First, there were imitation Rush Limbaughs. Now, there are imitation Michael Savages. An example of the latter is one Steve Malzberg who was ranting and raving the other evening on KLIF 570 about dropping nuclear bombs on Iran. Listening to him go on and on, one couldn’t help but think that this guy would love to push the button himself if he could.

I couldn’t resist responding. I called and asked the guest talk show host what would happen to our troops on the ground in Iraq if we did what he advocated. And, whether we might not inflame the Middle East and turn the whole region into a wave of militant Islamic regimes. Nor did it matter to him that our military leaders are opposed to this crazy scheme that he was supporting. He didn’t want to discuss what I had to say. He just wanted callers to agree with him. So, he disconnected me and then proceeded to suggest to his listeners that I must be a Democrat. My Democratic friends would get a kick out of that comment.

Hey, Dan Bennett and Jeff Hillery (the guys over programming at KLIF) – surely you can find a decent replacement in Gregg Knapp’s absence. Guys like Steve Malzberg do a disservice to your station and to your community which expects more from KLIF, one of the great names in the history of Dallas radio.

What do the tobacco companies, the casino gambling interests, the pro-Robin Hood liberal organizations (the Equity Center and the Center for Public Policy Priorities headed by Scott McCowan—the former Judge who gave us the "Robin Hood" scheme of funding public education in Texas), eighteen of the largest law firms in Texas, and Carol Strayhorn have in common? They all are opposed to the Perry/Sharp reform of our current school finance system – a system, at present, which relies heavily on high property taxes and the Robin Hood redistribution of local property taxes to fund public education in Texas.

Oriona Fallaci is a well-known Italian journalist who has been a fierce critic of militant Islam. Her book, The Rage and the Pride, was a harsh critique of Islam. Published only days after 9/11 by one of Italy’s leading newspaper, it quickly became a best-seller in Italy. She warned that "the hate for the West" from the followers of Islamic Fundamentalism "swells like a fire fed by the wind." And, she fears that Europe is in the process of committing societal suicide in the wake of what she calls "the Islamic invasion" of Europe. A self-proclaimed atheist and Leftist, Fallaci nonetheless is worried about the diminished influence of Christianity in Europe. On this issue, she is an ally of Pope Benedict XVI who has denounced "the dictatorship of relativism" in secular-dominated Europe. In fact Ms. Fallaci views the decline of traditional Western culture and religious faith in Europe as factors which advance the "Muslim world’s challenge against the West and Christianity". That is why Italian observer Sandro Magister calls Ms. Fallaci a "great admirer of Benedict XVI" who (Fallaci believes) understands the seriousness of the Islamic threat.

These two seemingly polar opposites are well-acquainted with one another. According to Sandro Magister, Benedict XVI has read a number of Fallaci’s books and even received her in a private audience last August.

The Italian atheist and the German Pope may have very different philosophies of life. But, on the issue of militant Islam, both appear to have reached similar conclusions.

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment