New in PJ Media:
The stabbing of Salman Rushdie has been the occasion for numerous people around the world to reaffirm their commitment to the freedom of speech, and that’s all to the good. I couldn’t help but notice once again, however, the stark contrast between the response to the attack on Rushdie and the response when Islamic jihadis affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked our event in defense of the freedom of speech in Texas back in 2015. The contrast is indicative of some widespread cultural attitudes.
On May 3, 2015, Pamela Geller and I co-organized a “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest” in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas. We wanted to demonstrate, after the cartoonists of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in France were murdered for drawing Muhammad, that we would not bow to violent intimidation and would defend the freedom of speech at the point at which it was being attacked. Our intention was just that and only that, to stand for the freedom of speech, and the event was a quiet affair. Dutch politician and free speech advocate Geert Wilders spoke, as did the winner of our content, artist Bosch Fawstin, as well as Pamela Geller and myself.
The whole thing had gone off without a hitch, but just moments after it ended, one of the members of the considerable security detail that we had hired burst into the hall. He told us that there had been a shooting outside, and that he had to get the 300-strong crowd, and us, to a safe place. It turned out that two Muslims from Phoenix had driven eight hours to Garland and drawn guns in the parking lot of our event, shooting and injuring one of our guards, whereupon they were shot dead. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Monday, The New York Times approvingly quoted an open letter that Salman Rushdie once signed, “warning that the ‘free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted.’” In the same piece, the Times also approvingly quoted an Iranian-American writer, Roya Hakakian, saying “that the heart of the Rushdie case is ‘being able to say that we, as writers, as novelists, as thinkers, can absolutely take on any issue we want in our works — and that includes Islam.’”
But three days after ISIS jihadis tried to kill us, on May 6, 2015, the Times wasn’t nearly as interested in standing for the principle that anything, even Islam, can be criticized. The Editorial Board claimed that “the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest in Garland, Tex., was not really about free speech. It was an exercise in bigotry and hatred posing as a blow for freedom.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
wpm says
You are alive thanks to your security detail no thanks to the FBI who knew about the terrorist plot and
did nothing about it to stop it as I recall.
Westman says
When one ponders the motive of the FBI, which had a jihadist-groomer presence at the event, to allow the ISIS- linked terrorists to, “Tear up Texas”, attacking the drawing contest attendees, it doesn’t leave any doubt that someone wanted Spencer, Geller, and Wilders deceased.
seabird says
I’ve tried researching the attack in Garland,TX, but find very little info on it.
The best source was a law enforcement publication PoliceOne, that had a detailed account by officer Stevens, a true hero in defending the event.
There are so many unanswered questions involving the attack including;
1. The questionable role of the FBI informer who encouraged the attackers then tried to drive away from the scene.
2. The claim that a Swat Team was positioned out of sight adjacent to the crime scene prior to the attack.
3. The sudden removal from the event by Dutch security of Geert Wilders.
4. The claimed meetings with Officer Stevens 4 times before the event with the FBI.
5. The delay of the Swat Team to intervene during the initial attack until both attackers were “down”, killing at least one of the attackers after he was wounded.
6. The source of the weapons used by the attackers which included assault rifles with 100 round canisters, handguns and enough ammo to kill everyone at the event.
7. The overseas terrorists involved in encouraging the attack-and many other questions.
Since he is such a prolific writer (and a witness of the attack), I wonder if Mr Spencer would consider writing a book on this event (“Tear up Texas”) and while he’s at it, work with a screen writer to produce a script for a film on the attack which would be a riveting and significant movie?
The attack on Mr Rushdie only confirms that, once targeted, never let your guard down.
Don McKellar says
Obama’s politicized FBI is working wonders even today.
livingengine says
Donald Trump has a Sharia Problem –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFBQ0fEveKo&
john smith says
Thanks for this video Livingengine which I did take a great deal of interest in.
From what I could gather all these statements by Trump, and all these events took place before 2016. At this time it seems pretty obvious to me that Trump had absolutely no idea what islam was all about. After 2016 Trump was a changed man when it came islam he was much more well informed. It was during this time he recited the snake poem, he introduced the muslim ban, he also stated “I think isam hates us”, and he also shared anti- muslim videos by Britain’s First. He is now a different Donald Trump when it comes to islam, because now he knows.
somehistory says
As you make clear, John, people can learn. So many out there have no clue and many have others lying to them about what goals mozlums have for the rest of us. It is possible to learn by personal experience, and from the experience of others.
Back before the early 90’s, I had been told some stuff about mozlums….and I had no reference point for knowing otherwise. It was only when their numbers increased in the population around me and I began to see for myself, and hear from some of them directly, that I began to realize they are not just another ‘religion’ or just another ‘ethnic group or culture.’
Bikinis not Burkas says
I live in Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA and the Australian Government refuses to learn, I heard on ABC Radio National that the Australian Immigration Department currently has 200,000 visa applications from Afghanistan.
They allegedly are escaping from the MURDEROUS IDEOLOGY of ISLAM but when they get here they immediately seek out the closest Mosque and the women still wear their hijab so they can continue to be part of the MURDEROUS IDEOLOGY of ISLAM.