Originally published by Cory Bernardi more than three years ago, this article is just as relevant today as it was then. The cultural and political dynamics it highlights have only intensified, making its warning about the erosion of freedom all the more compelling.
The age of intolerance is upon us.
That might be alright if we didn't tolerate the intolerant, but we do. As such, they are using our own acceptance to undermine the very freedoms we are trying to uphold.
It's the societal equivalent of giving our executioner the rope with which to fashion a noose.
We see it in all spheres of life from education to industry, families to foreign policy.
As we have abandoned defence of our traditions, the cultural termites are busy destroying the house wisdom and experience have built.
It's dangerous and will ultimately prove our undoing but the stupidity attached to the new realm is quite something to behold.
That foolishness is readily observable but sometimes you hear about something that makes you weep for the collective wisdom of humanity.
One particular piece of stupidity occurred in England (in 2013).
Four high school students were suspended from school for, according to one outraged local councillor 'desecrating a Quran'.
The school described it as 'failing to treat the Quran with the respect it deserves'.
Quite who should be the arbiter of how much respect should be given to the Quran is anyone's guess.
Having done a lot of delving into the Islamic text, the ideology doesn't do anything for me. That doesn't mean it should be burnt or banned but forcing anyone to respect a book is a little odd.
That said, we've seen what happens when some adherents to the religion of peace feel their holy book has been disrespected or their guru's image shown. It often results in violence and mayhem with gormless politicians then scrambling to apologise for any offence.
Do you remember the Charlie Hebdo murders, supposedly prompted by a couple of satirical magazine covers?
There have also been violent protests by muslims in many other countries in defence of their traditions.
This has ultimately resulted in a Western Quranic protection racket that the Iranian Mullah's would be proud of.
Which brings me back to the UK school. After the 'damage', the headmaster met with local Muslim leaders to reassure them all was ok. Then the police were brought in to 'liaise with the school' over this 'serious incident'.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that the Quran was used to fire up a pork BBQ to provoke such a response.
It appears it wasn't quite as bad as that.
According to the BBC report 'some pages were smudged with dirt'.
Even though the school admitted that there was no malicious intent by the students it suspended them anyway.
"... we have made it very clear that their actions did not treat the Quran with the respect it should have, so those involved have been suspended and we will be working with them to ensure they understand why their actions were unacceptable.
Can you imagine if these children had smudged the pages in a Bible? Do you really think police would have been called and the students suspended?
Neither do I. It begs the question, why the different treatment?
It comes back to my original thesis. The West doesn't defend their traditions and is now so scared of causing offence to those who do, our tolerance is being used to silence us.
That's not to say I think we should react in the same violent manner as some others when faced with cultural challenges.
It's just that we should never tolerate anything that goes against our understanding of what freedom means.
Thought for the Day
“In each case civilisation is confronted with militant Mahommedanism. The forces of progress clash with those of reaction. The religion of blood and war is face to face with that of peace.” – Winston Churchill
Cory Bernardi is the author of seven books and has been a member of the Australian rowing team, a publican, an investment portfolio manager and spent nearly 14 years as an Australian Senator.
