" ... Seraphic Secret has long maintained that the war on terror is being fought on multiple fronts: military, propaganda, and judicial. Perhaps one of the most dangerous developments is the use by Muslims of Western courts to further the cause of jihad ... "

hopefully this will improve after the Savage case goes to trial

Thanks for the shout-out. :)

I have to say that it has been really cool to see how people respond. Very fun/rewarding.

Gila

Exdem:

Let's hope that the trial turns out in Steyn's benefit. If not, it will be very bad, not just for Steyn — but for Western civilization.

Gila:

You're very welcome. Kol Tuv.

Robert,

You posted:
Israel Matzav comments in-depth about the problem of free speech in Israel. And as Seraphic Secret has noted, it's only the right who are under attack. Olmert's enablers on the left are untouchable. H/T Seraphic Brother-in-Law, Rabbi David Singer.

However, the law being proposed that would go after blog comments was introduced by Yisrael Beiteinu, Lieberman's A RIGHT WING PARTY It has right and left support.....

It's not just the left that wants to squelch freedom of speech...Other right-wing and Haredi parties would take free speech away so fast, it would make heads spin.

Note however, these proposals come from former Soviets and others who dont take free speech for granted.

However, believe it or not, I knew olim who were very happy with some of these developments, since they had an animus for their former homes....especially if they immigrated from the west.

If Israel travels down this slippery slope, then we are in for very tough times.

I am going to ditto what Lance said. The threat to free speech is not a left-wing exclusive. The right wing/ Haredi parties are equally bad, if not worse.

I can deal with the terrorists. I can deal with the reduction in economic opportunity. I can deal with the Iran threat. I can deal with Hezbollah and the threat (and my own acceptance) that one of these days, the bombs are going to be falling on Tel Aviv. No problem--I will stick it out. But the day that one of the religious parties actually takes control of the government...I will be out of her like a bat out of hell. They really do frighten me.

Gila

Gila,

I'm a religious Jew...
Best described as Modern Orthodox...

And I couldn't agree with you more!!

It would be an utter disaster for a haredi party to be in control.

Religion and politics do not mix.

We went through this in our last exchange. They are elected by their constituents, they exist for this purpose. Their participation in the Israeli government - to which they are ideologically opposed - is for this reason only; to get their fair share of resources. If you don't get that, then you know zero about them or their history.

It also be said that the parochialism of the Charedi parties and of Shas is in no small part due to the decades in which the ruling parties ignored their concerns, and cut them out of the economic pie. Sephardim and charedim feel disenfranchised because they were and are disenfranchised and excluded by the establishment. It therefore should ocme as no surprise that they now use their power to better themselves. The government now reaps what it sowed.

I'll go you one better. I'm a charedi and I wouldn't want the charedi parties in control. But not to worry. It's not happening in this lifetime, unless Moshiach arrives.

Lance:

Thanks so much for the correction. I do have a question and this is not rhetorical. Of all the political arrests during Olmert's term in office, how many have been of leftists? I mean, the women in black who harass IDF soldiers at check-points, do they ever get arrested? I really don't know.

There have actually been a number of very well-publicized cases of left-wing activists being severely beaten during protests.

On the flip side, there have been a number of well-publicized cases of right-wing activists/ settlers engaging in abuse of soldiers and/or Palestineans--which does little to improve our standing, to put it mildly. The average Israeli will tell you that the government does little or nothing to deal with this.

In summary--mean people suck.

People who are radical (right or left) to the point of actually being able to justify going out of their way to hurt another, are mean.

Gila

Gila:

Thanks so much for the articulate and passionate reply. I'm actually asking a more narrow question. I'm asking if any leftists have been arrested for passing out pamphlets the way right wing dissidents have recently been arrested.

Again, I really have no idea and I'd like to know.

Robert,

To my recollection many of the arrests and harrassments I have read or known about do occur to people of a rightest persuation.

That's why I am perplexed as to why the right would support something that would be used as a weapon against them.

I would hope the right, when it eventually returns to power, would not try to get even with the left...even though it would be really tempting to them.

Canada: Freedom of Speech succumbing to Kangaroo Courts of the Human Rights Commission

Proceedings against Ezra Levant are nothing short of ridiculous, but let's consider the implications for moderate Muslims. This "investigation" will further divide Muslims and non-Muslims in Canada. It will give credence to radicals' claims that the West is at war with Islam. It will antagonize non-Muslims and moderate Muslims will be pushed towards radicalization. Regardless of the outcome, once again Islamists skillfully manipulated Dhimmi justice system and came out as clear winners. Thank you, Human Right Commission!

Muslims Against Sharia are proud to be the first Muslim group to publicly support Ezra Levant and denounce HRC inquisition
http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/01/canada-freedom-of-speech-succumbing-to.html

Sign Free Dominion Against the HRCs Petition
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/a-free-dominion-against-the-hrcs.html

Muslims Against Sharia:

Good to hear from you again. Greatly applaud and appreciate your courageous work to battle the jihadists.

Thanks so much for the links.

Keep us informed of your important work.