Here in Chicago there was a small play put together at a neighborhood theater depicting the two teen-age boys in Iran executed for allegedly having gay sex with each other. If you are not familiar with the story, here is a link: http://www.rightsidenews.com/20080317526/culture-wars/homosexuals-get-death-penalty-in-iran.html I did not see the play, but I was able to talk with the writer. (Many of the actors, btw, were Middle Eastern-Americans, some born here in the States, others born in the Middle East, a few from Europe.) I mentioned to the writer that if this play were shown in Europe or even Canada it would be met with great controversy and outrage, and he would perhaps have to fear for his life. But here in the US, the show goes on without a blip, despite its critical depiction of Islam. There were no death threats, no riots, no censors from a frightened government. The writer admited he really didn’t think of it that way until I mentioned it. He was astounded at how much he had taken America for granted. We all do. America is truly paradise compared with the rest of the world. I suppose in some ways it’s a testiment to how free we are in the US when you don’t have to think about getting a death threat merely for producing a play. Even Michael Moore gets away with his bile unscathed. I wonder if he appreciates it? This unlimited freedom of expression we have in the US is one of the reasons I cannot take the Left seriously. They have no appreciation for the liberty they have in the States. (Oh, and as a side note, the gay American Left has actually sided with Iran in the gay executions. They claim it’s a “lie” concocted by the US government to make Iran look bad; these same people believe every word of torture coming out of Gitmo.)—Another reason why I can’t follow the Left!
