Just as the cartoon states, when people try to censor speech, we must resist the censorship or lose our free-speech rights. There is no hate-speech exception to the First Amendment, even though the idea that such an exception exists is now fashionable.
MIddle East
More From the Choices-Have-Consequences Department
This follows up on my previous post on this subject. The two Austrian girls I reported on apparently have a lot of company. Approximately 100 girls and young women in France have answered the call to support ISIS. Not all are French; a smattering of other countries is represented.
They’ve all made a bad choice that will negatively affect their lives. But some choices are worse than others. One of the girls is Jewish. I assume she’ll have to convert, but even with that, I would not bet a large sum on her survival. How disaffected from your parents can you be, really?
From the Choices-Have-Consequences Department
Two teenage Muslim girls in Austria found life at home with Mom and Dad to be a drag. Who could have predicted that? The romance of jihad appealed to the girls, so they ran off to join ISIS. Now they are pregnant and tired of “these animals” telling us what to do. But getting away from ISIS isn’t as easy as getting in it, and Austria doesn’t want them back. How much confidence can Austria have that their professed regrets are genuine?
When you’re the age of these girls, you don’t believe the adults around you know anything. Most of us learn otherwise without such severe consequences. These girls have ruined their lives. It’s a shame. and they have my sympathies, up to a point. But they’re going to have to live with the consequences of their choices.
I Wonder How These People Traveled From Their Home Universe to This One
Iraqi Comedy Show Lampoons ISIL
“State of Myths” started airing in Iraq this past Saturday. In the show, a shopkeeper is told he must keep separate vegetables with Arabic names having female gender from other vegetables with Arabic names having male gender.
Mockery is a wonderful tool for discrediting opponents. Let us hope this show lasts. My fear is that those involved may not be long for this world.
Unfolding Information on the Beheader from Oklahoma
Born as Alton Noel, the beheader was apparently reared as a Christian. In prison, he converted to Islam. The beheading, however, seems to have come from his criminal nature and whatever he learned in prison. His local mosque disclaims his actions.
Here’s the banner on his Facebook Page:
Whatever others in his local mosque think, it’s pretty clear what the beheader thought.
Iraqi Lawyer and Civil Rights Leader (and Woman) Tortured and Executed
Samira Salih al-Nuaimi was taken from her home, tried for apostasy, tortured, and executed. Her crime? Facebook posts critical of ISIS’ destruction of places of worship in Iraq. After her death, her family was warned against a funeral.
The world view of people who would commit such acts is so different from ours that, if we make assumptions about them based on our own beliefs and expectations, we risk being dangerously wrong. Pax Americana is gone, and the world is a much more dangerous place.
Here is her picture:
Hidden Camera: Life Under ISIS in Syria
Thoughts from 9/11/2003 That Are Still Pertinent Today
This James Lileks column was written for September 11, 2003, two years after the towers fell. He accurately predicted what has happened, and I believe, what will continue to happen.
Read the whole thing. Hat tip to Instapundit.
Filipinos Show Backbone. UN, not so much.
When UN peacekeepers were surrounded and attacked by Syrian rebels, the UN ordered the peacekeepers to lay down their arms and surrender. Fijian troops complied and are being held prisoner. Filipinos refused to obey the order and fought the Syrians. Good for them.