Catherine MacKinnon meets Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

In an invective filled little book, Only Words, Catherine MacKinnon argued that words can hurt and should be considered assault. (Her primary target was “pornography,” which includes virtually any advertising that shows images of women; pornography that involves sexual contact is, she argues, rape, and should be treated as such.)

Acting on what amounts to the same argument, fanatics claiming to act in the name of Islam have murdered the Dutch film director Theo van Gogh. After all, he had assaulted and tried to murder Islam, so…..

The good news is that some Europeans are starting to wake up and look at the growing problem of fanatical killers in their midst. They face a choice: either accept immigrants as citizens and integrate them into the language, the job market, and the culture of liberal toleration, or exclude them. The “middle way” may be a disaster in the making.

Posted by Tom Palmer at November 6, 2004 8:01 AM