Quislings and Dhimmis

The Principled Courage of the Australian National University

I M Fletcher, over at NZ Conservative, has a piece documenting the double standard that applies throughout the West when it comes to Islam--particularly amongst the Commentariat and the complicit media.  The piece is entitled, Islam and the Fear of Offending.

One instance cited by I M Fletcher was the Australian National University forcing a student newspaper to retract an article which sent Islam for a long walk up Satirical Street.  The rich irony is that the piece was indiscriminate: it also sent up Roman Catholicism, Scientology, Judaism, and Mormonism.  (One presumes that it was a piece written from the perspective of atheistic secular materialism).

What is most startling is firstly that the ANU forced the withdrawal of the piece on Islam (but not the other religions) and secondly, the justification offered: the piece on Islam risked offended Muslims (apparently).  So why is Muslim offence getting special consideration from the censors?

Administrators claimed the piece of satire violated the university code of conduct. [Apparently the code does not apply with respect to the other religions mocked, Ed]  They also feared it could inflame radical Muslims.  “In a world of social media, [there is] potential for material such as the article in question to gain attention and traction in the broader world and potentially harm the interests of the university and the university community,” said a statement from the Chancelry of the university.

There is a word for this.  It is cowardice.  The intimidation of Islamic activists is working.  The ANU, for one,  is proving to be spineless: compliant and submissive in the face of violence, hate, murder, and standover thuggery.  We can think of few attitudes which would more harm to the interests of the university and its community than that.  They have proved to the watching world that terrorism is an effective technique: it works.  At least amongst Quislings.

Thus departs the Australian National University from the West's historical commitment to liberty and free speech. Surely we have become men without chests, as C. S. Lewis prophesied in The Abolition of Man.