The Shotgun Blog
« Not For Sale | Main | "Judge tosses stunt-driving charge as unconstitutional" »
Monday, November 23, 2009
None So Blind
From the NYT:
Intelligence agencies intercepted communications last year and this year between the military psychiatrist accused of shooting to death 13 people at Fort Hood, Tex., and a radical cleric in Yemen known for his incendiary anti-American teachings.
But the federal authorities dropped an inquiry into the matter after deciding that the messages from the psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, did not suggest any threat of violence and concluding that no further action was warranted, government officials said Monday.
Major Hasan’s 10 to 20 messages to Anwar al-Awlaki, once a spiritual leader at a mosque in suburban Virginia where Major Hasan worshiped, indicate that the troubled military psychiatrist came to the attention of the authorities long before last Thursday’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood, but that the authorities left him in his post.
To those who doubt the power of ideas, here is a classic example of how belief over powers evidence. The most obvious reason given for the authorities evasion of Hasan's beliefs is reverse racism. Army brass were too afraid of being called bigots if they transferred or discharged Hasan. If you were Hasan's CO, would you risk the media circus that would been provoked by following the correct and obvious course of action? Driving a man, a highly trained doctor no less, from the service because he expressed some controversial beliefs? Beliefs that can be heard from the mouths of countless university professors in modern America?
The left-leaning lynch mob would have followed the officers responsible to the end of their days. The international media would make hay for years to come, hailing Hasan as a martyr for his beliefs. A comfortable living on the lecture circuit for Hasan would have been a strong possibility. Doing the right thing, perhaps a year back, would not in all likelihood have saved those who died at Fort Hood. A few brave officers trying to force an obvious traitor out of their ranks, and in an extremely sensitive position no less, would probably have failed to do so. The most likely result would have been their own disgrace and embarrassment, while making Hasan even more invulnerable to discharge or even criticism. Islam is the new third rail of American politics. Touch it, and you die. Not a literal death, but a political one. Above the rank of Brigadier, an officer becomes a part-time politician. No politician is going to take a chance of being accused of racism, however frivolously the charge, however grave the circumstances that compelled the necessary action.
The false choice that underpins the actions of the anti-racism inquisitors, ranging from the Canadian Human Rights Commissioners to the Diversity Co-ordinators that infect North American campuses, is that either you hunt down every slightly disagreeable thought on race, ethnic or religious, or the Klan will emerged from darkened embers of the past. To borrow a phrase from the previous American President, either you are with us, or you are with the racists.
Between the sunshine and the darkness, there is no middle ground. It has been one of my running observations, over the last few years, that when Christianity was marginalized as an intellectual force in the twentieth century, many of its less pleasant tendencies resurfaced in secular garb. Only a tiny minority of North American Christians would countenance a return to enforcing blasphemy laws, yet in effect the secularized establishment thinks nothing of establishing anti-racism commissions - whatever their official labels - to root out people who fail obeisance to the modern gods. Their success is so profound and widespread, that an obvious traitor to his country, and to the free world at large, was allowed not simply free rein at one of America's great military bases, but honour. The great honour of being an officer of the Army of United States of America. An armed force that has liberated millions from exactly the sort of tyranny that Major Hasan would have wanted to flourish.
Posted by Richard Anderson on November 23, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
This pretty much sums up why we must root this poison out of our civilization, or we will perish, and soon. The combination of political correctness and radical Islam will be the end of us.
The best thing they did for Hasan is not kill him outright on the spot.
Posted by: Ed Ellison | 2009-11-23 10:39:28 AM
Multiculturalism is a nullity within which any pathology can fester. Islam happens to be the most virulent.
The only fix within a liberal democracy is complete freedom of speech and exercise of property rights. The state has no right to discriminate but citizens have every right to speak freely, to insult, humiliate, offend and discriminate against this illiberal throwback to the seventh century. Anyone who wants to call themselves Muslim should feel the full ire of Western civilization until they reform, leave or defeat us. I wonder (and have no doubt that the Islamists have concluded otherwise) that there are enough people in the West un-castrated by multiculturalism to agree.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-11-23 10:52:12 AM
Hear that Publius? You're a hateful bigot. But apparently hate isn't such a bad thing ...
Where the hell do these people come from?
Back on topic, I agree with you the political correctness is completely out of control. The only way liberalism can survive is if we can freely critize, ostracize, marglinalize, etc.
Posted by: Charles | 2009-11-23 1:40:43 PM
John,
I must disagree with this statement:
"Anyone who wants to call themselves Muslim should feel the full ire of Western civilization until they reform, leave or defeat us."
I think, and hope, you're being unclear here. Being a Muslim is not the issue here, any more than being a Christian. It is an interpretation of Islam that is the threat to western civilization. One can certainly go through the Koran and find virulent passages, one can do the same with the Bible. It's how the religion is interpreted and practiced. I certainly do think that social ostracism should be applied to those who preach intolerance and bigotry.
Posted by: Publius | 2009-11-23 1:47:17 PM
Charles,
I've had that particular comment you are referring to deleted. He's a white supremacist troll who doesn't seem to like "ethnics." I suspect I probably look "whiter" than he does, but unlike him I judge people by their beliefs and actions, not skin pigmentation. As for where they come from, their parents basements. Anyone who lives in modern Canada learns quickly that bigotry means marginalization. We have a lot of talented people from all over the world here. Anyone with half a brain realizes that's a tremendous value.
Posted by: Publius | 2009-11-23 1:54:44 PM
Publius
Was my last comment deleted or did it not get to you?
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-11-23 4:27:26 PM
John,
No, it wasn't deleted. I only deleted the white supremacist troll's comments.
Posted by: Publius | 2009-11-23 4:57:06 PM
The problem is that political correctness is killing us! Islamic radicals have declared war not just on America but on non-Muslims! These radicals will resort to any measure to succeed. Meanwhile, many westerners are either not wanting to get involved or in a few cases even rooting for the extremists. Most of these nuts are leftist radicals. However, I have yet to hear from libertarians about what policies they would support to counter the terrorists. I know that some libertarians opposed the Patriot Act and that others called for leaving Afghanistan. However, what steps would you take to protect my family? The terrorist threat is real and I wanted these guys exterminated. I want leaders who will aggressively take on the terrorists. We can only win by going on the offensive(read up on Patton)! I agree with many libertarian principles but I can't support a party that won't get tough on terrorists. What actions would libertarians take to actually kick the teeth in on terrorists?
Posted by: Deak | 2009-11-23 5:15:46 PM
Having been a long time Canadian Armed Forces member, I can understand the ease with which political correctness can alter the demeanour of an organization. The process of changing the peoples' attitudes can cause uncertainty and hard feelings. In the end, things that count include duty, courage, loyalty, and ability. To me, Major Hasan clearly displayed a failing in loyalty well before the shooting scandal. Those in charge of Major Hasan failed even more.
Posted by: Agha Ali Arkhan | 2009-11-23 5:23:38 PM
Speaking for myself Deak, a full scale military invasion of Iran. It is one of the major centres of militant Islam. The fall of the Mullahs would send a powerful signal. I'm not one of those who believes that isolationism is the solution to militant Islam.
Posted by: Publius | 2009-11-23 5:26:06 PM
It is precisely because of multiculturalism and leftist ideology that people are identified by their ethnic group, sex, sexual preference, and religion rather than citizens. The authorities should be dealing with the individuals, Hasan in this case who provided more than ample red flags. Instead the appeasement and pandering to militant Muslims continues, mainly due to fear of "offending" all Muslims. In the end this emboldens the militant Islamists and their supports and endangers Muslims who want no part of their ideology and who need our support.
If we truly believed in the value of freedom and liberty, we would not give any recognition to the militant Islamists and their supporters. In fact those who incite murder and violence should be charged under existing criminal law and when applicable should be deported. We would also ensure that all citizens would be free to change religions or to reject religion without fear of being murdered. Women would be free to choose whom they marry or not to marry without fear of honour killing. There would be zero acceptance of Sharia within our borders, and those hell-bend on having Sharia have multiple countries from which to choose. It should be made clear that it is unacceptable in a free society. Otherwise we no longer have the free society that we claim to have.
Posted by: Alain | 2009-11-23 5:36:53 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.