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 7 of 32)
91. "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..."
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your response.
Well, we're all different from one another. I am a Christian, but I am not indoctrinated and am not affiliated with a sect.
Dinesh is ..............I'll leave it alone. Dinesh just frustrates me a little bit. Has he ever written a post about some of the great things Atheists have done? Has he ever written a post about some of the great things "liberals" have done? Nope.
He preaches this message that Atheists hate God. And other indoctrinated fools eat this crap up. Atheists can't possibly hate something they don't believe exists.
I will go after a so-called Christian before I will go after an Atheist. Atheists don't offend me. I know what I know and I know what I believe.
However, other Christians that call themselves Christians and their words and actions speak otherwise....this I have a problem with.
If people are so into quoting the Bible on here and using it to prove their points, why don't they actually read it, learn it, know the history of it, and live it correctly. Because if they did, they would clearly see Dinesh for what he is.
So Dinesh, if you're reading this message to Michelle, enjoy that "drink" by the pool, laugh up your arrogance, keep on think those faggots are getting what they deserve. Don't forget to say your prayers.
I know you though, and I see you for what you are. It just sucks that you have followers. It's a real shame.
Botts at 10:25PM on Mar 3rd 2008
92. I applaud your pig analogy. You truly are one.
Those glasses you wear aren't going to help you see. It's obvious you're as blind as a bat.
athena018 at 10:26PM on Mar 3rd 2008
93. Botts,
I
athena024 at 10:31PM on Mar 3rd 2008
94. kulari94,
brandon would never apologize. i have never used a the N word on this post, ever. nor would i. i have no beef with brandon really. he just gets angry like the rest of these atheist. when they are challenged and their science and reason do not produce answers they get angry. i think because science and reason as gods do not impart patience and kindness but truly is fundementalism in the most tyranical of ways. atheist lambast christianity for its abuses. but the enlightenment,which is where atheism has it roots, is chock full of abuses and is exactly what led to nazism,to the mass starving in the soviet union, to un-told millions being killed. ultimately science and reason is void of the capacity to see humans as valuable. it only sees humans as needed to be corraled into one way of seeing the world. and yet atheist speak of tolerance? where is it? what is it? how does it work itself out?
brian at 10:34PM on Mar 3rd 2008
95. Paul, can you provide one humane reason for posting the vicious joke about Indian woman? Just one humane reason? You know you can't. Giving your ego a boost isn't a humane reason; trying to make yourslef sound more credible by telling a (cough, phony) story about how you don't tolerate hate speech isn't a humane reason (ESPECIALLY when you repeat the joke; you could've said that it was just a mean joke about Indian women, but you didn't -- you repeated the joke); and repeating the joke to anger Dinesh isn't a humane reason. Admit it -- you cannot provide a humane reason for repeating that joke. Any point you might have wanted to make could have easily been made just as forcefully without repeating that joke. So, Paul, will you remain a hypocrite, or will you apologize for repeating that joke?
Now, let's look a bit more closely at the joke you objected so vociferously to itself. What about it, exactly, angered you? Is it the fact that something serious was treated light-heartedly? I hate to tell you this, but people do this all the time, and it isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes we have to treat deeply troubling situations this way to cope with them. Or did the joke somehow misrepresent AIDS? Obviously not; in fact, it portrayed it as seriously as possible by comparing it to hell. Did the joke demean homosexuals? Not according to Dinesh's blog, which referred to AIDS victims, not homosexuals. (Or do you reflexively think "homosexual" when you read the words "AIDS victim"?) Was it then meant to demean AIDS victims? I don't see how -- it said nothing untrue about them; it didn't impugn them in any way; it didn't categorize them in any way that could be construed as offensive. The only plausible reason for your reaction is the first one: that a serious topic was treated light-heartedly. If this is the case, the I have some suggestions:
Avoid movies and television. Popular music should be avoided as well.
Stay away from comedians!! I'm willing to bet that you LOVE Bill Maher and Geroge Carlin, and that you're probably a huge fan of South Park. Tsk Tsk!
Read great literature very selectively. Keep far away from Shakespeare. You better not pick up Swift either.
Finally, avoid actual people in any serious situation.
I think the point is clear, Paul. Either you're one of the most underdeveloped, inexperienced, imperceptive and poorly read human beings alive, or this was nothing but an ego-stroking exercise on your part.
Tiny Tim at 10:36PM on Mar 3rd 2008
96. botts,
it sounds like you have condemned DD to hell. why? do you not see your own faults? if so what might they be? you are very quick on the trigger towards christians. as for saying that atheist cannot possibly hate something they don't believe in i am not sure you are correct because they spend a fair amount of time being critical of every facet of christianity
brian at 10:39PM on Mar 3rd 2008
97. " is void of the capacity to see humans as valuable. "
brian, brian, brian. What did DD do with this evil joke in the last blog? Demonstrated a lack of capacity to see gay humans as valuable...consider it.
brandon at 10:40PM on Mar 3rd 2008
98. 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, please provide one specific quote from Dinesh that suggests that he hates atheists. Just one.
Tiny Tim at 10:41PM on Mar 3rd 2008
99. tiny tim,
i think you hit the mark on the latter explanation. but if you peruse much od these post you will see a common intolerant thread among atheist who disagree with any view but their own and then call themselves tolerant,
this is what confuses me too
brian at 10:43PM on Mar 3rd 2008
100. brandon,
in his last blog DD cited a joke, granted a tasteless one but no lees tasteless than the dot head jokes. he never mentioned gays he just said aids victims. granted i would not have made it,not because i want to be politically correct, but because its not that much of a joking issue with me. but i do support DD right to make the comment. i support paul's blasting DD, though i think he needs to look in the mirror at some of his hateful rage. again you believe the way you want but allow others the same freedom. but argue your pints with conviction not anger and intolerance as is most atheist here
brian at 10:47PM on Mar 3rd 2008
101. "in his last blog DD cited a joke, granted a tasteless one but no lees tasteless than the dot head jokes."
brian, come on, who has made "dot head" jokes here, except in response to DD's horridly hateful joke?
You, like DD, are quite absurd.
brandon at 10:51PM on Mar 3rd 2008
102. Hi Botts,
"Well, we're all different from one another. I am a Christian, but I am not indoctrinated and am not affiliated with a sect."
Yeah, Im not with any sects either. Not technically. I just want the whole truth. We all should.
"Dinesh just frustrates me a little bit. Has he ever written a post about some of the great things Atheists have done? Has he ever written a post about some of the great things "liberals" have done? Nope."
Well, its rare to find that kind of balance in any kind of public speaker type or radio talk show host. Theyre like politicians really, they get stuck in a rut trying to convince people of things they dont necessarily believe themselves.
"I will go after a so-called Christian before I will go after an Atheist. Atheists don't offend me. I know what I know and I know what I believe.
However, other Christians that call themselves Christians and their words and actions speak otherwise....this I have a problem with."
Sounds like 1 Cor 5, yeah, I agree. Christians are supposed to have the truth, so why dont they live like it? Athiests are just confused(and stubborn?).
Michelle at 10:53PM on Mar 3rd 2008
103. Michelle,
"Sometimes they need to be slapped to get out of their miserablely useless state of mind. "
Ain't that a fact
Mokele-Mobembe at 10:54PM on Mar 3rd 2008
104. "it sounds like you have condemned DD to hell. why? do you not see your own faults? if so what might they be? you are very quick on the trigger towards christians. as for saying that atheist cannot possibly hate something they don't believe in i am not sure you are correct because they spend a fair amount of time being critical of every facet of christianity "
My Turn:
1. I'm not condemning Dinesh to hell. Dinesh will do that for himself. However, I have no problem talking about what Dinesh is.
2. I have plenty of faults. We all do. But two of them will never be intolerance and bigotry.
3. I've explained already many times why I pull the trigger on indoctrinated Christians. They saying and writing false things. Things in which Christianity doesn't teach. Interpretation is a dangerous way to go.
4. Atheists spend a fair amount of time getting on Christians for being hypocritical. If they want to do that, so be it. The only ones that will get defensive, are the hypocrites.
But brian, who cares what I think. Go back to your shell. You know what's inside that shell. Atheists hate everyone. Atheists have no morals. Science is the enemy. Liberals are evil. Stay on your side, keep up the division, and keep on letting the "True" evil win. Because true evil loves sides, it loves chaos and it loves division.
Botts at 10:54PM on Mar 3rd 2008
105. brian,
There is no end to your hypocrisy, is there? Will you ever understand you have cost yourself the right to call anyone else the intolerant ones and have credibility? You also pick on people for being on this blog all day when you yourself are here all day and night! (I'm almost never here at night)
Mokele-Mobembe at 11:01PM on Mar 3rd 2008