Don't call it Islamofascism

Dafydd ab Hugh has only had his own blog up and running since yesterday, and already I have learned something valuable. As Rush Limbaugh always says, "Words mean things." The word that Dafydd refuses to use is "islamofascism." The whole article, the whole blog in fact, is worth reading, but my favorite part is this:

The word "Islamofascist" is just an example of using Nazi or fascist as an all-purpose intensifier to mean anything bad. It cheapens the historicity of the real fascists. What's next, discussing the Communofascism of North Korea?

But the more important point is that the word "fascism" has a magical power: it overwhelms every other word you connect it to. In the real world, "Islamofascism" transsubstantiates into (islamo)-FASCISM! Kaboom!

The danger we face is Islamism and the willingness to murder hundreds of thousands in the name of jihad. What matters is the religion itself and the militancy by which it's spread -- not some putative connection to Mussolini or Hitler. To understand the jihadi, we need to confront the true source of the danger: the death cult that animates the slayer-of-thousands.

What we don't need is to hide it behind the big, black shadow of a different boogieman, and one that -- unlike Islamism -- doesn't even exist in any signficance anymore. Rather than intensifying our perception of what actually assails us, tacking that silly predicate on the end actually diminishes the intensity, fuzzing up the picture. If we lose focus and forget the real danger, as 9/11 recedes into the past, we will be tempted to just shrug it off and go back to the Clintonian "situation normal, all f---ed up" response.

Good luck, Dafydd. You're sure to have many more readers than I.

Timeless words

I am currently reading "1776" by David McCullough. I have come across two very pithy quotes, both in response to the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island. They apply to all free men at all times, especially now, so I reproduce them here, for posterity.

"We want great men who, when fortune frowns, will not be discouraged."

--Colonel Henry Knox

"Now is the time for every man to exert himself

and make our country glorious or become contemptible."

--George Washington

Can't argue with that.

Just a reminder, while we're talking about human tragedy

Leon H at RedState.org reminds us all of a human catastrophe that goes on "every day and every week of every year for over thirty years". The comments are also illuminating.

Al Franken is a Liar! HUGE Surprise...

Michelle Malkin and Brian Maloney have posted a blistering expose of Franken's involvement in AirAmeriscam. Al Franken comes walking down the street, tell your kid to hide the lollipop.

The Man-Made Disaster is the Welfare State

Hat-tip to Traveler at LGF for a link to this article at The Intellectual Activist

Been gone for awhile. Look what I missed

First a trip to Houston at the end of July followed by three weeks in Ireland and I have not been feeling much like posting. However, I just saw something on LGF that I have to say, defines the liberals and I hope to God that this sentiment remains their face to the world at each and every election, because there's no way they get elected to dog-catcher with this disgusting attitude.

I'm grateful to God that all I have to worry about is $3/gallon gasoline when there are so many fellow Americans suffering and in need. I will be making a donation soon. Almost every right of center blog I have seen has links to various relief agencies. If there are any liberals aiding the effort, I don't know of them.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

(Courtesy of Catholic Online)