It's funny how the Left constantly complains about the Bush administration's suppression of dissent and narrowing of our civil liberties, but it's solely leftists who have placed any restraints on our Constitutional rights (political correctness and McCain-Feingold). Jonah Goldberg discusses how the Western pathology of self-flagellation is allowing and encouraging Muslims to continue to threaten us into self-censorship.

Whether it's the pope's comments or some Danish cartoons, self-appointed spokesmen for the Islamic street say, "You have offended a billion Muslims," which really means, "There are so many of us, you should watch out." And if you didn't get the message, just look around for the burning embassies and murdered infidels. They're not hard to find.

In response, the West apologizes and apologizes. Radical Muslims, who are not stupid, take note and become emboldened by these displays of weakness and capitulation. And the next time, they demand two pounds of flesh. Meanwhile, the entire global conversation starts from the assumption that the West is doing something wrong by tolerating freedom of speech, among other things.

This week, French President Jacques Chirac explained that everyone in the West must avoid everything that sparks tensions. In other words, we must forever be held hostage by the tactical outrage of a global mob.

The word Islam means "submission," and Muslims clearly take it very seriously. It's too bad that so many in the West who proclaim to stand for egalitarian freedom when it comes to abortion or gay marriage or secular government are silent when the right to express an opinion is under assault by mysogynistic madmen who would ban abortion, execute gays and violently impose religion on all.

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