Infidel

There is a dangerous tendency among civilized peoples to overcompensate for our richness: we've got it good, we have a responsibility to help others, but oh we shouldn't judge their cultures. In the chilling second half of this book Ayaan Hirsi Ali demonstrates, with vivid first-hand experience, just how spectacularly that can backfire. What if, I wonder, what if we had some sort of historical example we could point to—something within living memory, say—as a canonical example of appeasement not working?

This is an insightful, informative, and deeply disturbing book that not enough people will read. Who wants to hear that Islam is evil, that we should be careful in how we welcome Muslims into our (Western) countries? That's what the right-wingers say, and we want nothing in common with them! Well, dear one, will you listen to an ex-Muslim? More than that, a woman? Ali grew up Muslim in Somalia, with everything that entails: FGM, subservience, shame, abuse we can't imagine. I dare you to read this book without tears. Ali was lucky: she questioned, survived, then thrived. Now, at tremendous risk to her life, she warns us: Islam is intrinsically evil. It is incompatible with civilization. Why can't we acknowledge or even question that in polite conversation? Ali is speaking out, trying to make sure we address that problem before it's too late.

While I'm at it: Christianity too is a dangerous, evil superstition. We should do something about it before bands of ignorant, brainwashed Fox-watchers elect a hate-spewing moron to high office.