Blogger Norman Geras on the aftermath of the election:

“Liberals and leftists should stop wailing and ask themselves some tough questions: first and foremost, where they themselves might have gone wrong (so many of them), repeatedly wrong, in their alignment within international conflicts - and why. You lose a democratic battle, you fight on, that's all. You make the argument again or differently. You look to see whether there are mistakes, misconceptions, bad assumptions, bad practices, on your own side. You try to persuade people. You show some elementary civic respect to those on the other side.”

Good advice, I think. Read the whole thing.

The heart-breaking, horrifying slaughter of Theo van Gogh by Islamic extremists in Holland was a story that rather got lost in the midst of the election drama over here. It shouldn’t have done.

Now comes the tale (via the Live from Brussels blog) of what happened when Rotterdam artist Chris Ripke reacted to the killing by painting a mural that included the words "Gij zult niet doden" ("Thou Shalt Not Kill"). Fair comment, you might think. Apparently not. The head of the nearby mosque complained to the police that this text was 'offensive' and 'racist'. As a result, the police came and sent in city workers to sandblast this inconvenient text into oblivion.

“Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Erased, obliterated, unacceptable.

Much like Theo van Gogh.

From another reader:

Your correspondent is being silly. Brooks isn't saying that lefties would be morally superior had their opponents beaten them on an anti-gay-marriage agenda. He's saying that they would FEEL morally superior, by their own definitions of "moral" and "superior". When your moral code elevates gratification of self over the integrity of the institution of marriage, and an absolutist conception of "choice" over the right to life of unborn children, you can feel "morally superior" without being so. And someone else can acknowledge your conceit without validating it.

An interestingly different take, from a reader:

Brooks' column contains a pernicious underlying assumption: He implies that, if it were true that Republican votes were largely motivated by values such as gay marriage and abortion, then the liberals would be correct in feeling morally superior. Brooks cites Pew Research findings that (fortunately) indicate that this was not the case. Republicans were chiefly supporting Bush because he has made them feel safer. But what if it turns out that Pew is wrong, and that many Republicans were indeed voting socially conservative values. Why does Brooks concede to the liberals that these voters would then be morally inferior? What is wrong with wishing to preserve traditional marriage and to oppose abortion? Brooks doesn't say; he simply accepts at face value the idea that such views would say something distasteful about Republicans. I am concerned that Brooks undermines the conservative movement with such assumptions.

A press release from Centcom on what the "insurgents" are up to. Let's see how much the media plays it up:

November 5, 2004 Release Number: 04-11-12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INSURGENTS TARGET CHILDREN OF RAMADI

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – An Army unit assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force, discovered and defused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi Nov. 4, which was rigged by insurgents to detonate and potentially kill dozens of Iraqi children. They also discovered more than two tons of explosives hidden in a mosque.

The discoveries were made during a sweep of the city looking for improvised explosive devices.

After a thorough investigation of the youth center, the Soldiers discovered that the explosives were rigged to detonate three ways: through a light switch, a remote control and by wiring that ran from the youth center to the nearby Al-Haq Mosque, where the unit discovered the firing mechanism.

At another mosque, a search yielded the discovery of more than two tons of ammunition, explosives, mortar systems and RPGs. Artillery rounds; assault rifles and various IED-making materials were found, as well. Fifty suspected insurgents were also detained during the sweep.

Mosques are granted protective status due to their religious and cultural significance. However, when insurgents violate the sanctity of the mosque by using the structure for military purposes, the site loses its protective status.

Great care is taken by the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force, who are committed to assisting Iraqi Interim Government in providing security to Iraqi people.

Quite a few folks have been asking me about the case of Elizabeth Nickson. She's a Canadian columnist for the National Post who was fired for allegedly plagiarizing a column of mine. These are the details, according to the Globe and Mail. I really don't know anything more than what appears in this article. I was notified by a reader a couple months ago about the plagiarism, but to be honest I never followed-up on it because I was so busy at the time and then I just plum forgot. I trust the editors of the National Post did what they think was right and as far as I'm concerned that's the end of the whole thing.