Chris At Home

Via LGF. I meant to write on this, thanks for the reminder.

A FRIEND OF MINE took his young daughter to visit the famous City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, explaining to her that the place is important because years ago it sold books no other store would — even, perhaps especially, books whose ideas many people found offensive.
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The store's website proudly declares that the place is "known for our commitment to freedom of expression," in which case you might assume such commitment includes supporting those whose free expression puts them in real danger.

This is my kind of bookstore! A place full of books, full of words, full of ideas. A place where a reader can compare and contrast, learn, critique. A place that believes that the best way to handle evil and senseless ideas is to expose them to light, allow readers to see for themselves. A place where freedom of speech is absolute and unyielding to politics.

However, it did occur to him that perhaps the long-delayed English translation of Oriana Fallaci's new book, "The Force of Reason," might finally be available, and that because Fallaci's militant stance against Islamic militants offends so many people, a store committed to selling banned books would be the perfect place to buy it. So he asked a clerk if the new Fallaci book was in yet.

"No," snapped the clerk. "We don't carry books by fascists."

Oops. Freedom of expression is not allowed for some people. Some ideas are too dangerous to be allowed. "Mein Kampf" is on the shelf, but Fallaci is too noxious to sell.

Strangest of all is the scenario of such a person disliking an author for defending Western civilization against radical Islam — when one of the first things those poor, persecuted Islamists would do, if they ever (Allah forbid) came to power in the United States, is crush suspected homosexuals like him beneath walls.
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But let's also say that one of the great paradoxes of our time is that two groups most endangered by political Islam, gays and women, somehow still find ways to defend it.

Yes, I am amazed by this. It is clear that these groups believe that the US will never lose the war against Jihadis, so they are free to support Islamists. The enemy of my enemy is my friend...even if he would destroy me after his victory.

I am sad that real Liberalism, the belief in freedom and democracy, is dying in the hearts of many. The desire to politicize replaces the desire to make the world a better place. Real fascism is excused in order to scream "fascist" at those who are the least fascist. "Theocrat" is shouted at those who would defend us from theocracy. Real murderers are supported against those who would defend their lives.

This is why I believe that Alan Johnson's call to arms is so important. He attempts to guide liberals back to real Liberalism and force them to recognize the real enemy. Despising George Bush for winning a close election over Al Gore is not sufficient reason to defend Jihad, the slaughter of innocents, and intolerance.