Although it is my most abiding political passion, I don’t write as much about the Enlightenment value of freedom of speech as I used to. (I fall into the infotainment trap—and the exhaustion trap—just like everybody else.) So, because I’ve been slacking (or sparing you my loftier thoughts), I haven’t written a lot lately about Ayaan Hirsi Ali, though I used to.
But this Flemming Rose interview with Hirsi Ali (on Rose’s new blog over at Pajamas Media) caught my eye, because explanations of the phenomenon of “Islamist terrorism” don’t get any clearer than this:
Why do you think so many politicians have kept silent in your case?
“Primarily because they still think in terms of the nation state and believe that radical Muslims respect national borders. The groups who were behind the bombings in New York, Madrid, London, the killing of Theo van Gogh and the threats against the Danish cartoonists are of the same kind, though they may have different names. I am talking about people inspired by Islam that use threats and violence and don’t respect any borders. They are willing to kill and die for their faith. Because they are convinced that they will be rewarded in paradise. That’s the kind of thing we are confronted with. And that’s what we have to discuss. Not me as an individual.”
I am struck by the patience, steadfastness, and serenity with which this courageous woman continues to make the case against fanaticism [e.a.]:
“Many people are calling on Muslim dissidents to support Western values, but how can we do this, if we at the same time cannot count on your support and protection? So, the fundamental question is: What is the price of free speech? How much are we willing to pay for it? How strong is the political will to support it? The answers will determine the kind of debate we are going to have in the future, especially about Islam.”
The political will is not strong at all, because we in the West take our freedoms for granted. And we will continue to take them for granted until we feel personally constrained by their absence.
