Richard Wolin should really stick to his observations on Walter Benjamin and Heidegger. That's his metier and his milieu. Once he veers into the bottomless pit of "Islamism," well, it just doesn't work for him (as for so many others).

Anybody who declares, as Wolin does here, that the 9/11, Madrid and London attacks were met by "intemperate and overheated reactions" simply doesn't know what he's talking about. And worse, he doesn't understand the civilizational threat these "event" portend. His review is another example--there are many--of the refusal to confront what's really at stake here. It's a profound denial of what we're up against. (At least Benjamin knew what he was up against at the French-Spanish border and took appropriate action).

The vast majority of Asian "immigrants" to Europe, whether Muslim or otherwise, were never meant to "integrate" into European culture. They were let in as laborers to work with the unstated understanding that they would eventually return to their country of origin. This is a very similar situation to what is taking place in the USA with Mexican workers and, much less talked about, what is happening in the Persian Gulf countries where millions upon millions of Asian (and Western) toil. Yes, come and work, but there's no way you can stay forever. That this didn't happen in the case of Europe is Europe's fault…and now she's paying the price.

I am totally in agreement with Osama Bin Laden. He is an exemplar of lucidity and understatement. Islam is at war with the "West", period, and I am proud to be designated and to be considered a Crusader. I know what has to be done. Eventually, the pusillanimous authorities in Europe will too. It's just a matter of time before the banner bearing the proud logo "In Hoc Signo Vinces", will once again be raised. It's inevitable.

That splendid paragon of utilitarianism, Jeremy Bentham, once referred to human rights as "nonsense on stilts", a superb metaphor that should be drilled into the consciousness of every high school senior destined for "college". "Veiled Intolerence", Dr. Wolin's vacuous foray into the world of Islam, unfortunately, is a literary exemplar of this nonsense on very high stilts indeed.

Alo Kievalar

Appleton, WIsconsin

The Nation spent the 20th century apologizing for tyranny in the name of socialism.

Must it spend the 21st century apologizing for tyranny in the name of Islam?

G. J. Leonard
San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Wolin's thesis, of course, is further supported by the large-scale demonstrations by the Muslim community throughout Europe and much of North America expressing their profound disapproval of the excesses of Muslim fundamentalism, a sure sign that the majority of Muslim immigrants in the West support the values of a liberal society.

Luke Lea
Born-Again Democrats

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Much of this article is excellent, but Mr. Wolin is too determined not to blame the victim. He begins his article with a list of apparently disturbing events, the first being the cancellation and ultimate performance of a flamboyantly anti-clerical version of a Mozart opera. He then describes his list as comprising "overheated and intemperate responses" to acts of terrorism committed by Moslems.

Was it "overheated and intemperate" to cancel an intentionally provocative performance? Or was it "overheated and intemperate" to let the piece go forward? Perhaps neither decision was overheated or intemperate. Perhaps the murderous riots that Moslems have staged on a number of occasions when they have decided that Islam has been insulted are a bit "overheated and intemperate" themselves, and have made people nervous.

Mr. Wolin sounds a bit nervous himself at times, for example when he refers to the "Rushdie affair"--it is an "affair," apparently, when religious leaders encourage their followers to murder a man because of a book he wrote. Mr. Wolin, it seems to me, yearns to put all the blame on Europeans for not understanding the Muslims, but of course he can't quite manage it. Don't be afraid to stand up for the Enlightenment, Mr. Wolin!

Don't be ashamed of believing in free speech and free thought! These are good things! And, dare I say it, they will outlast the bloodthirsty bigots who claim to speak and act on behalf of "the Prophet"!

Alan Vanneman

Washington, DC, USA