Appeasing the schoolyard bully

“The capitulation of Yale University Press to threats that hadn't even been made yet is the latest and perhaps the worst episode in the steady surrender to religious extremism—particularly Muslim religious extremism—that is spreading across our culture.”

So writes Christopher Hitchens in his Monday piece, Yale Surrenders posted on Slade on Monday, in response to Yale University Press’ decision to remove all images of Mohammed, including the Danish cartoons, from a upcoming book specifically about the Danish cartoons. 

And he is absolutely right.  It is one thing to be concerned when threats are issued. It is quite another to deliberately position yourself to a place you won’t have to face being threatened at all, even if it means surrendering your integrity.  It is one thing to deliberately instigate a fight.  It is another to cringe in fear and hide in your locker when you see the schoolyard bully walking down the hallway.

At last, the Islamists have us where they want us; so fearful of retaliation that we do exactly what they want us to do without even being asked.