Infinite Monkeys

What the heck is Hugh Thinking?

Hugh's a political animal, all the way through. Nixonian, ex-Monkey Ben once called him, and it's true.

I believe he is calculating that The War on Terror must not be seen as a religious war. Because there's a hell of a lot of muslims, and we don't want to drive the ones on the fence into the Bid Laden camp.

This is mistaken for several reasons. First, I think most of those inclined to go become radical revolutionaries have already done so, or will do so anyway.

Second, this is an issue of principle. I mean, did we surrender when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?! No! And this really is a critical free expression issue (not a First Amendment issue, by the way, though governments in other countries are suppressing this expression). And free expression is critical to a free society, which in turn is critical to...everything.

But, last, on a pure political calculation, Hugh's smokin the crazy weed. This is precisely the kind of issue that gets the fence sitters--especially the fence sitters in the West--to have to take a stand. Rushdie showed this too, and this one is even better, because you don't have to read that damn long book (and people who heard the title thought that maybe, just maybe, it was a bit much--but cartoons? Kid stuff!).

Flood the zone, be Spartucus, and those who are weasels, those who go wobbly and show cowardice in the defense of liberty and moderation in the pursuit of justice will rue, yes rue! the day that they stood by. They shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Groundhog's Day!

Posted by David at February 3, 2006 03:42 PM