On August 19, 2022 at 3:56 pm, Eric Dale wrote:
Long live the Laura Rosen Cohen revolution at the Mark Steyn Club! Long may you reign in the Friday Q&A!
What are your thoughts on the possibility that the anti terrorism legislation of the post 9/11 era will or are being weaponized against political opposition to the political elites of today? If you would have equated the FBI with the stasi, the gestapo, or KGB a few years ago, I would have dismissed it as a campus radical missing from his college habitat. Now it seems those fringe figures have been right the whole time. Do you foresee any country in the west having the will to dismantle its rogue security state?
On August 19, 2022 at 3:57 pm, Chris Hall wrote:
Hi Laura,
I've been rewatching the Kenneth Clark BBC series "Civilisation" that aired many years ago. There are many wonderful points that he made that resonate today, especially issues concerning the confidence that western civilisation had when it rose to dominate the world. One observation that has always stuck with me was Clark's statement that the Dutch were the first to ask the question "Does it work?" or "Does it pay?", rather than "Is it the will of God?".
We now seem to have reverted to a manner of thinking that predates the Enlightenment, but the God of today cannot be found in the Bible or the Torah. It is instead the mantle of Sciency Science worn by the Goddess Gaia, and her prophets are the priests of Science and the elites. As a scientist myself, I'm very uncomfortable with the near religious tones that have infected an otherwise very practical and useful endeavor. Any thoughts on getting back to a more healthy skeptical view of Science? I think that combining useful Science with realistic views on wealth creation may be the only way we can avoid a collapse of our economy and the beginning of a new Dark Age.
On August 19, 2022 at 3:58 pm, Jamie wrote:
As a Jew and a lover of free speech, what do you make of the tendency for Jewish groups to come out in favour of censorship and "hate speech" restrictions so frequently? This seems particularly acute in Canada.
On August 19, 2022 at 4:00 pm, Scott Schertzer wrote:
Dear Laura,
As a Jew of Conservative persuasion i often feel like a total outsider. Nearly all of my fellow co-religionists see the world 180 degrees differently than i do. While i do not belong to a synagogue and am far from a strict follwer of ritual, i believe deeply in the main aspects of the Old Testament.
Why do you think most Jews (with the exception of the Orthodox community) belong to the left on the political spectrum? Is this also the case in Canada?
Sincerely,
Scott Schertzer
Miami Beach
On August 19, 2022 at 4:05 pm, Todd Hynes wrote:
Hi Laura,
Yesterday's Links left me rummaging for my dear deceased grandmother's well-worn Novenas to St. Jude (the patron Saint of lost and desperate causes).
But thankfully, I then watched the Mark Steyn Show and a glimmer of optimism returned. If there's a path out of this, and that's a huge IF, might that path run through our youth and a misplayed hand on the part of the progressive movement? Neil Oliver referenced it on last night's Show, with a thesis that the WEF/totalitarian folks may have made a fatal calculation error... that while they may believe their trap has been perfectly set, there is a flaw in their calculus. Then Toby Young suggested that many 14/15/16 year-olds are in fact running from the conventional thinking of today.
Is there something to this? Has the long march through the institutions merely created a situation where the rebels have become the Establishment and are destined to fall? For generations now, the progressive movement has been able to activate millions of youth with a message of taking it to "The Man", "the Establishment". But today that movement has become the Establishment. We already know that, in general, youth are naturally inclined to challenge their parents, teachers, and institutions and that a blind appeal to Authority is exactly the wrong approach when seeking compliance and agreement. And could it be that in addition to this natural resistance to authority, today's youth increasingly recognize what this new Establishment is offering... a future where they cannot speak, move, and associate freely and where they will "have nothing and be happy"? In essence, with all that's been happening at an ever more frenetic pace, might enough of them be finally seeing that the road they're on is, in fact, a road to serfdom?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:09 pm, Suzanne Reny wrote:
Really glad to hear your voice, Laura! Shabbat shalom to you! Thank you for your weekly column, which many of us look forward to every Thursday. No actual question for you, just appreciation! Best to you and your family.
On August 19, 2022 at 4:13 pm, Fran Lavery wrote:
Hi Laura,
I always wondered how you met Kathy Shaidle and Mark Steyn. Can you share the stories behind these connections. Also, when you're not preparing your amazing Laura Links and caring for your precious family and just having downtime, do you have any favorite pastimes or authors you love. It's wonderful to hear your voice!
Best,
Fran
On August 19, 2022 at 4:18 pm, Kelton wrote:
Hello Mark. I believe we are entering a period of time that will be marked by Islamic violence, much like in the years 2015 or 2016. My question to you is do you believe that far worse is to come compared to those years? Given the events between the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan and the stabbing of Rushdie, it feels like we have been here before, and that history will continue to repeat. The influx of migrants crossing the English channel reminds me of Syrian refugees pouring across Europe.
As an aside, the media refrain that Rushdie's would-be assassin has no connection to Iran is frustrating. Whether there is a direct connection to Iran doesn't matter when a scimitar is being plunged through your body. Even that refrain is somewhat familiar, as you may recall the Boston, San Bernardino and Orlando terrorists were all "home grown" if I remember correctly.
On August 19, 2022 at 4:18 pm, Kelton wrote:
My apologies for misidentifying today's host. Goodness me!
On August 19, 2022 at 4:22 pm, AJ wrote:
Laura, do you think the crazy wokism you so dutifully and diligently chronicle in your links is one end of a pendulum that will swing back to sanity or is it a stage in a spectrum that will keep getting worse?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:26 pm, AndyB wrote:
It is nearly 75yrs since the Nuremberg Military Tribunals and the Nuremberg Codes , a corner stone of our Human Rights. Over the past 2yrs, all the codes have been breached globally by Western leaders mandating experimental injections & the EU Leader openly stating that the codes should be abolished. Are we witnessing history repeating itself?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:33 pm, JON FACCI wrote:
Why won't Queen Elizabeth II champion the well being of the young girls of Great Britain? Has she ultimately failed her Church and her people? Could her reign be so tragic that there will be no one left to write of it except the victorious Caliphate? Her Majesty allegedly mortgaged her sister's happiness to protect her integrity has the Head of the Church of England only to surrender it and her homeland to invading forces and meddling European "Allies" like France and Germany. Her willful blindness echoes Harold II and the Bayeux Tapestry. I have great respect for the Queen, but I can't ignore the legacy of her Jubillee.
On August 19, 2022 at 4:39 pm, Tom Lewis wrote:
Laura, do you have an opinion on events in Hungary and the upside & downside of Victor Orban?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:41 pm, Robert Fox wrote:
Laura, love hearing your voice. You sound like such a nice, gentle woman but write like someone not to be trifled with. One of Mark's columns from 1 year ago following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan talks about the strong horse-weak horse maxim. Do you think the younger generations in the West look at groups like BLM and antifa as strong horses against the backdrop of political leaders looking like weak horses? During the summer of George Floyd the vast majority of BLM protestors appeared to be white suburbanites. Are the youth of today longing for the strong horse?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:43 pm, Gregory Laughton wrote:
I attended the Stratford Festival for many many years until it went full woke. So what's happened to the arts in Canada? Don't think I'll be crossing the border for a while ...
On August 19, 2022 at 4:48 pm, George wrote:
Hello Laura, as a Christian in Canada, I can confirm that the problem of non-religious "cultural" Jews does have a parallel within Christianity. This is especially true among those who claim a "heritage" in and identify as members of the United Church of Canada. With a few exceptions here and there most of those congregations are led by clergy who have bought into "progressivism" and "wokeness". Many of them view the Bible as a collection of myths and stories put together by dead white males, but not in any way as revealed truth. I've been long retired as a minister but am still invited to speak in congregations that are starving for a rich biblically grounded diet. On the positive side, a few years ago my daughter, an only child embraced Jewish faith and married a religious Orthodox Jew. They have blessed me with four wonderful grandchildren. I am also discovering through ancestry and DNA research that I have 80 percent or more European Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. G_d does have a sense of humour. Shabbat Shalom!
On August 19, 2022 at 4:53 pm, Penns Woods wrote:
Laura have you seen the welcome provided by Christine Anderson, EU German parliament member on or about March 24, 2022. This is so perfect a rebuke of your PM. I know Canadians, I've lived there. How is this possible?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:54 pm, Drew Weber wrote:
Hello Laura,
Some headlines serve to signal the absurdity of our times. "Doug Emhoff's Motorcade Blocking Handicap Spots". Who the heck is Mr Emhoff? Oh ... he is the husband of the Vice President. And, he has a motorcade? Even with his esteemed title of "second spouse", I suspect he is no less safe than the average city dweller, but he is lavished with a security detail. As our political class is insulated from normal lives, the dysfunction of our politics is no mystery.
On August 19, 2022 at 4:55 pm, Nicola Timmerman wrote:
I see they are going to make a prequel to Lord of the Rings with black elves. Tolkien base his stories on the British Iles and Celtics and Norse legends. What do you think of this? No transgender elves?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:56 pm, Not Mohammad wrote:
I notice you find stories of Islamic radicalism and would-be jihadis in your weekly column, but as someone who has been a Steyn fan since America Alone, I notice even the right today rarely pays attention to Islamism. Do you think this is a problem, or are the woke jihadis and ChiComms simply bigger nemeses to freedom these days?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:58 pm, eaglepatriotminuteman1776 wrote:
Dear Mr. Steyn,
Is there any chance of you reading one of the Flashman memoirs for Tales for Our Time? I think Flashman at the Charge, Flash for Freedom, Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, and Flashman and the Dragon are especially fitting for our current times.
I would love to hear you voice all the different characters, especially John Charity Spring. What a name for such a lunatic!
Respectfully,
William in Texas (formerly Kiev)
On August 19, 2022 at 4:58 pm, Nicola Timmerman wrote:
With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up I find the future closing of the 9/11 memorial museum apparently in Greenwitch NYC so appalling. I seem to remember visiting it on Liberty Street which address attracted more visitors. Any idea why they moved?
On August 19, 2022 at 4:58 pm, JON FACCI wrote:
Hey mark,
Is anyone really Woke or is it just parasites of weak character who chose to be submissive lap dogs to the White Supremacists of the World Economic Forum? Is there truly anyone passionate about this cause or is it a purposeful irritant. To me it feels like a purposeful irritant with no goal except arbitrary tyranny. I expect Red China can bribe cowardly leaders of nations and industry to undermine their nations and cultures But this has the feel of Emerald City and a thin veil of the power of suggestion. Outside of Peking, where is the true passion for our demise?
