways, we will mend our opinions of you. I just simply want to scream each time that someone offers an apology for their own or other's words.

But the further that I read in the article, the more another thought intruded itself on my senses. That thought was how very similar are the responses from the Islamic world and from the political Left. Note that as soon as anyone on the right dares to criticize any policy or pronouncement of the left, the left screams about nastiness, dirty tactics, lies, and mean-spiritedness, and demands an apology. Of course said apology in never quick enough or sufficient enough or specific enough or something.

Even the reaction from the right is the same. There is the abject issuance of apologies, the pleas for forgiveness, the promises never to be mean-spirited ever again. The wimpy middle of the road, so-called centrists immediately distance themselves from the right wing extremists. You know, people like me.

The reaction that Jed calls for from us to the Islamic Jihadist is also the appropriate one for the Left and the press when they throw a tantrum. (Oh wait, Left and press, those are the same thing.) I would have had more respect for Gov. Allen if he had told the press to just get a life over the "macaca" comment and over the questions of his Jewish roots. It has been so very long since someone in authority stood up to the press, that the press goes into a complete tizzy when someone even thinks about standing up to them. David Gregory of the White House Press Corps is a prime example. Good examples for the Right to emulate would seem to be Rumsfeld and Gen. Honore of "Don't get stuck on stupid" fame.

p>Now the question that I ask myself is this, did the Islamic world learn their tactics from the political Left of Western society, or was it the other way 'round? br> -- Ken Shreve /p>

Jed Babbin is ABSOLUTELY right! This is exactly the reason that every newspaper and magazine in this country (and in every other country that thinks it has Freedom of the Press) should have printed the Mohammed Cartoons, last spring.

Instead most newspapers, the world over, reassured themselves that they were so brave, that they were "Speaking truth to power" when they called Bush names, knowing full well that they were in no danger. Knowing, in their heart of hearts, that if Bush really were Hitler, they wouldn't have dared to speak a word.

They told themselves that it was "rude" or "inflammatory" to "insult" Islam, though they never seem to mind insulting Christians. But again, Christians aren't likely to slit your throat or burn your house down, as Islamists frequently seem eager to do.

Every time the West let's them intimidate us, every time we "apologize" for speaking the truth, we lose a little freedom. Not so much that anyone would notice, but a little.

p>Pretty soon the frog is boiled! br> --

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