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Thank you for your kind (and unkind) letters from the Canada, America, French West Indies, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand. Mark reads all the letters, but especially enjoys the vicious ones. Drop a line to Mark's Mailbox and if you're chosen to be the one and only Letter of the Week you'll join our roll of winners from four Continents and receive a copy of Mark Steyn From Head To Toe. It would help if you could indicate your city or town, or, at least, your state, province or country. Failing that, your continent or hemisphere would do. For a selection of recent letters on the Conrad Black trial, see Mailbox Extra.
Letter of the Week
COULD IT HAPPEN HERE?
Thank you for the excellent commentary that you have been providing regarding the attempted bombings in the UK. I read your columns on NRO and elsewhere as often as I can, and I enjoy the contributions that you make to the Corner.
I have a question and a comment about the attempted bombings in the U.K., and I may sound quite naive or uninformed, which I am. Living in the far northwest suburbs of Houston, TX, I haven't had to think much about car bombings, but seeing these attacks in London and Glasgow makes me realize how easily this could happen here in Houston, or anywhere in the United States for that matter.
First the comment. The link that you provided from the Daily Mail was very informative, in many ways. I was absolutely amazed at the photographs that were included in the article, especially the close-up of the badly burned terrorist on the ground, and I immediately thought to myself, "We would never see photos like those here in the U.S." But then I thought, why don't we see them? I will never forget as long as I live the physical pain and sickness that I felt inside as I stood in my living room holding my young son, watching the World Trade Center collapse on my television screen. Moments before, I had seen the images of the jumpers, and I just stood there sobbing as the buildings fell. After 9/11, the American press would not show photos of the jumpers, or of the planes hitting the buildings, because it was "too soon", or because it would "offend" people. Maybe if our press would show photos of the jumpers, as respectfully as possible for the families involved, or if they would show photos of the raids on the Fort Dix Six, or if they would show photos of the victims of the shooter at the L.A. airport or at the Jewish Center in California, then the American people would wake up. We wouldn't be able to just glance at the stories on the news then return to the business of our daily lives as if nothing was happening. It is difficult and uncomfortable to look at some of the images that the British press will show, but isn't that the point?
My question about those photos is this. If the car that rammed into the Glasgow airport was packed with nails and petrol, why are policemen and witnesses standing so close to the car as it burns? Couldn't it explode further and cause some serious injuries, or could that not happen unless the detonator was set off properly? I was just surprised by how close they were to the car. Did they not know at that point that those things were inside the car? I would think they would want to act with an abundance of caution since the cars in London were rigged that way.
It doesn't surprise me one bit that these men weren't "disenfranchised youths", because doctors would blend in to the British/Scottish culture better and be even harder to detect than angry young men would be. When will people stop being so stupid and realize that the masterminds of these plots are not idiots. They will continue these attacks, and I am certain that they will attack us here in the United States soon.
It is such a frightening time to be raising young children. I pray over my 7 year old son and 4 year old daughter every day, asking for God to protect them as we try to live our lives. After the immigration fiasco paired with the complete lack of leadership regarding Iraq and the War on Terror, I have lost confidence in our government to really protect us, so I am not sure what else to do.
Caroline Young
Houston, Texas
Re: Paging Dr Jihad
DO-IT-YOURSELF DESTRUCTION
Gee. a car with propane tanks, gasoline and nails.
You'd think that these Fiendish International Terrorists could come up with better bomb making materials than I have in my damn garage!
Was this really a bombing attempt or a trip to Home Depot gone horribly wrong?
You can see that the UK police have to take this (semi-) seriously. But CNN is breathlessly reporting that that US Homeland Security has rushed troops to protect Wall Street!
So let’s see, with a rental car and $50 worth of materials from Home Hardware - materials which “obviously” could not do much more that burn up said car - you get the West to spend millions on additional security and dominate the western news media for two or three days.
How can these guys lose? They just have to make the lamest of gestures and leave it to the media and government to do the “actual” terrifying.
Terrance Tomkow
WHY NOW?
Dominion Day greetings from Vancouver.
The question everyone is wondering about the terrorism in the UK is: "Why Now?"
I'm sure that I'm not your only reader who would love to get your insight into this question!
Robert Werner
Re: Getting Senator Lott’s goat
And Rejoice, Rejoice!
A LAWYER’S DREAM COME TRUE
While my comments about driving a stake through the Immigration Vampire's heart may have been spot on, I think Cong. Shadegg's commentary says it all.
A message that should chill decent Americans for years to come:
God Bless America.
Bob McCaffrey
WELCOME TO CUBA
Piece of shit bill on a nation that doesn't want it.
They won't even tell us what's in it! In all seriousness, tell me how this is different from Castro passing a bill in Cuba.
Matt Gaffney
TB OR NOT TB
My wife caught tuberculosis at a Central California hospital. She is in administration, not a doctor or a nurse.
Immigrating to the US, my Norwegian grandparents had to go through health screenings. But screening Mexicans is "racist".
Thanks for reading.
Peter Parks
Salisbury, Missouri
GOOD LUCK IN ‘08
The Useless U.S. Senate - get rid of it
So the majority leader of the self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" of gasbags shuts down debate on the immigration bill and Republicans rollover?!?! Looks like the GOP is back to its pre-Ronald Reagan days as a permanent minority of losers. This will be made certain by granting amnesty & Social Security benefits to over 10 million "undocumented Americans" who will vote primarily for Democrats. As Kate O'Bierne points out in 'The Corner", Republican minority leader Mitch O'Connell voted for cloture AGAINST the majority of his fellow Republicans. Mitch O'Connell is supposed to "represent his party on procedural issues." HA! Good luck
in '08! GWB has destroyed any chance the GOP had to re-take Congress, the Senate or
retain the presidency for at least a decade. This amnesty is a joke & slap in the face to all law-abiding U.S. citizens. It is unfortunate that GWB will forever be reviled by the rank-and-file of the GOP. However, maybe it is a blessing in disguise. When Nixon abandoned the conservative GOP it paved the way for Ronald Reagan as its leader.
Can you please re-print an article you wrote about abolishing the U.S. Senate? In case any liberals object, especially those who love to cite "International Law", there is precedence for it. You mentioned that New Zealand had done it.
Joe Weldon
Juno Beach, Florida
LIEBERMAN’S INTEGRITY BYPASS
Let's never hear another word about Joe Lieberman as a man of integrity, as we have so often in the past. He voted consistently for SB 1639 ,granting amnesty to illegals - not once, but THREE TIMES over the past 2 weeks. He voted for Clinton vs impeachment in 1999 It proves he's w/ pocket of the globalists & those who had specifically put in the bill that gang members and ANYONE who snuck in before 2007 would get amnesty. These are absent-minded people -LIEBERMAN is an absent-minded person and we don't need anyone who voted for it.
Al
Lemon Grove
BIPARTISAN DECEPTION
Your comments regarding the bipartisan immigration efforts reminded me of something George Carlin wrote: "'Bipartisan' means some larger-than-normal deception is being carried out."
I love GC's comedy, don't agree with him politically even a little bit... but I think that sentiment does apply here somewhat, except in this case the public sees through the deception, and both parties seem to be shocked at the publics gaucheness in refusing to play along.
Warren Gamache
Edmonton, Alberta
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
”They'll teach this one as a textbook definition of ‘bipartisanship’: both parties gang up on the electorate.”
I'm not that optimistic, though that would be a great result! Rather, I think the textbooks will mark this boondoggle as the beginning of the end of the republic.
Eh, well, considering the brief history of nations/movements, we're already living on borrowed time and being that our electees seem determined to do us in while we shuffle through MP3s, perhaps it's just in the nature of the beast of humans to tear down what we build?
Mark
SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY THE INS
Your article that I read in the Chicago Tribune hit the nail on the head. I have always said the proposed Immigration bill in the U.S. is a slap in the face to legal immigrants.
In 1991, my wife and I went through a difficult 12 month process just to get a 3 year work visa in the U.S. We did eventually get it, but we just about had to disrobe ourselves not to mention get an immigration lawyer involved. We are both professionals from Australia so you would have thought they would have been eager to have us.
The whole thing makes a mockery of U.S. immigration laws and we both feel that the U.S. is on a downward spiral if it keeps going in this direction.
Ely Lazar
Perth, West Australia
HARRY AND TOMMY
Laura Ingraham this morning: Harry Reid and Tommy
Your bit with Laura this morning when you were talking about "Tommy" had me in stitches! That was absolutely hilarious! If possible, you should post that clip on your website.
Kevin
Madison, Wisconsin
GOVERNMENT ‘EXPERTS’
Those desperate-for-a-deal-even-it-signifies-nothing Congress folks remind me of the nothingness supplied by the much-ballyhooed "Iraq Study Group". Just the other day I heard some MSM type complaining that if Bush had followed the group's ‘plan’ to the letter, things would be terrific in Iraq today. He referred to the ISG as a "bipartisan panel of experts".
Experts??? What does S.D. O'Connor know about warfare...or even statecraft? Vernon Jordan? Geez.. Clinton a few yrs back assigned Ol' Vern the task of getting Monica out of Washington (at which he failed miserably), but did that experience qualify him to figure out a viable U.S. exit from Iraq? All politics is loco.
John Gross
Beloeil, Quebec FOSTER HISPANIC IMMIGRATION TO EUROPE
America faces a tidal wave of illegal immigration, as economic concerns draw immigrants north. The flow of illegal immigrants seems unending.
Europe faces a tidal wave of illegal immigration, as economic concerns draw immigrants north. The flow of illegal immigrants seems unending. The hostility these immigrants, mostly Muslim, feel towards Europe is driven by religious concerns, is preventing assimilation, and will cause a balkanization of the continent. However, due to collapsing birthrates, an aging population, and
extravagant retirement benefits, young workers are said to be needed to buttress this economic system.
Why not solve both problems with one program? Relieve the pressure on American immigration by fostering Hispanic immigration to Europe.
Hispanic immigrants, with their (sometimes nominal) Christian faith, will be much more likely to functionally integrate into European society, and, at a minimum, will be less violently hostile to their European host country than Muslim immigrants are. Immigration processing centers located within Central and South America, run by the Europeans, could effectively pre-screen immigrants and ensure that those brought to Europe would be quality individuals likely to be productive members of society. The remote location of these processing centers would provide Europe great control over the numbers and types of peoples admitted.
As an added benefit, instead of illegal immigrants paying literally thousands of dollars to smugglers to get them across the American border and to obtain forged identification documents, the immigrants themselves could pay reasonable fees for the costs of the processing centers and transportation costs to Europe. The program could be self-funding.
A joint American and European program to foster Hispanic immigration to Europe could do wonders to relieve the immigrant strain on American society, and help stabilize the European continent with a legal immigrant population that would be more likely to functionally assimilate to its host country.
No program for rational, legal immigration will work, however, until America and Europe control the flow of people across their borders. Immigrants will likely not follow a legal process if they are not forced to.
Bart Hager
St. Louis, Missouri
MEXICAN NON-REPRODUCTION
I'm currently reading your book America Alone and read your columns wherever I find them. Love how you think and the way you express it!
I would enjoy hearing your comments on Robert Dunn's idea that Mexican non-reproduction will take care of our illegal immigrant problem all by itself. Something for a future column, perhaps?
Ruth
Holland, Michigan
OLD EUROPE HAS AN EXCUSE
I absolutely love what you do! I think you would be a fantastic talk show host.
I heard you commenting to Dean Barnett the other day about the Senate behaving like “old Europe” or something to that effect. I'm not that smart, but it seems to me that it may be understandable that “old Europe” has remnants of feudal and/or manorial societies where lawmakers were nobles and lords. What our Senate has got to get through their blunt skulls is that 'we the people' are the royalty in our system, not them. They are closer to knights and peasants than they are to lords and nobles.
It's a very dangerous misconception for our lawmakers to have ... any thoughts? I'd love to hear what you think in a future discussion or column. I never miss your visits with Hugh Hewitt.
Please never change and never stop what you do!
Stephen S Moss
IF WE CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, LET ‘EM JOIN US
Dear Sen. Kennedy,
Thank you and your staff for the well-prepared form letter detailing your position on reforming immigration.
Now that the current effort has fizzled through "procedures" here's my idea. Let's just annex Mexico. The current president could be the governor (with congressional supervision of course) until the first U.S-style election. Maybe, at first, we could treat the area like we do Puerto Rico. Then after a set number of years getting the folks down there up to speed with our laws and ways, including mandatory documentation to contribute to Social Security, taxes etc., both branches of the Legislature can approve statehood. It would probably be much easier and less costly to secure our "new" southern border into Central America, with the Coast Guard and Navy securing the both shorelines than to run hundreds of miles of fence we can't seem to do now across the Southwest. Look at the manpower we would have for the military, mining, oil, manufacturing, agriculture. The AFL-CIO and Teamsters and all unions would salivate at the possibilities. Crack the whip a few times and America would be king again.
Here's why I propose this: Since Congress first passed in 1790 the "white man's" law on naturalization in the U.S., undocumented folks have been sneaking in from all over the place anyway. So if we can't beat 'em, let's make them join us.
This would be great capitalism, although I know that's not really your driving philosophy. Think of it like a corporate takeover. Every day we read about them. You and I are both shareholders in the "corporation" known as the USA. So if all these illegals want to play on our property, let's insist they buy shares in the "company".
Now I'll admit that some of my ancestors were squatters, so to speak. They arrived on the shore of Massachusetts long before anyone had to officially "sign in". (earliest recorded squatting 1635 Taunton, MA area) Others enjoyed the sights and sounds of Ellis Island. This means my ancestors played fair by the law of the land at the time.
Let's just wrap our loving American arms around all of Mexico and tell them the rules are going to change.
With equal amounts of seriousness and humor for my idea I offer you
John A. Peterson
THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE IT MAKES SENSE
I am a Hugh Hewitt inspired Roman Catholic Conservative Blogging Physician and friend. Please, help me here where has my imagination gone wrong/. The more you use "Twisted Logic" when thinking about this Amnesty Bill the better it looks! Population growth is like a force of Nature. Per YOU, Mark Steyn you teach us that 2.1 children per woman IS necessary to keep a population stable. That is why Eurasia(Europe) will become Eurabia!
1. If it were not for Hispanics(mostly Mexicans) Americans has a population stability birth rate.
2. We've aborted 40-50 million babies so Baby boomer Americans on Security will need new the 12-20 Millions illegal to support them. Additionally Business wants to Cheap Labor too!
3. Mexico is our second largest supplier of oil surpassing Venezuela (no friend of the US) and Saudi Arabia.
Oil exporters to the USA in 2005: Canada supplied 17%, Mexico 15%, Saudia Arabia & Nigeria 12% Venzuela 10%
4. America refines Mexico's oil into gas (they 6 refineries who do meet their demand.
5 . Mexico is a War with its powerful Drug Cartels made of (>100,000) Mexican Military deserters, Crooked Politicians who work in Government and Zetas(special Forces type guys) trained by us who have gone rogue.
6. These Cartels threaten the Mexican Government which will turn to the USA and our Military to keep them in Power if they start to collapse.
7. Mexico largest Trading Partner to the tune of ~220 billion dollars is the USA while only 2-3% of their trade with South America. Thanks to Nafta.
8. Canada is our leading supplier of foreign oil!
Now consider that the Iranian Mullahs are on the brink of going Nuclear and will destroy Israel who before their lights are permanently extinguished will in turn Mushroom Cloud Iran. That means that the Oil we get from our to largest foreign will become more IMPORTANT to our Independence. Eurabia has little Oil reserves expect for the Northern Atlantic. They will dominate European Politics. Eventually they will go to war with the USA. The children of these Illegals will be who the US Government will draft into the Army when all out War with Islam breaks out. Ronald Reagan told Lionel Sosa his Hispanic Political Consultant said "Hispanics because of their values are natural Republicans they just do not know it yet..." George Bush has used Lionel Sosa too.
Of course this is twisted logic but one needs this when we consider the President Bush is the primary engine behind this bill. The Bush Family knows Oil (for the foreseeable future nothing will replace it), Mexican Americans will become a Majority because of Population Birth Rate. There will be a Close relationship with Mexico because of this relationship and their dependence on US to keep them in power. We can not let Mexico take the Socialist route of Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia not the Narco-Democracy route of Columbia. Now wall on the border means we can go in when we want to weed out the Cartels. The Bush family has a talented half Mexican grandson (George P.) who will be able to draw on the important Hispanic Vote in 30 years when he is ready. Nafta is a child of Carrol Quigley's thinking who approved of the goals of the Anglo-American elite for One World Governmnet as outlined in his book "Tragedy and Hope" from Wikepedia:
1. The international drive to bring about a one-world government.
2. In his 1966 book, Tragedy and Hope, he based his analysis on his extensive research in the closely-held papers of an Anglo-American elite organization, to which he was given access.
3. According to Quigley, the U.S. and UK governments were secretly controlled through a series of Round Table Groups, the group in the US being the Council on Foreign Relations.
4. He contended that both the Republican and Democratic parties were controlled by an "international Anglophile network" that shaped elections.
5. The Anglo-American Establishment was not published until 1982, five years after Quigley's death, because of its controversial material: several publishers would not publish it when it was written in 1949, but the manuscript was found after his death on the Island of Rhodes.
This thinking which has influneced US Presidents both Deomcrati and Republican (Nixon switched from the Gold Standard to perpetuated Globalism) is one of the engines, among others, behind NAFTA(Brain Child of Bush 41) and Bush 42's SPPA (Security Prosperity Partnership Act).
Since it turns out the most valuable natural response is Progeny Mexico will provide this for our Future! It is a bit of a Gamble but one the Futurist Think tanks have convinced Bush is worth taking. Democrats have even less replacement progeny than Conservatives so they want the Illegals to be their voting base in the future!
Here are references that have lead me to this
1.Here is the Bush' Speech.
2.Here is what Bush 41 thinks of his work in Nafta
What do you think? A twisted Amnesty Bill which puzzles us Conservatives requires Twisted Insight in order to understand it! Am I going CRAZY or on to something?
Dominus vobiscum
Francis
WORRYING TRENT
Re: Trenthorn Lotthorn. Absolutely made my day! Thank you. Enjoyed your last book immensely too.
Jack
Re: Bad Vibe
CAN’T POPULAR OPINION BE WRONG?
Just saw your post on The Corner, agreeing with Stanley Kurtz. I understand your sentiment, but do you remember the late 1990s, during the Clinton impeachment? Conservatives were constantly told how popular Clinton was and that the public opposed impeachment. Conservatives responded by saying you can't govern by the polls, that doing the right thing doesn't mean slavishly following popular opinion. We admired those politicians who went against public sentiment and voted their conscience. We condemned politicians who stuck a wetted finger in the air to gauge which way the political winds were blowing.
I don't support the immigration bill, either, but shouldn't those principles still remain?
Eric Christ
Phoenix, Arizona
REPUBLICAN REFORM
If anyone thinks we are trying to “replace” one party with another they should realize, it ain't gonna happen. Maturing a party can happen. Can we find 44 Libertarian candidates to send to the House? Can we find 10 Senators to call Libertarian?
If neither chamber has a 50% +1 majority, who rules? It has to start somewhere. How about our House?
Bill White
Re: Blair’s Britain
BRITSPEAK
Fur He'ns sake.
On the former point, the unloveliness of any British city after six in the evening - the dolly birds staggering around paralytic, the pools of "pavement pizza", the baying yobboes gagging for a shag and hurling bollards through the bus shelters to impress the crumpet - is a natural consequence of what happens when the state relieves the citizen of primal responsibilities.
Dolly birds == chics paralytic == drunk pavement pizza == barf baying yobboes == howling young men shag == boink bollards == projectiles crumpet == see dolly bird primal responsibilities == grow up.
heh.
Tom Walsh – Scotch, Irish, English, French, Swiss
Canton, Georgia
NEVER MIND THE BOLLARDS
".the dolly birds staggering around paralytic, the pools of "pavement pizza", the baying yobboes gagging for a shag and hurling bollards through the bus shelters to impress the crumpet."
Help me get this right:
- dolly birds = attractive women?
- paralytic = drunk?
- pavement pizza = vomit?
- baying yobboes = loud young men?
- gagging for a shag = propositioning loose women?
- hurling bollards = I haven't the faintest idea
Crumpet I get.
Jerry Hurtubise
THE TRANSLATION
The translation.
"On the former point, the nastioness of any British city after six in the evening - the skanks staggering around drunk out of their minds, the pools of puke, the howling thugs dying to get laid and hurling traffic cones through the bus shelters to impress their squeezes - is a natural consequence of what happens when the state relieves the citizen of primal responsibilities."
Patrick Carroll
AND ANOTHER ...
”The revloned skanks dead-drunk, the puke puddles, the horny aggro townies, breaking bus stop windows to impress their evening's mattress (fuckpig) - is a natural..."
Not that you would, but please do not use my name.
IT’S NOT ENCOURAGING
I can "translate" that third paragraph, and, two months before my very first visit to the UK, it's not terribly encouraging.
Pauli Carnes
SADLY, I UNDERSTOOD IT
In future, please warn your readers who can follow Yobspeak but prefer to do it only from a great distance.
Sadly, I understood all of it, despite being in Blighty exactly four times in forty-three years, the last two never leaving Heathrow.
Ed Ahlsen-Girard
THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP
By George they haven’t got it! I "got" it. It means "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop," and Blair's nanny state has created millions of idle hands. So, that must mean Blair works for...
Dave Nabers
THE ENGLISH DROVE HIM NUTS
My sister-in-law's brother (I know, I know) is a muckety muck with J.P. Morgan.
He worked in London for a little over a year and HATED IT!
He's a workaholic. One of those guys who's always either on the phone doing business, or on the phone setting up when business is next going to get done.
The English work ethic drove him nuts. People who were supposed to start at 9 am would appear at 10. They'd socialize for ½ hour or so, do a little work, then stop for a ½ hour break. They'd do a bit more work, then leave promptly for lunch at noon. Lunch would be stretched to two hours. They'd come back from lunch having, of course, had several adult beverages as well. They'd work a bit, then stop for tea at 4pm. They'd leave promptly at 5m, if not early.
Not exactly the pace of modern business as set by the Americans and the Asians is it?
Robert Ainsworth
Jacksonville, Florida
CHINA SYNDROME
Where can I go, when the last, best hope fades away?
Maybe I'll move to China. My son has been living in Beijing for several years, now. He tells me it's not as bad as you might think.
You can pretty much do whatever you want, business wise. It's really inexpensive, especially if you have Social Security coming in in US dolllars. The government looks out for the interests of China, only China, and always China.
The only price you pay is that you have to stay out of politics.
But then, what does being involved in politics get you here, except heartbreak?
Jim T
NO THANKS
"If I were a Londoner, I'd be in favor of seceding from the United Kingdom and going it alone as the Hong Kong of Europe."
Heh.
In reality, the ChiComs wouldn't dream of having Hong Kong run by someone as Red as Livingstone. After all, they understand Capitalism, and want to continue to cultivate Hong Kong as an economically dynamic city.
Eric Alexander
GOOD COMPANY
Maybe London could secede from the UK and join the Republic of Vermont.
Michael C Huete
Re: The Other Brown
NO JUSTICE
If there was any justice in the world, the US would refuse to deal with Malloch Brown and deny the UK intelligence until he is gone.
However, this is not likely considering the State Department is full of those who seek to bow down to the rest of the world.
Dave Ward
Washington, DC
VIM AND TONIC
Thank you, Mr Steyn! You are a tonic for much that ails the world.
I perk up when I see your name in a byline and know that I am about to be educated, encouraged (that someone speaks the truth), and amused.
C Brittain
San Francisco, California
DON’T READ TOO MUCH INTO IT
Although I disagree with you about the merits of the Malloch Brown appointment (to a certain extent), you're overstating the relevance of the decision to appoint him. Gordon Brown's appointment of Digby Jones, and Malloch Brown, along with his attempts to bring Liberal Democrats into his Cabinet is reflective not of his desire to give policy control to non-Labour Party figures, but of the fact that he's trying to chance the perception of government. In terms of Malloch Brown's influence over foreign policy – his influence on International Development, which is the largest part of Britain's foreign policy regarding Africa, is going to be minimal. Brown's new Secretary of State for International Development is going to control a beefed up Department, and the new Secretary is a huge Brown ally who is also in charge of the next Labour election campaign. Likewise, our new Foreign Secretary is the biggest up and coming star in the Labour Party. He's not going to be marginalised by Malloch Brown. Don't read too much into the appointment.
Jonny Medland
WHO’S SOROS NOW?
Mark Malloch Brown...is what a local talk-show host (Howie Carr) would surely call a Soros rump swab.
MBA
P.S. I'm one of your fans.
Re: Beware of government as incessant action hero
CROSSOVER CLERGY
I enjoy your columns immensely. Regarding the Anglican gay union article, I thought that you might have put quotes around: "...depending which way they 'swing'..."
I think this would have been “funny”.
Gerald S. Reed
BOTH WAYS
"Pie in the Sky" in NYSun
"The Anglican Church of Canada is about to have a big vote on the issue, and depending which way they swing it will either deepen the schism within the worldwide Anglican Communion or further isolate . . ."
Why can't they just swing both ways?
Simon A. Steiner
White Plains, New York
Re: Steyn on Rushdie, then and now
WE ARE ALL SALMANS NOW
Hit 'em again, hit 'em again ... harder, harder ..
It must be a bore to repeat the same things over and over and over again, but as any football coach knows, it's the only way to penetrate the somnolent brain.
Thanks for so dutifully carrying the ball.
Peter O'Keefe
St. Barthélemy, French West Indies
ARISE, SIR MARK
First let me say that the concept of being knighted in the 21st century is ridiculous - not to mention sexist. That said, doesn't Salman Rushdie live in New York City? Is it possible to be knighted even if you no longer consider jolly olde England home? If this is so, perhaps there is some hope for you, Sir Mark Steyn!!
Selma Labrowski
Florida (formerly France)
P.S. I love one of Rushdie's old quotes once he moved to the States, (and I paraphrase): I had lived in Britain all my life and never felt at home; one week in America and I felt as if I belonged. In America everyone is an outsider, so no one is.... (My sentiments exactly!)
Re: Canada Day in the Northern District of Illinois
CARDASSIAN JUSTICE
As all Star Trek fans know, Cardassian justice is much l like our Federal criminal system: the outcome is known before the trial begins. In honor of their conviction rate, I suggest promoting Federal Prosecutors to the oh-so-easy-to-say rank of Gul, as in Gul Fitzgerald.
Warning: brought to you by a friendly neighborhood
(State, not Federal) public defender.
James Eckert
AMERICA THE UNFRIENDLY
I have never met Lord Black. I don't (knowingly) own any stock that he may also own. This whole case is a travesty. Errr...from what I have seen/read.
In no particular order or following any timeline:
1. The US bans PEI potatoes.
2. The US bans Canadian softwood despite many rulings against them from NAFTA/WTO whosoever...
3. The US bans Canadian beef over a one mad cow.
4. The US dumps questionable water in to our Prairies, asking us to trust them it's OK.
5. The US syphons water via the Chicago canal, diverting water from the Great Lakes, contrary to...
6. The US refuses to have it's airmen returned to the UK to account for a Friendly fire incident in Iraq.
7. The US prosecutes Lord Black with no witnesses who are able say, "I was robbed or defrauded...”
8. The US is able to grab/have extradited UK bankers and prosecute them for "whatever" in Texas.
Notice the thread? There must be more to be added to my small list. The US justice system leaves much to be desired. Is there any reason to actually visit this unfriendly place?
If this is published, will my name be placed on a no-fly list, somewhere?
Just wondering..
Oh. I vote PC.
Gerry Taylor,
Brampton, Ontario
RULES FOR RUDER
" 'Conrad Black is not a rules guy,' thundered assistant US Attorney Julie Ruder."
I hope the PROSECUTION remembers a few rules:
If there wasn't a crime,
You don't do no time.
Or how about: if something is in plain writing in the contracts, it can't be a
conspiracy?
If it's in black and white,
It's gotta be right.
If it's all plainly writ,
It must be legit.
You got it in writing,
You must not be hiding.
If it's written and signed,
You can't be maligned.
Or how about:
Get out of our courts,
And quit cluttering up the place with feeble malicious cases that should only
elicit derisive snorts.
Larry Eubank PROSECUTORS ON THE RAMPAGE
Perhaps the behaviour of the prosecution in the case of Lord Black et al is sadly not atypical:
When did this unhealthy view of the rôle of the prosecution begin? Is it ever restrained by the judges of the US Federal courts?
Charles Forsyth
FRIENDS IN NEED
I have never written to a columnist before, but I had to do this. I want to congratulate you on your loyalty to Conrad Black. I don’t know why they are out to get him, but they are, and it seems that his former friends have stepped out of harm’s way, so it's good to see a man stick by his friend in trouble.
That's it. If you are ever in Brussels and would like to have a Leffe (or any other beverage)drop me an email.
Richard King
Brussels
Re: America Alone
GLOVE BOX MY FOOT
Grievous Error in your book. Mr. Steyn, I'm reading your latest book which my wife gave me. We may differ about particulars but on this particular item you are simply wrong:
pp 46; "Try that in Texas, and the guy will reach into his glove box and blow your head off."
Texans do NOT carry guns in their glove boxes. It takes too long to get to it. They carry them beside their seat where it takes a fraction of a second to lay a hand on it.
Tom Harrington
Tucson, Arizona
FUNNY BUT TRUE
I just read your book "America Alone," after hearing your interview with Glen Beck a few weeks ago. It is a wonderful, funny, very observant, and painfully truthful book. I will now follow your writings via the Web. Please keep up the good work.
Carol Welch
IS DEMOGRAPHICS REALLY DESTINY?
Let me begin with abject flattery - I am an enormous fan of your columns. As an American military officer stationed in Germany, I find your views on Europe's decline both hilarious and accurate.
While I agree with your emphasis on the power of demographics, I would ask if you would comment on the following ("critiques" may be too strong..perhaps "refinements"?):
1) Effective power of demographics: Has history shown that demographics is destiny? Consider the Dutch in the 1600s...a world power with fewer people than most LA suburbs. Yes, the 40 yr-old professional protester in Karachi has 9 kids. Nine illiterate kids whose lifetime economic output will match my salary this year. Keep them from emigrating (ah, there's the rub!), turn off the BBC camera on the street, and they may howl and rage about Porky Pig and Winnie the Pooh till the ends of time for all I care. Demographic aging is catching up with a vengeance in Iran (a lack of any hope for the 50% of their population enslaved in their own homes may have something to do with it). Properly prevented from emigrating, ignored by the Western media, and what power do they really have?
2) "Loss" of Europe: We all bemoan the pathetic response of Spain and the UK to Islamic terrorism -- so far. I avidly read the British papers, however, and I see beneath the surface of Mr. Blair and his friends in Brussels a populist rage against what is happening. As you have pointed out, history has shown what Europeans can do when they put their mind to such issues! Is it not possible, or likely, that some final straw (most likely in France, I imagine) will finally push the EU over the edge regarding immigration? No ACLU will stop nationalist parties in Europe from
solving this problem in (to our eyes) a relatively brutal manner.
I will continue to read your columns with great enthusiasm. Thank you for your time.
Jon
Mackenbach, Germany
INTO THE DEATH SPIRAL
RE America Alone - Could it happen here?
The other day I read something that led me to the following rather cheerless thoughts. The Spectator reported that over the past few years, 300,000 Britons leave the UK annually(for the US, Aurstralia, Canada and so on), and 500,000 immigrants arrive (almost all from Bangladesh and Pakistan). This year, the most popular boy's name in the UK will be Mohammed (in various forms). Among non-Moslems, the birth rate is lower than the death rate. Among Moslems, it's over 20% higher. So let's fast forward 10 years if these trends continue (thery could accelerate of course). There are around 60,000,000 people in the UK. The government thinks around 1,500,000 are Moslems. Immigration will have brought that total up to 6,500,000, and the birth rate will have added 300,000 a year from the current population, and another 100,000 a year from new immigrants. The emigrating Britons will have totalled 3,000,000. So of the roughly 66,000,000 Britons, over 10,000,000 will be Moslems (over 15%). The UK has around 650 seats in Parliament, and the Labor Party majority is around 75. If Moslems are represented at the same rate as everyone else (and it may well be that their imams will gt out more than the high 40% vote that is the UK norm these days), then 160 will be Moslem controlled. Also, most Moslems live in traditionally Labor areas. If tht's the picture in the UK, what of France - a similar population, 10 times as many Moslems now. Or Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden – Russia - all have bigger Moslem populations than the UK.
If that's in 10 years, how about 20 -20,000,000 more Moslems born in the UK, another 5,000,000 immigrants, 3,000,000 fewer Britons. Of a population that's closer to 90,000,000, close to 40,000,000 are Moslems. And that, as HH Milne had one of his characters say, is that.
Colin Fergus
New York, New York
TERROR TACTIC
I am sure you didn't miss this article on Muslim women wearing the niqab in London.
The comment I thought was revealing was the young woman who said "9/11 was a wake-up call for young Muslims". She was inspired to wear the niqab due to the attacks of 9/11 - not Iraq, Afganistan, the Crusades etc.
Maybe successful acts of terror are radicalizing Islam--not our response.
Joe
Huntington Beach, California
STAND ON SCIENTOLOGY
Germany's reaction to Tom Cruise's movie project
Now, I'm certainly no fan of Tom Cruise, or Scientology for that matter, but I find Germany's reaction to Cruise's new film project to be a bit conflicted. To be specific, Germany believes that "Scientology is a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people." Now I find It interesting they have the courage to take a vocal stand on this religious issue yet, when it comes to the Islamic threat in their midst, they are both silent and accommodating. Your thoughts?
John Singsaas
Re: Song of the Week
STORMIN’ AT THE SANDS
I enjoyed "Song of the Week - Stormy Weather/Lena Horne", an underrated singer in my opinion at least on this side of the pond.
Perhaps it was fortunate for me that Ms Horne went off my radar in the 70's and 80's, so I missed the "anger" bit and now having read your piece I feel pleased about that.
Fortunately, my lasting memory of Lena Horne is always associated with my conscription into the army in '59 when I was able to introduce fellow conscripts who had never heard of her to the delights of "Lena Horne at the Waldorf Astoria". We virtually wore out my RCA vinyl during my two years service.
Today I have a CD of "Warldorf" that has been coupled with "Lena Horne at the Sands" the latter not being as good as the "Waldorf", but being recorded in November 1960 certainly has no "anger" in it as far as I can detect.
Interestingly, "Stormy Weather" does not feature in either of these concerts and as someone who never got into "Stormy Weather" as a song, I am not entirely sorry, though I shall try to get to hear her '41 or '43 recordings. But these would have to be good if I was forced to substitute any song from the "Wardorf" set with it: such verve, swing and cheek. Never heard anyone do Honeysuckle Rose" as well as Lena Horne.
Looking forward to your next "Song of the Week".
Alex Erskine
England
JUDY’S BETTER
One of my all-time favorite tunes, but, although I like Lena Horne, for my money the best rendition is by Judy Garland. Her build up in the "pitter 'n' patterin', beatin' 'n' spatterin'" part is phenomenal, matched only by the huge pause, and then modulation into "Can't go on". Stunning stuff.
Sandra J Damron
Colorado Springs, ColoradoRe: Mourning in Truedeaupia
TOO TOUGH ON TRUDEAU
I just read your article on Mr. Trudeau. It depressed me. Although I enjoy your columns, I think that, at your age, you were being a little unfair with the then recently departed.
I am of an age where Pierre Trudeau was the only Prime Minister we ever had that actually registers in my mind, and as we are of the same age I can't help to think that you were also, once upon a time, enthralled with the man as well.
He is, after all, the man who said, "We can only be just in our time", when refusing to apologize for past wrongs committed against Japanese internment camps during the 2nd world war. Again with his famous, "the government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation" or words to that effect, this is the only thing that remains in people's minds, but he then did go on to say, "of course, if they start to do it in the streets, that's a different matter!!"
Hate to cite those two trite examples, but Mr. Trudeau's Liberalism was a far cry from what is being practiced today by the same party. It is but a mere shadow of itself and I really doubt if Trudeau himself, if he were living, would want anything to do with it. He would also probably take his son Justin behind the barn and give him a good ear twisting for being so unthinkably vacuous.
All I know is that I used to be a liberal and am not anymore...ever since the Trudeau era of the late 60's and 70's when I was too young to vote. But I was, even at that tender age, wick enough to know that Canada has not seen the measure of that cabinet he put together since, and that the man was never afraid to call a spade a f***ing spade. He had the greatest respect for former Prime Minister Lester B (the only time I can re-call when he renamed anything) and a generous respect, when it certainly wasn't called for, the opposition. More importantly, although you might as a Monday morning quarterback regard this as superficial (and I feel myself superficial in pointing this out...actually, I have sort of promised not to feel myself as much anymore as my arm is beginning to whither and I can't see clearly the page in front of me) gave Canada a face.
So what he gave us or lumbered us with a ministry of multiculturalism? There were and are a lot of GRATEFUL immigrants who have legally and happily and thankfully made Canada their new home because of it. That it's been abused since those heady days is certainly not his fault since he hasn't been in power since 1984.
To put it briefly, after having gone on so in length, the man was a classical liberal, which these days means that he was somewhat right of centre as the liberal party these days has been kidnapped by the politically correct in the same way as the Anglican Church has been kidnapped by the "rainbow" coalition.
In short, Mr. Steyn, I think it's rather niggardly of you to piss in your youth. I even think you owe something to Mr. Trudeau's sheer chutzpah Trudeau's love of country made one love the country. His battle with Levesque, and respect for Levesque (I can still remember him showing up for his funeral...or was it to view "the body" lying in state) as a testimony to the political culture of our country at that time. It's a respect and dignity we have not seen since.
Love your stuff, Mr. Steyn, and I always look forward to anything you write. But times are times, and I don't think it quite fair of you to tar Trudeau with the same brush as present day liberal party wankers.
By the by...I have asked you in a previous e-mail if you would be interested in receiving a copy of my play entitled BAITING LEVITICUS which concerns itself with the current controversy afflicting the Anglican Church of Canada and the worldwide Anglican Communion. It's fucking funny, and ORTHODOX in approach.
John McKillop
Bratislava, Slovakia
Re: The Face of the Tiger
NOT EXECUTION BUT SLAUGHTER
Love your stuff, but I take issue with your use of the word "execution" is this piece. To me the term "execution" implies killing by the sanction of a recognized authority. In Nick Berg's case, as in many others, what has been turned into snuff videos for the titillation of would-be jihadists is not execution but slaughter. I think the distinction is significant.
Laura Finsten
MURDERERS’ MOTIVATIONS
On the Topical Take re: A Mighty Heart.
More than anything else, what happen to Mr. Pearl and the reaction to it shook my political thinking about not just the people (& the ideology) that did it & condoned it, but also about the rest of us who did very little if anything in response.
Followed link and read RE's review which was tedious enough, but particular excerpts irritated more than usual. i.e. "The movie, ...is notable for what it leaves out.. ....there are not any detailed scenes of Pearl with his kidnappers, no portrayals of their personalities or motivations,.."
Of course, who wants to risk a PC backlash and even hint at any reasons why?
And... "We reflect that the majority of Muslims do not approve of the behavior of Islamic terrorists, just as the majority of Americans disapprove of the war in Iraq."
That was enough to upset my stomach, but when I got to this bit I nearly puked;
"The Americans who complain about "negative" news are the ideological cousins of those who shoot at CNN crews. The news is the news, good or bad, and those who resent being informed of it are pitiful. More Americans are well-informed about current sports and auto-racing statistics, I sometimes think, than anything else."
Ideological cousins of killers?
Oh Mark, how far down the road of fantasy our society is!
The very last part is, sadly, true.
I have read & agreed with others before me who say that we are better informed about peripheral events (sports, in particular). But the why is all important, as those are the least agenda driven and usually have a specific demographic market.
"News" is nothing of the sort any more, hasn't been for a long time. Same with "films".
The vast majority of the "News" & "film" industries are nothing more than programs dressed up as "News" & "entertainment" to sell advertising (products) and influence political agendas.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, one may argue..well there is plenty wrong with that.
As Ayn Rand said in Atlas Shrugged, I believe, "You must never fail to judge."
It's what all of nature does instinctively..judge events & others around them..for if nothing else, the most primal of reasons..survival.
Hold the torch high Mark, there are millions who agree with you, and even more who have not yet been awakened.
You and others like Victor Davis Hanson, Thomas Sowell, come to mind immediately, are among the few left who still seem to have eyes that actually see, ears that hear, and a brain that actually works.
Just want to say thank you so very much for your work.
Bart Der Stepanian
Toronto
Re: Pussies Galore
THE QUEBEC ETHIC
Nice. True story:
My wife & I lived just off Whyte Ave. in Edmonton for about 3 years before moving to Grand Cayman last winter. I recall a series of encounters with a young, seemingly able-bodied gentleman in the Edmonton neighbourhood during a span of 3 days. On a Thursday and Friday morning he politely asked me for spare change outside the local variety store and I in turn politely
declined. After the same encounter on the Saturday my wife & I went to the Second Cup about a block away. While sitting inside I heard a tap on the window next to me and turned to face him making a second appeal to me on the other side of the glass less than 10 minutes after the first (again I declined). After finishing our beverages we headed back up the street only to be approached by the same man for a third time in less than a half-hour. I had to ask: "Dude, this is Alberta, why aren't you working?" His answer: "I'm from Quebec."
Gord Richens
ANTI-GUN GANGSTERS
My husband and I are very big fans of yours, and we enjoy not only your literary talents, but also your columns and posts at The Corner. Today (Saturday) you posted a story about a man in LA arrested on firearms charges and he was a proponent of getting guns off the streets. While I did pick this story up for our site, I started doing a little searching for more information. It appears
that this story is about 21 days old as I found this story from the LA Weekly.
It appears that there is much more to this arrest than what the LA Times has printed here. Namely, the fact his son and girlfriend were also arrested in connection to this raid, and that Mr. Marroquin has ties to the Mexican Mafia. Furthermore, it looks as though City Hall was funding his little gun-grabbing group, and failed to note that he was reselling them back to other gang members. This smells fishy, and someone in City Hall might be looking for a new job soon.
I hear that "No Guns" might need a new spokesman as their former one is facing up to fifty years in prison now.
Marcie and Thomas
Mesa, Arizona
ART IMITATES LIFE
If you outlaw guns.. Life repeats fiction! There is a Japanese direct to video 3 episode mini series called "Gunsmith Cats". Done in a very 70s cop show style, it tells the story of a pair of Chicago female gun-shop owners who work as bounty hunters on the side tracking down a gang of gun runners. In the end, the head of the gang turns out to be an anti-gun politician.
Michael Gilson
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE AUSTRALIA
I assume you have come across the recent report that a band of Royal Australian Navy sailors saw off an earlier Iranian kidnapping attempt in the Gulf with cocked guns and what the press referred to as colourful language.
You have often said kind things of John Howard, Alexander Downer and Peter Costello, regarding their clarity and candour when it comes to matters Islamic. Mr Howard spoke a few weeks ago to leaders of the Australian Jewish community and gave his full unequivocal support for Israel. And the Australian Muslim community has now appointed as head mufti a conciliatory apparently genuine moderate.
Recently John Howard's two fingered salute to the Chinese over his meeting the Dalai Lama was quoted in the Wall Street Journal online report.
And a few days ago he announced a major initiative to rescue abused indigenous children by, among other things, compulsory medical examinations, welfare payments made conditional on the children attending school; and banning alcohol and internet porn.
Happily Kevin Rudd, the leader of the opposition, has supported most of these moves; leaving it to the leader of the Greens to appear like a complete idiot in calling John Howard "selective, cynical and racist".
While one is modestly reluctant to blow one's national trumpet, it is increasingly frustrating that other leaders of the free world seem incapable of stating the bleeding obvious. Is Australia the last nation on earth with anyone in public life who is willing to tell it like it is?
Gilbert Mane,
Sydney, NSW, Australia
HE KNOWS SO MUCH, MUCH TOO YOUNG
How can you mention an article (Titanic, by Johann Hari Reshuffling the deck chairs on the National Review cruise) without mentioning the fact that Johann Hari is an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Britain's main gay magazine, a writer who was awarded the prize of 'Young Journalist of the Year' by the Press Gazette awards, which are regarded as the Oscars of British journalism! He attended King's College, Cambridge and graduated with a Double First in Social and Political Science in 2001! Ever since you directed your readership to his excellent, excellent review of your book, I for one have been keeping my eye on that young man! A rising star!
I particularly admire Mr. Hari because he is so young and yet knows so much about Mideast history!
Ezra Marsh
Baltimore
CARRYING A TORCH FOR GASOLINE
If one needed further corroboration that Middle Eastern minds think differently from the logical Western mind, the recent Iranian imposition of gasoline rationing provides proof. It's been reported that after rationing was imposed, 19 gas stations were torched from arson. That's right - there is less gasoline around, so let's torch some stations and ensure even less gasoline. Makes sense to me....
Steven Milos
North Vancouver, British Columbia
MORE HARD-HITTING JOURNALISM
The Philadelphia Inquirer wants to keep Tony Blair as a world ambassador. Good. Except that they're confusing Blair with Bob Geldof. The editorial is so predictable in how The Inquirer WANTS to see the world - and Blair - that it's comical. You have the all Bush's fault, let's work on global warming, Bill Clinton cares about social issues themes as expected, but I was a little surprised by Bowie being placed in the same humanitarian class as Sting: that's an edgy thesis on The Inquirer's part. We'll have to see what Rolling Stone says.
Bob Strauss, Jr.
Greenwood, South Carolina
TOO MANY TEACHERS, TOO LITTLE LEARNING
Another interesting article on Norway, for your research. Cheers.
Christopher Petrie
THE MOST PENETRATING SATIRE
God, you're clever. "The Most Reverend Almer Gortry"? Where else can one go to find the most penetrating satire (beloved by Johah Goldberg) and ultimate debunking of the state of unreality gripping 'today's modern world', all motivated not by the cynicism of some of the most famous satirists, but a love of the best civilization the world has ever had to offer? Thank you.
Your reward will be some of my money, as in a re-purchase of America Alone, this time from your website. And thank you also for the review of Top Hat. I'm hoping my wife appreciates the romance of that movie as much as it sounds like she might, if I can find it also to buy.
God bless you and protect you,
Bryan Gudmundson
Brookly Park, Minnesota GOOD NEWS IN NEW ZEALAND
Excellent interview on National Radio this morning, 8:45 Sunday 24 July. I couldn't agree more with your position and conclusions, Mark. Keep proclaiming the message. The West is facing a grim future indeed having forsaken its Christian heritage.
David Oertly
Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
KIWI CALL
New Zealand Sunday Morning Radio
Nice work!
Rob
PRESS ON
I just read "An Assault on Sovereignty." I can only hope that Mark Steyn will press on with his superb writing and terrific insights.
John Varner
Jacksonville
LAST WORD
How about adding a Bio to the site. I see on your book cover, you were born in Toronto, however, you speak with a British accent (as opposed to a Canadian, eh!) I'm reading America Alone. I bet you are a hoot at a party. If you are ever in Scottsdale, Arizona, I will arrange a party for you. You can hang out with a bunch of geezers for a while. We will crank up the margarita machine in your honor.
L. David Breazeale
Scottsdale, Arizona
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