I decided to buy the paperback edition of Mark Steyn’s soon-to-be-banned-in Canada book, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, upon reading his post on the Corner noting that the introduction to that edition addresses “the Dutch gay-bashing spree.”
Mark is true to his word. On page xiii, he writes, “Gay-bashing is on the rise in the most famously ‘tolerant’ cites in Europe,” with half of the attacks in Amsterdam “committed by men of Moroccan origin.” Dutch researchers try to explain this away with theories of social marginalization and sexual insecurity, i.e., that the attackers are merely closeted gays.
Steyn, however, thinks there’s more to this increase than such politically correct explanations offered by liberal academics.
To be sure, the increase in gay-bashing helps confirm Steyn’s thesis about the perils of excessive tolerance of Muslim minorities in Europe. But, at least he’s talking about it.
Joe Solmonese, president of the largest gay political groups in the country, while ostensibly an advocate of gays, remains all but silent on an issue that Steyn, a leading conservative columnist, has addressed on more than one occasion.
I guess the increase in gay-bashings in Europe just doesn’t help confirm Solmonese’s theories about the need for more government to promote gay “equality.” Although many European nations, including the Netherlands have policies similar to those Joe advocates over here, gay-bashing is on the increase over there.
It would be nice if Joe and his confrères from other gay political outfits would show as much interest in the fates of our fellows in European nations as do conservative pundits.
Let’s see what the top headlines are on the HRC site, shall we?
Human Rights Campaign San Francisco Dinner to Benefit Marriage Equality in California
Oh my! Dinner and cocktails. THAT ought to show their sincerity and that they’re more compassionate than YOU are, Dan. They’re on top of it.
PRESS RELEASE — Human Rights Campaign Endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States
No surprise there. From one “victim” class to another. Hey! Gays have White Guilt too.
Then there’s some crap about the LGBT “Equality” caucus and a smear of McCain. Yep. Same song, different verse. Nothing really.
Why the heck has it taken so long for so many to read America Alone? I count the week lost that I can not read the Steyn take on current events and his column on music.
I’m sure the house lefties will find some way to blame European Islamist violence against gays and Canadian censorship of free speech on the American Christian Right.
Why the heck has it taken so long for so many to read America Alone? I count the week lost that I can not read the Steyn take on current events and his column on music.
So many good books, so little time. I’m finishing up Jared Diamond’s 1998 book “Guns. Germs & Steel” which is absolutely fantastic. I have Steyn’s book on my list to read. I’m slowly catching up…
Joe Solmonese and the HRC only get excited when the issue is abortion-rights. Gay Rights and Gay Marriage are just side-issues that distract from their primary message, “…Send us more money, you stupid fags!” We’ll get to you later…”
Excuse me! I came to this post late but:
1) When did Barack Obama claim to be a victim? It seems to me that the whole mindset of the Right is how misunderstood/threatened/overtaxed/victimized they are.
2) Is it surprising that the focus of an American group is America and not Europe? You’re criticising a car for not flying. As a liberal I am as uneasy as you are at the prospect of an Islamic majority Belgium, e.g. Your notion that American liberals are comfortable with Sharia in Europe (or whatever your fantasy is) is bull.
3) The Right’s assumption of the mantle of American Patriotism is a lie. If that were true, the recent election shows that I belong to the anti-American majority. Stop your “pro-American, anti-American” crap, at least until you’re willing to start talking about Sarah Palin and Alaska Independence Party. How patriotic are they?