Actually, he takes on the authors of books that inspire extremism. He notes that while these right wing authors are not responsible for the actions of a Anders Breivik, they do spread deliberate myths about whole groups of people, stirring fear in the susceptible – and perhaps inspiring a sociopathic fringe to violence.
Books by Bruce Bawer (the American author of Surrender and While Europe Slept), Mark Steyn (the Canadian author of America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It), Robert Spencer (the American author of Stealth Jihad) and Melanie Phillips (the British author of Londonistan) made up big chunks of Mr. Breivik’s manifesto, as did the writings and speeches of Geert Wilders, the Dutch activist-politician.
These works share common traits: a characterization of an entire people as unassimilable and capable of violence; a suggestion that there’s a religion-wide conspiracy to take over the West; and a warning that the “Islamization” of our countries is imminent unless something’s done.
There’s an urgent tone to these works. “We have been shirking too long,” Mr. Steyn writes, “and that’s unworthy of a great civilization. To see off the new Dark Ages will be tough and demanding. The alternative will be worse.” How were we meant to interpret those words?
H/T: @kady
