Posted on 10/11/2006 8:36:31 PM PDT by AnnaZ
"If Darkness Can Dawn"
Mr. Steyn's columns, to me at least, regardless of the seriousness of their content, have always had a kind of ten-dollar-Sapphire-and-tonic-by-the-pool feel to them, languid and worthy of savoring. America Alone is quite different -- urgent and unrelenting.
One of the many great things about being a dedicated Mark Steyn column connoisseur is the reduced waiting time between fixes -- in an all-the-world's-news-can-be-your-news world, the "one man global content provider" certainly churns them out with a breath-taking rapidity, and whether the publisher is in Canada or Australia, the United States or the United Kingdom, the faithful reader need not be in any of them, yet enjoy the fruits of all. I do not how he possibly managed to still knock out a book, but he has, and consider this reader knocked out too.
The full title of his new book is America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, and the dire tone of the title is more than amply justified on the inside. That's not the good news.
For the groupie like me, there will be a familiar line here, a beloved Steynism there, but overarchingly the result is that the thoughts and observations and ideas behind his columns, fleshed out and full-bodied, are less of a venti-latte companion and more of a call to arms. Don't get me wrong, this is still the same smart and sexy Steyn, he's still funny and charmingly irreverent, but he's seen the writing on the wall, and many others best see it as well. This is the book you buy two copies of, one for yourself, one to hand out or accidentally-leave-on-purpose somewhere. It is, quite simply, that thorough, and that important.
For those who may have read his wake-up-call column, It's The Demography, Stupid, the realizations of that foray have contributed much, it appears, to the birth of this book. As the title of the book suggests, things look nasty and we're on our own. Actually, that's an optimistic way of looking at it, for as the contents suggest, more stands in our way than just a bloodthirsty, implacable enemy.
"September 11, 2001, was not 'the day everything changed,' but the day that revealed how much had already changed." In the years that have followed we have seen even more clearly the face of our enemy, the infiltration of that enemy into the centers of Western culture, and the strength of our stupidest, intractable principles -- the enemy grows, heads fly off, we wring hands and shrink and we blame ourselves for the madness. It isn't shocking that on September 10th few people were losing sleep over Islamic terrorism, what is stunning now is that still too few people are. What has grown is not our resolve, but the list of Muslim grievance agencies and we're too naive or polite to point out who the real victims actually are.
By "we", I mean western civilization, and do not include the "we" that would actually find a website such as this to read this review on. That "we" is the last best hope, it seems, dragging our knuckles to victory, while most of western civ is nanny-stating its way to oblivion. Besides American breeders -- and Utah, take a bow -- the rest of the culture feeders are too busy loving themselves to consider sharing the joy with progeny. If our usual retort to the elitists has been "screw off and die" it had best soon become "screw or die off", and hope they don't take the rest of us down with them.
Apparently, the post-coital end-product, a child, has gone the same way as the post-coital cigarette, up in smoke, not hip, not cool. Let's give us nothing to talk about, or talk over. Or talk to. Nanny-state amenities and afterlife-free secularism have made this all moot -- for the modern man all that matters now is an "eternal present tense".
Just as the nanny-state has given most western nations "annexation by government of most of the core functions of adulthood", America's taking care of Europe's defense has "absolved them of the traditional responsibilities of nationhood." And they insult us for it, and sneer at us, and our own people demand we become more like them (see Jean François Kerry for details).
The ideals “we” uphold, and that President Bush claims we fight for, come across to these types as jingoistic hokisms because, winning on them against the Left before, we never properly defeated the enemy's reputation, nor left any "sense on the Continent that our Big Idea had beaten their Big Idea." As Martin Malia writes in his foreword to The Black Book of Communism, "[a]ny realistic accounting of Communist crime would effectively shut the door on Utopia... [a]nd so all comrade-questers after historical truth should gird their loins for a very Long March indeed before Communism is accorded its fair share of absolute evil." And thus we deal still today with the offshoot of this ideology, and it stands in the way of effectively fighting, and, intentionally or unintentionally, aids a resurgence of, one of the foulest enemies Human Liberty has encountered.
Steyn writes, "The political class and the media seem to serve as mutual reinforcers of their own obsolete illusions," and delusions, too, if you ask me. When it comes to this new (but I mean old) enemy, what, honestly, is there to like? It's not like they see a distinction between the multicultural CAIR-speed dialer at the New York Times and the flag-waving NASCAR follower. We're all infidels, all deserving of death, preferably in hideous ways.
A while back a Democratic Underground denizen posited that he (she? he/she?) was going to get a gun. Dozens of replies followed in sympathy or similarity, they were going to stop the fundies, fight the Republican army, and stymie all of Falwell's followers. Not one reply mentioned the only folks out there that actually really want to kill them all. It was hysterical, yet terrifying in the realization of how extreme these delusions run. Not one mention of Islamists. Not one.
By the way, these are the folks supporting the opposition in the upcoming elections. They take after their European counterparts, those who demand, in media, for example, "public interest criteria... code-speak for a kind of easy listening tyranny." Ban “Swift Boat” ads, stop “The Path to /11”, it's a religion of peace, equal time, EQUAL TIME!!! As Mr. Steyn writes, "there's very little difference between living under Exquisitely Refined Multicultural Sensitivity and sharia." Well, 'til the heads come off, of course, as they are wont to do under the latter.
And what about that enemy? As Steyn so eloquently points out, "[i]n our time, even the most fascistic ideologies have been canny enough to cover their darker impulses in bathetic labels." These guys don't bother with such sophistries. They say they want to kill us, and by gum, they do! Maybe these silly leftists are so used to lying they can't even recognize the truth when it's handed to them stark and plain.
But to those who can see, the time to act is now. These are not "dervishes" and "brigands" in faraway places, this is "state-of-the-art-primitive" -- clitorectomies and ATM cards, beheadings and cell phones, camel rides and 747s (one way, please). They're as close as the nearest runway, as ubiquitous as the next interfaith meeting. (Good God, can you stand hearing about another interfaith meeting?!)
Regardless, as Mr. Steyn points out, and which you'll need to read it all to learn, there are options, there is slim hope. So buckle up, boys and girls, the ride will be bumpy, but the journey is unavoidable. Not simply because our survival depends upon it, but because that which is in us that is noble demands it.
Oh, goodness, can you imagine? It'd take much more than a dress and a hairstylist. (Frankly, I've been rather embarrassed for her... what a silly move, what a failure of comparison. What a nut.)
Yes Anna, it 'tis stark, if not (rapidly) approaching "bleak".
Yet there's a paradox surrounding our predicament, also. A form of insanity, even. Permit me to explain.
Starting with the next paragraph will work nicely.
"But to those who can see, the time to act is now." AnnaZ
If this website's a measure, know what happens to "those who can see" these days, Anna?
I really (really) hate to say it Anna, but the Liberal-Socialists could do no worse to those of our side "who can see" than those of our side have done to each other.
They really couldn't. ;^)
"These are not "dervishes" and "brigands" in faraway places, this is "state-of-the-art-primitive" -- clitorectomies and ATM cards, beheadings and cell phones, camel rides and 747s (one way, please). They're as close as the nearest runway, as ubiquitous as the next interfaith meeting. (Good God, can you stand hearing about another interfaith meeting?!)" AnnaZ
That paragraph could get the abuse button pushed on you, Doll. I've seen damned good patriots get "the treatment" -- ala *zot* -- for a lot less.
Point is the language is lost, even here at FR.
Seems as the language slipped away slowly and surely the loss scrambled conviction(s), narrowed what defined [us], and for what?
A conservatively PC induced security that in-fact left all more helplessness than they ever were?
I dunno, you tell me.
Seems the only other thing to do in the absence of ideological agreement for attaining a personal sense of security is to practice something that only grants an illusion of control/security.
Cannibalism.
And, so it is.
"We need to buoy those in power that get it, and defang those who do not. I hopped onto the book for a little rollicking, and instead was handed a mandate. The time is now." AnnaZ
Cannibalism of our own is so rampant these days the repulsive behavior's actually taken for granted, become a fundamental part of an "offense", a reflex response & rarely even noticed anymore for the danger it is.
What does cannibalism really do: takes out our own fighters.
Yea.
If and/or when the fight ever does commence who'll be left to do any of the actual *fighting*?
Of course the answer to that is always learned after the fact, after it's too late, seen clearly in hindsight.
Always.
"Regardless, as Mr. Steyn points out...there are options, there is slim hope. So buckle up, boys and girls, the ride will be bumpy, but the journey is unavoidable. Not simply because our survival depends upon it, but because that which is in us that is noble demands it."
So very true.
Explains why of all the writers this place has served as a forum (~especially the gals) over the years?
You Anna easy rank #1 in my book, hands-down. Can almost see you standing on a staircase looking back over your shoulder as you speak your words.
Write that book, Anna.
If it has to come down to a fight, a bloody last-man-standing fight with the Islamofascists, and if it cannot begin today ,then let it begin tomorrow.
I for one will not live in fear, am sick to death of the threat(s) and if the threat of nuclear annihilation by Ruskie nukes didn't intimidate me, then a pile of backward savages sure the hell won't.
Whatta wonderful sight it is waking up to a ping by you, thanks. (Too) long time, no see.
FWIW I enjoy Steyn's work (from time to time) but I prefer yours, so give 'em hell Lady. ;^)
Just be careful insoding not to, ummmm lose your head? {g}
... -BTTT-
Hint, hint.
Thanks for the ping, Anna. Treat yourself to some Rudy's today -- You've earned it.
It will be interesting to see what happens, and I don't think you're too far off. The clowning around by these loons has gone on far too long... however I can already hear the detractors' howling.
Best,
Well, I moved to Austin, which plenty of Texas FReepers will tell you isn't really Texas (but it's surrounded by it!). I absolutely love it... simply the best city I have ever lived in.
Tell me about it. Never a dull moment...
This one was definitely worth the time.
Doin' well, pal. My legs work now, so - can't complain. Stay safe and well - it's gonna get loud soon..............FRegards
Will books/articles of this nature make it across the "great divide"? That is, will those on the left and a growing number of appeasers on the right be moved to greater introspection? I mean after all, when a group declares war on us and our way of life, shouldn't we actually do something besides praise the foundation from whence it springs??? ROP my arse!
I always wondered what would happen if we said we wouldn't get involved if any european countries went after each other.
You think France doesn't attack Germany because they're afraid of the Germans?
No they don't because they know we will come after them.
Gotta get it.
I had the impression that Austin was a bit too yuppie for most real Texans ... but a damn fine city.
Isn't Austin a tad liberal - though I guess that depends on whether you are comparing it to Berkeley or to Lubbock?
I'll probably end up looking for a place that is 40 minutes outside of either Austin or Fort Worth. Close enough to commute to a job if I have to, but cheaper and less densely populated.
So long as I can get a good internet connection, I should be good to go.
Thanks.
In life, there is soap.
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