DINESH D. Souza, a conservative author, in his opinion editorial column in the Marianas Variety – Guam Edition, Jan 30, 2007 off the Washington Post, makes the point that it is the American left and its cultural liberal roots that emboldens radical Islamists to attack the United States such as the one that occurred on 9/11.
First, the left unlike the right, has no interest in ‘liberalizing’ the Muslim world. That is already occurring with neo-liberal economic policies promoted by the neo-conservative right and with it American jobs for quick profits (hence the rise in corporate tax revenues).
Second, most Muslims are traditional, not radical and despite their tradition, desire to taste the freedoms the West, and the East, have to offer. For example, what did Afghan men, long told what to do—how many times to pray —pushed and prodded to “straighten up and fly straight,” like how some Republicans act here, do after the Taliban fell in November of 2001? They shaved their beards and started listening to Indian music and watch Bollywood – which does not emulate Hollywood – starlets in action. Keep in mind, they were not jumping to see Britney Spears or Paris Hilton do their thing, whatever that is.
So it is not the “decadent” West, particularly America that is to blame for the thirst, if you will, for freedom to do as they please. And they are not all going to turn effeminate and perform aborts as they are a mostly conservative crowd in general.
Mr. D. Souza, like most of the arch conservative base, always look for ways to blame the United States, and if they can get away with it, Democrats and the cultural left for evil men’s machinations. For example, if the U.S. loses the war on terrorism, it is not George W. Bush’s policies that the liberals fault, is their PREEMPTIVE premise.

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam