Is Demography Destiny?

Mark Steyn earned his place in the pantheon of magnificent conservative writers due to his personal ability, skill, and God-given wit -- which turns out to be a highly unusual method for establishing oneself nowadays. After beginning as a theatre and film critic, he progressed to political commentary where he has become among the liveliest, most irreverent, and original of conservative voices. A former "Culture Vultures" columnist for The American Spectator and North American correspondent (and movie reviewer) for the Spectator of London, he now writes regularly for the Chicago Sun-Times and National Review. His books include the brilliantly original Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now (1999) and, most recently, America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It.
BC: Mr. Steyn, congratulations on the success of America Alone. Sales remain strong seven months the book's release. What in its message so captivates readers? Does it appeal to non-conservatives?
Mark Steyn: I think my book repositions the war on terror within a broader context, which is exactly what a lot of people are looking for. The immediate visceral anger after September 11th has now dissipated; one simply can't remain angry for five years straight. The Afghan campaign and fall of Saddam Hussein have receded in our minds. America Alone places those situations within the broader context of a weakened Western world and a resurgent Islam. It's the big picture. My book ties together the present state of the Western world, Islamic fundamentalism, and the way in which those trends intersect. That's what makes it appealing.
As for the left, in large part they are in denial about what's happening in the world. I would have welcomed a thorough liberal criticism of my book as the pointing out of its flaws would have been appreciated, but that isn't what happened. The New York Times declined to review it. When it began appearing on their best-seller list they described it with the words, "a cons...