My most recent posting on "That Notorious Buckley AIDS Column" produced a torrential response, including some wild attacks on me threatening to beat me up and even sue me if I didn't take the post down. My intention was to keep the post up for a day or so, but when I saw this response, I decided to let it stay up through the weekend. Some of my critics are real goons, and it's important to teach these thugs a lesson in free speech.
Besides, what were they getting so hysterical about? I got the idea for the post by reading responses to my Buckley eulogy on the occasion of his death. All I did was tell the full story about the famou Buckley AIDS column, reporting how it came about, what the reaction was, and giving an accurate account of a subsequent National Review contest about the column. My own account of Buckley's article was not uncritical, and to the degree that the humor was offensive the culprits were Buckley himself and his associate Jeff Hart. Yet I took the brunt of the abuse.
A little secret about me: I enjoy this stuff. When I was editor of the Dartmouth Review we used to tell the deans that taking on our student newspaper was like wrestling with a pig: not only did it get everyone dirty, but the pig liked it! I guess my Dartmouth experience has made me a little thin-skinned with regard to a certain type of attack. I always try to learn from intelligent criticism, but when I get outright obscenity and threats and name-calling, I sit by my swimming pool with a drink in my hand and laugh my head off.
Some of my pals who read this blog do periodically ask why some of my critics are so out of control. One of my friends even printed out a bunch of responses to my recent posts, handing me a sampling. I reproduce a few items to give you the flavor.
"Dinesh you should be executed."
"Dear Dick (I mean Dinesh)"
"We are stupid if we let this sand n*gg*r speak for us. Go home."
"This guy is a friggin' dot head."
"Hypocritical jerkoff."
"Go back to India you narrow-minded punk. You don't have a f*ck*ng clue, bitch."
"You have sh*t for brains. You are a moron too."
"I f*ck*ng hate the way Dinesh uses that stupid voice...I want to punch him in the face."
"Oh Double D (that stands for Double Douchebag by the way)"
"Dinesh is far and away the dumbest human being on this planet."
"It's asshole immigrants like Dineshit, an untouchable from India is why I am against immigration."
"Self-absorbed cretin."
"You only need to take a look at Dinesh ato know something is wrong with him. He is the quintessential little ugly deformed fascist. Weird lower lip, sticks straight out, weird pink ledge. Goofy ears. Little weird looking fascist nerd with a barren intellect and an even more despitable soul."
"I hope you die. What a piece of crap."
"The only rational response is for me to tell you are that you are simply full of sh*t and need to pull your head out of your ass."
I've been examining these comments for valid criticisms. Maybe I am a little self-absorbed, although my critics seem far more absorbed with me than I am. Hypocrisy I plead guilty to: it simply means that I have higher standards than I can live up to. I have never claimed to be a handsome guy, although through some stroke of luck I managed to marry a woman who looks like a model: maybe she is partially blind. I doubt I am the dumbest human being on the planet although I may be--a) the dumbest guy to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from an Ivy League college, b) the dumbest guy to serve in his mid-twenties in the White House, c) the dumbest guy to have taught at Harvard and served as a scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, d) the dumbest guy to have written five New York Times bestsellers. Sometimes I wonder what I might have accomplished if I was a little smarter.
Now let's turn to these critics. It's striking that the cultural left, which wears the public face of tolerance and openness, quickly drops this cover when it's orthodoxies are questioned. Suddenly ad hominem epithets fly, and the intolerance and outright bigotry that is supposed to be the province of the right is quickly exposed as a distinctive feature of the secular left. I suspect that these folks are used to hanging out with people who share their political and cultural assumptions. They are not used to having these assumptions questioned. Unable to counter with facts and arguments, their only weapons are epithets and abuse. I have encountered this combination of left-wing and lowbrow on the campus, usually at second and third-rate universities. There occasionally I encounter a student who can do no better than yell "fascist" and run out of the room. In a way I feel sorry for him: his worldview has been shattered, and his abuse is simply an indication of the inner confusion he is experiencing.
To my friends and fans who keep encouraging me: No need to tell me to keep my chin up. It's already up. In fact, I feel blessed to have such irrational invective hurled at me. As long as my critics continue to reveal themselves as mean-spirited, foul-mouthed racists, how can I possibly lose the argument? Indeed such reactions from such people tell me that I must be doing something right.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 32)
76. kulari =
"When has Brian called blacks niggers or made fun of jews?"
Brian didn't. DD did something very much like that, in the homosexual/aids joke.
But brian spoke of tolerance. About DD's joke.
The rest is easy. QED, as my Algebra professor used to say.
brandon at 9:37PM on Mar 3rd 2008
77. One humane reason for repeating that joke, Dinesh.
Just one.
Paul at 9:37PM on Mar 3rd 2008
78. "25. "rather then believe in evolution, you imagine that modern man co-existed with the dineshaurs?"
This I can't figure out. Dinesh is Roman Catholic, and the Catholic Church's official position is that evolution is True, and fits in God's plan. I've never actually seen Dinesh take a solid stance on this.
AndrewV at 5:34PM on Mar 3rd 2008"
Perhaps you don't read many of his blogs.
At any rate, are you yourself expressing an opinion that Genesis is total nonsense?
If so, that is mildly refreshing coming from a Christian. Perhaps Catholics will even give their "blessing" to people in AIDs ridden Africa using condoms, though I won't hold my breath .......
JerryC at 9:38PM on Mar 3rd 2008
79. You can't do it, Dinesh.
How do I know that?
Because there ARE NO humane reasons for repeating a joke that humiliates AIDS sufferers.
Paul at 9:39PM on Mar 3rd 2008
80. Paul, you're very licentious and self-absorbed, for that I feel sorry for you. Remember, this article was written primarily because of you.
Tsar Nicholas II at 9:40PM on Mar 3rd 2008
81. Brandon, in response to my question: 'When has Brian called blacks niggers or made fun of jews?', said:
"Brian didn't. DD did something very much like that, in the homosexual/aids joke.
But brian spoke of tolerance. About DD's joke.
The rest is easy. QED, as my Algebra professor used to say."
So (contrary to your initial suggestion), Brian has never called blacks niggers or made jokes about jews.
You owe Brian an apology.
kulari94 at 9:48PM on Mar 3rd 2008
82. Kulari, I owe brian nor anybody else a thing. My point stands. And it's valid. Buh bye!
brandon at 9:55PM on Mar 3rd 2008
83. You know, the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition and the Salem Witch hangings all haooened AFTER the death of so called "Jesus".
Funny how the changing of the law of Moses did not change much until Christianity lost most of it's political power.
Is it difficult for Christians to understand why any Non-Christians would be reluctant to accept their "PEACEFUL" status?
Good grief, open your eyes and open your minds to rational thought! Sheesh!
Do you REALLY think that people that believe in other religions are not TERRIFIED of "peaceful" Christians??????
Yeah, they should all believe you THIS time, right???????????
Sheesh.........
JerryC at 9:55PM on Mar 3rd 2008
84. Sorry Botts of #49,
"What is my kind?
And what is hypocritical about me, since you know me so well.
I believe in Love. I believe in loving my neighbor. Love is Truth. And there is absolutely nothing hypocritical about that.
Just because you don't understand me, doesn't mean you know me. But ask a question and I'll be happy to answer you.
But Dinesh ......please, there is nothing to defend. He is not Christian in the least bit."
Well, from how you write, Botts, you sound different than Dinesh, me. But that doesnt mean Dinesh or me are neccesarily wrong. Ive heard Dinesh talk and I like his attitude you know, not completely, Im picky, but... I think some athiests are just plain shot out of the water by smart, smugish guys like him. He's got truth and he uses it in good ways. And I think that part of being a negotiator/peacemaker/diplomat is seeing it from their side. Maybe he doesnt. Arrgh. I could go on, but...
Michelle at 9:58PM on Mar 3rd 2008
85. "Remember, this article was written primarily because of you.
Tsar Nicholas II at 9:40PM on Mar 3rd 2008'
Hmmm. Tsar, how would you know that?
Hmm....could, as we've suspected all along, DD be posting as someone else here?
Have your laugh, DD. You've proven yourself finally to be the hateful, intolerant, evil NON-CHRISTIAN that you are. Hell, I'd bet you're half of the atheist bashers that come here, posting under various names to inflate your ego and AOL's rankings.
brandon at 10:01PM on Mar 3rd 2008
86. Paul,
"One humane reason for repeating that joke, Dinesh.
Just one."
People with sicknesses can have a excuse attitude, a hey feel bad for me attitude. Sometimes they need to be slapped to get out of their miserablely useless state of mind. That may be what Dinesh intended. Google "natural cures for aids" Paul, and feast your eyes.
Michelle at 10:08PM on Mar 3rd 2008
87.
I could not help but notice that the only criticisms that DD addressed were the rude, name-calling type of posts.
He didn't address any of the numerous intelligent, well thought out complaints that were posted.
To me that means he knows that he has no real defense for tacking that joke onto the end of his blog.
Or maybe this current blog is addressed only to those who read his blog and not the comments section. After all, those people will only see the ones he mentions in this blog.
FL Chick at 10:10PM on Mar 3rd 2008
88. Why does Dinesh get so hysterical about atheists? Why does he hate atheists so much that almost every column of his for 6 months was about how much he hates atheists?
Knight_of_BAAWA at 10:14PM on Mar 3rd 2008
89. Reply to: 64
“After contacting a few attorney friends that I have, they actually advised me to call the local police since that's who handles and investigates hate speech on the Internet.” ---Paul
That is hilarious! Paul, you are a complete and total DOUCHE BAG!!! You seriously have to be kidding! You are totally delusional.
Douche Bag
Noun
1. A small syringe with detachable nozzles; used for vaginal lavage and enemas.
“Dinesh, I will tell you that I did not contact them because your blog isn't worth a waste of police force man hours.” --Paul
No Paul, you didn’t contact them because you are lame. Do you realize how completely lame you sound with that statement!
Paul, the longer this goes, the more you continue to say absolutely nothing. You’ve single-handedly sucked all the life out of any interesting debate with your self-righteous and pompous diatribe.
Even I am willing to admit that his post had a callous and insensitive tone to it but you are just being a complete dumb-ass about this whole thing. Enough already, O Great and All-righteous one!
Monty at 10:21PM on Mar 3rd 2008
90. Please don't equate the ad hominem attacks with all of those on the cultural left. A quick scan of comments on stories on the aol website alone reveals some on the cultural right to be just as idiotic.
Dale Bugos at 10:22PM on Mar 3rd 2008