Tolerating Intolerance

Irshad Manji applauds British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision not only to kick radical Muslims out of the country but to take on the Left's tolerance of hate in the name of multiculturalism.

Says Manji, "As Westerners bow down before multiculturalism, we anesthetize ourselves into believing that anything goes. We see our readiness to accommodate as a strength - even a form of cultural superiority (though few will admit that). Radical Muslims, on the other hand, see our inclusive instincts as a form of corruption that makes us soft and rudderless. They believe the weak deserve to be vanquished."

Perhaps Manji has a point. Maybe it is time to review our tolerance of hateful cultures when radical Muslims like Mohammed Atta feel free to walk into government offices to request a loan to make their attacks on America. Perhaps the government should have taken an intolerant tone when Atta threatened to cut the throat of the government loan officer and steal the money or when he asked to buy the aerial photo of Washington in her office or when he asked how she would feel if the World Trade Center were destroyed or told her Osama Bin Laden would be the world's greatest leader. Perhaps, just perhaps, we should wake up and oppose murderous Muslim bigotry rather than simply accept it.