...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.
But I’m going to let the president of the Canadian Coalition for Democracy, Alistair Gordon, a brave and very funny man, describe the caving. Here’s the press release I just received from the CCD:
For Immediate Release
Toronto,
"
In its first 42 years, the UN tabled 370 resolutions condemning
In October 2005, former Prime Minister Paul Martin referred to "the annual ritual of politicized anti-Israel resolutions" at the UN. In November 2004,
The Fourth Committee yesterday tabled nine ritualized resolutions targeting
"The Stephen Harper government has taken a number of principled foreign policy positions that Canadians can be proud of. Yet it is choosing to continue the despicable bullying of one nation, a travesty that was identified by our former Prime Minister and UN ambassador," added Gordon. "Until UN resolutions are an unbiased tool applied equally to all member states,
* with apologies to Borat
No apologies necessary, Al. Borat’s merely a cruder, hairier version of Harpoon.
Diet aid: I have hit upon the easiest, most effective way to lose weight. Better than Atkins. Better than Jenny Craig. Before sitting down to a meal, read a column by the Toronto Star’s Harpoon Siddiqui. You will become so nauseated that your appetite will disappear for hours.
In today’s piece—good for at least five hours’ worth of appetite suppressant—Harpoon crows about Islam’s victory and smugly assures readers that it’s only a matter of time before Prime Minister Stephen Harper is forced to bow down in abject dhimmitude before the might of the Muslim world (as the Pope has done) and acknowledge what Harpoon calls “a new world order.”
As Stephen Harper takes satisfaction in the NATO decision to free up a few more troops for deployment in southern
The Pope is making amends in
George W. Bush is in
His host in
On all three fronts,
All this is the exact opposite of what the Bush neo-cons had in mind in launching their war of choice on
Arabs, Palestinians in particular, would be more amenable to American and Israeli dictates, as would
It is these failed American-Israeli policies that Harper has committed
A bipartisan Congressional commission, co-chaired by Jim Baker, the veteran diplomat and Republican troubleshooter, is likely to recommend that Bush enlist regional help in managing the crises roiling the
Yeah, he's a real "troubleshooter," that "Jim" Baker. And the "trouble" he most often likes to "shoot" is that obdurate Jewish entity perched ever-more precariously in the heart of Dar al Islam. And looky at who else Harpoon elicits to "troubleshoot." Why, it’s none other than that Nobel Peace Prize-winning Mr. Peanutbrain hisself, Jimminy “Cricket” Carter, a man who certainly knows a thing or two about the new world order; heck, he helped invent it when he was president, and has been doing his utmost to serve its interests ever since.
...In interviews for his latest book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, the former president is also rejecting the accepted wisdom (endorsed by Harper as well as the main Liberal leadership candidates) that it's the Palestinians — Hamas, in particular — who are to blame for the lack of progress.
"There hasn't been one day of substantive peace negotiations in the last six years," Carter said in one interview. "You can't say the election of Hamas interferes with the peace efforts, because no peace effort has been going on."
He noted that Mahmoud Abbas, the
"The oppression of the Palestinians by Israeli forces in the
"The Palestinians' land has been taken away from them. They now have an encapsulating or an imprisonment wall being built around what's left of the little tiny part of the holy land that is in the
In another interview, Carter said:
"A minority of Israelis are perpetrating apartheid on the Palestinian people. It's not based on race. It's not a racist inclination. It is a desire for Palestinian land. Contrary to the United Nations resolutions, contrary to the official policy of the
Harpoon touting Jimminy. I think my head has officially exploded.
My letter to the Star:
It seems almost pointless these days to try to refute the anti-Israel, anti-Western sentiments that Haroon Siddiqui purveys week after week. The big lies—about Israel being a racist apartheid state, about Israel and not Hamas, a regime of intransigent Islamists dedicated to Israel’s demise, being the impediment to progress in the region, about how it is the West, and not those who espouse the ideology of jihad who are responsible for our current world crisis—have been told so often that they are now taken to be truth by those who share Siddiqui’s worldview. I would hope, however, that before people accept these ideas as gospel, they have the presence of mind to ask whose interests will be served by what Siddiqui calls “a new world order.” If they are brave enough—and honest enough—they will be able to see what they stand to lose by making ever-greater accommodations to those forces in the world who revile freedom and democracy, and who seek to bring it down.
Reality check: Andrew McCarthy advises that it’s long past time to wake up and smell the rancid humus (in a manner of speaking). From NRO:
This is a war of will. If we lose it, the historians will marvel at how mulishly we resisted understanding the one thing we needed to understand in order to win. The enemy.
In
No, our war was only with the regime. No need to fight the Iraqis. They, after all, were noble. They would flock to democracy if only they had the chance. And, once they hailed us as conquering heroes, their oil wealth would pay for the whole thing … just 400 billion American dollars ago.
This may be the biggest disconnect of all time between the American people and a war government.
In the wake of 9/11, the American people did not care about democratizing the Muslim world. Or, for that matter, about the Muslim world in general. They still don’t. They want Islamic terrorists and their state sponsors crushed. As for the aftermath, they want something stable that no longer threatens our interests; they care not a wit whether
To the contrary, Bush-administration officials — notwithstanding goo-gobs of evidence that terrorists have used the freedoms of Western democracies, including our own, the better to plot mass murder — have conned themselves into believing that democracy, not decisive force, is the key to conquering this enemy.
So deeply have they gulped the Kool-Aid that, to this day, they refuse to acknowledge what is plain to see: While only a small number of the world’s billion-plus Muslims (though a far larger number than we’d like to believe) is willing to commit acts of terrorism, a substantial percentage — meaning tens of millions — supports the terrorists’ anti-West, anti-democratic agenda...
“Gulped the Kool-Aid”—heh.
A turkey of an idea: The usually dependable National Post has an extremely wrong-headed editorial echoing the Pope’s call for
…
That is not to say the Turks' membership application doesn't have its blemishes. For instance, the country is maddeningly stubborn in refusing to admit its genocidal treatment of Armenians during the First World War.
But such matters can be negotiated and should not be allowed to stand in the way of cementing
I felt compelled to send the following response to the editorial, knowing it was highly unlikely the paper would publish it because I had had something in the letters section last week, and the paper has a policy of requiring two weeks to elapse between the publication of letters by the same person:
Let’s see: at a time when the Muslim population of Western Europe is surging and some cities, like Rotterdam and Amsterdam, will shortly have Muslim majorities; on a Continent where the number of “no-go zones”—places where non-Muslims fear to tread and where civic authorities are incapable of maintaining order (in France alone there are said to be 751 of these sites) are increasingly almost daily; at a juncture in history when the very survival of Western civilization is up in the air—at a time like this, your editorial calls for the EU to allow entry of one of the most populous Muslim nations in the world, a move that would increase the Muslim population of Europe five-fold, to a total of 86 million.
My question for your editorialist: are you mad or merely suicidal?
True,
Finally, I would point out that
A song for the Pope: As sung by a young and not-yet-surgically “enhanced” Michael Jackson:
Ben, you want to try and quell the storm
So you’re being very sweet and warm.
Saying, Islam’s really nice,
But please take my advice:
Appeasement doesn’t work.
They still think you’re a jerk.
(Still think you’re a jerk.)
Ben, you’re acting like a dhimmi now.
Can’t you see they love to see you bow?
Weakness doesn’t strengthen you.
You know what you should do.
We hope you still come through.
(Hope that you come through.)
Ben, you’re laying it on mighty thick.
Saying Islam’s so “affectionate.”
Such assertions sound quite mad
Especially since jihad’s
As kindly as a snake.
Oh, please, give us a break.
(Please give us a break.)
Mo’ Mo ‘toons: Jewish residents of a
Topping chap, that
I heard about the hate story—once, and in an abbreviated version with no mention of Mo—on Ceeb radio Monday morning, but could find no trace of it anywhere else. Until now. It turned up in Ezra Levant’s blog on the Web site of the Western Standard, the magazine he edits. (Ezra’s has had his own run-in with ‘toons. He printed the Danish Mo ‘toons in his magazine, and is being hauled before the Alberta Human Rights Commission by a disgruntled true believer who took grave offence.)
…I don't think it should be a crime to be a Jew-hater. I don't think it should be a crime to distribute Jew-hating literature. That's part of freedom -- it's a little bit messy, and sometimes people say offensive things.
What I am against, though, is that Elmasry's anti-Semitism is ignored by the mainstream press -- who would crucify any WASP for saying and doing the things that he does. Because he's Muslim, brown-skinned, from
It's not just the media -- even the federal government's grotesque Trudeau Foundation, stacked with Liberal hacks from Marc Lalonde to Alexandre Trudeau, is sponsoring a speech by Elmasry.
So the Trudeau Foundation’s in bed with Elmasry, eh?
Can’t say as I’m surprised.
Sickened, yes; surprised, no.
Just for “fun,” I googled the Trudeau Foundation. Lo and behold, Elmasry spoke at a conference that had a particularly ga-ga theme:
In the light of international events over the last five years the theme of the third annual Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Conference on Public Policy could not be more timely and relevant: Muslims in Western Societies. Some of the most distinguished minds will share their views in plenary and working group sessions in
The dialogue will focus on the relationships between Muslims and other citizens of Western societies and tackle topics such as religious belief and secularism, multiculturalism, women, political violence and security issues. The Trudeau Foundation aims to generate informed debate and dialogue. The outcomes will be published after the conference.
I can’t wait to read how the “distinguished minds” attempt to validate the lie on which the conference was predicated. Should make for some interesting (in the Orwellian sense of the word) reading.
A marriage sundered by Borat: Ordinarily I try to avoid posting anything to do with celebrity hijinks (unless they happen to involve Scientology, a creepy and oddly fascinating “religion”). But I found this one too yummy to resist. From The Showbuzz:
(CBS) After less than four months of marriage, and a handful of wedding ceremonies, Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock's marriage is already over.
A pal tells the New York Post that Rock's "male insecurity and major anger issues," are to blame and that a big fight over her participation in the film "Borat" caused tension between them.
"(Universal Studio chief ) Ron Meyer held a screening of 'Borat' at his house for a bunch of people, including Pam and Bob (Rock's real name is Robert Richie)," the model's pal tells the Post. "It was the first time Bob had seen the movie, and, well, he didn't like it."
In the film, Sasha Baron Cohen's character, Borat, falls for the "Baywatch" actress and travels the
"Bob started screaming at Pam, saying she had humiliated herself and telling her, 'You're nothing but a whore! You're a slut! How could you do that movie?' — in front of everyone. It was very embarrassing," the source said. "Pam thought he could have a sense of humor about the movie. She was in on the gag from the very beginning and loved doing the movie. And on the eve of what was supposed to be a very positive thing, he made it an awful night."
Ever since the outburst, things cooled down between the couple…
I can see why. Maybe Pam would have been better off if she’d married Borat instead of Bob.
What goes around comes around: Welcome to 1938, folks. All in all, it was a very bad year—not unlike this one. From the American Thinker:
“It is 1938;
But 1938 may be relevant in more ways than as a rhetorical device. Revisiting that year, through Winston Churchill’s compelling account in “The Gathering Storm,” is an instructive exercise, and one the Iraq Study Group might consider as it completes its deliberations.
* * *
Eden, who shared Churchill’s views about
I must confess that my heart sank, and for a while the ark waters of despair overwhelmed me. . . . I watched the daylight slowly creep in through the windows, and saw before me in mental gaze the vision of Death.
A precipitating factor in
His Majesty’s Government would be prepared . . . to recognize de jure the Italian occupation of Abyssinia, if they found that the Italian Government on their side were ready to give evidence of their desire to contribute to the restoration of confidence and friendly relations.
For Churchill, it was evidence that “in the dawn of 1938 decisive changes in European groupings and values had taken place.” The Western democracies had “seemed to give repeated proofs that they would bow to violence so long as they were not themselves directly assailed.”
That same day, Germany had begun to raise the issue of Czechoslovakia, and “the usual techniques were employed” -- the de-legitimization of the target through the rhetoric of grievances, combined with the knowledge that the West lacked both the will (“owing to their love of peace”) and the means (due to their failure to rearm) to protect its broader interests…
The similarities are indeed mind-blowing, but there is one profoundly disturbing difference between then and now. This time around, there is noWinston Churchill.
We must also acknowledge that, while Churchill, through sheer force of personality and will was able to save Western civilization from falling into the abyss (at least until the attack on Pearl Harbor forced America’s hand and she entered the fray), he either could not or would not do anything to stop the Nazis from murdering six million Jews.
Not much comfort there, I’m afraid.
Also, the religion of furry kittens, fuzzy bunnies, and warm, comfy slippers: It’s official. The Pope has bowed to a higher power (political correctness) and averred that Islam is a “peaceful and affectionate" religion.
I could be wrong, but I’m sure it was neither peacefulness nor affection Daniel Pearl was experiencing when the holy warriors put a blade to his throat and sliced off his head.
Just a hunch, mind you.
Update: Not to mention its “benevolence.”
Excuse me, your Eminence. But don’t you think you’re laying it on a bit thick?
Update: And it’s not like all the grovelling is doing him any good.
Coping strategy: Some people deal with unpleasant reality by ignoring it, or by taking a long walk, or by turning to drink. And if that doesn’t do the trick, there’s always that old standby: blaming the Jews.
Me? I channel my angst into tasteless song parodies. Like this one, an update of Sir Paul McCartney’s jaunty tune about Maxwell Edison, a medical student and cold-blooded murderer whose weapon of choice was a silver hammer:
Moo was radical,
Also quite fanatical,
Mahdi was his man.
Does all that he can
So he’ll retur-ur-ur-urn.
Enrichin’ uranium
Ranting and explainium
That he feels the need.
Make the dhimmis blee-eed
To please Allah-ha-ha-ha.
And now he’s almost ready to roll.
Achieve his final goal.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Rained down upon their heads.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Made sure that they were dead.
P.C. reticence
Led to UN hesitance
Didn’t do a thing.
Moo felt like a king
And acted thus-us-us-us.
Armageddon came about
Due to Putin's greed.
Serviced Mahmoud’s nee-eed
To be on tah-ah-ah-op.
And soon, where once
Jews were on the map,
You’ll see a great big gap.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Rained down upon their heads.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Made sure that they were dead.
Sad the world won’t learn
Fascists want the Jews to burn
But they won’t stop there.
‘Specially when they’re heir
To jihad imper-er-it-ives.
It’s dependable.
Jews are quite expendable.
Feed the crocodile.
But watch out for his smile
Because you're nex-ex-ex-ext.
And as you’re sleeping snug in you bed
His bomb’s headed your way.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Rained down upon their heads.
Boom, boom,
Mahmoud’s shiny A-bomb
Made sure that they were dead.
Two-four-six-eight-the-Pope-will-now-capitulate: Looks like that may become the new Turkish cheer—and with good reason. From Bloomberg:
Pope Benedict XVI said he backs
The Pope told Erdogan that while the Vatican seeks to stay out of politics it ``desires Turkey's membership in the EU,'' Erdogan said at a news conference after the 15 minute meeting that initiated his four-day visit to Turkey. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger he had said in 2004 that allowing Islamic Turkey to join the EU would be a "grave error.'' The
The EU, backed by U.S. President George W. Bush, last year began membership talks with
Only 39 percent of Europeans support
And the Pope thinks that will serve the interests of Western civilization, not to mention the Holy Roman Catholic Church—how?
Olmert’s “real peace” plan: Well, it looks like one of my greatest fears has been realized, and the Peace in Our Time process may be gaining traction. Ehud Olmert, who I’ve come to think of as
While not rejecting the outstretched hand outright, the Palestinians are said to be reacting “coolly” to the peacefully extended paw. From the Chicago Tribune:
"We want to see deeds, not words," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Abbas. "What we are looking for is real negotiations, based on the road map and the Arab peace initiative. Land for peace."
Abu Rudeineh referred to a Saudi initiative adopted at an Arab League summit in 2002 that called for recognition and normal ties with
The “Saudi initiative,” huh? Isn’t that the one that pundit of pundits, Thomas L. Friedman was really keen on for a while? Too bad old Tom has washed his hands of the Israel-Palestinian contretemps (at least, that’s what he told a standing room only crowd of avid listeners at a
As for me, I don’t know why Jimminy Olmert is bothering with all this intermediate stuff when we know the—what was that phrase head negotiator Saeb Erekat used yesterday?—oh, yeah, the “end game” the Palestinians are really playing, and it ain’t that proverbial “two state solution.” Why not save everyone lots of time and bloodshed and concede defeat now, right away? Give the Palestinians and their Arab/Muslim/international enablers what they want—the only thing they want, i.e. a
Heaven knows, it’s not like they haven't had one of those before.
The only other option is to keep fighting and existing, but Olmert, a weary man, seems to lack the will for that.
Narrow focus: This morning I listened, my mouth opened in astonishment and horror, as former President and utopian internationalist Jimminy “Cricket” Carter (he won a Nobel Peace Prize, you know) expostulated on Ceeb radio about all the dirt the Jews of Israel have dished to the Palestinians. How they’re “oppressed.” How they’re the victims of “apartheid.” How they long for a “two state solution,” but how their dreams continue to be stymied by—wait for it—the Jews.