Twisted History

Because universities today teach a distorted version of the history of the Crusades and the medieval age, we see the spectacle of American college students raised in a Christian background sympathizing with Islam against their own heritage. That Jesus was a man of peace and Muhammed a man of war is something they don't wish to hear.

Fiasco

The way the “coalition” is handling the Libya matter is a throwback to the French-British Suez excursion in 1956. Confusion, weak leadership, and no plan.

Discipline

An interesting case, involving Brigham Young University in Utah, where a star basketball player has been suspended for breaking the school’s or team’s Honor Code. He had premarital sex with his girlfriend.

Sports radio hosts have called the suspension “Wacky.” Indeed, in the everything-goes context of America now, it surely seems so. The idea of any rules , barriers, or restrictions—at all—must clearly be wacky.

On the other hand we have the example of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and countless others like them, who have callouses on their foreheads from the intensity of their five-times-a-day praying. For Western Civilization, what that civilization has become, this is the opponent. Characters capable of total commitment, complete dedication. How do you defeat such people?

The move “El Cid,” made fifty years ago when ideals of codes and honor in America were not archaic, is instructive. For the Cid and his bride, honor isn’t archaic. It’s everything.

Western Civilization

The question isn’t whether radical Islam will predominate through half of the planet, as seems possible, if not likely. The question is what kind of alternative, weak or strong, will be offered? I’m talking about strength of ideas. Western culture, once so glorious, is in a down period and badly needs to revitalize. If people don’t believe in themselves, their civilization, their time, if they stand for nothing, then they’re not equipped to oppose anything.

Mubarak Out!

What will happen? Study history!

"Muscular Liberalism"

This, the recent phrase of UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

It would be more difficult to create such an attitude in the United States, for various reasons. Commitment to the idea of Western Civilization among many groups in this country is nil. Among the elites, the young generations have all been brainwashed into the notion that all cultures are equivalent. Most are embarrassed to think of themselves as American. It's a sad situation. While Obama is the first American President fully imbued with these notions, he may not be the last, thanks to the sad condition of American higher level educational institutions. (Or lower level ones. I've worked as a substitute teacher in urban high schools before and saw the nonsense therein propagated.) Nonsense across the board.

The Strong Horse

Does anyone want to bet against the Muslim Brotherhood taking power in Egypt, should Mubarak be toppled? History shows that in times of revolution, the most committed and focused cause wins. The Bolsheviks swept aside Kerensky in 1917, as sixty-some years later in Iran, Khomeini pushed aside the liberals and Leftists who’d been his allies. Today, radical Islam is on the march in many countries. The radicals know what they want and they’re willing to fight for it.  They sense weakness on all sides. They’re emboldened. They believe that this is their time. Let’s be clear-eyed enough to see that.