Chapter One from East to West by Schwartz

Schwartz does an excellent job of entertaining his readers with the PreAmerican history of Spanish and Mexican California. We do not have the grand drama of the Texas Revolution. However the influences of the Texas and French revolutions reverberate in California.

Schwartz also points to the French debacle in Haiti as a motivating factor behind the Louisiana Purchase. Napoleon's army in Haiti was routed by disease , nepotistic leadership and crafty foes. There was an excellent article in Military History Quarterly around two years ago.

We also get to visit local uprisings against Mexico. Argentian adventurers trying to lead a revolt against Spain. Schwartz also provives vivid portraits of literary figures who passed through California.

The best parts are ahead as the sections on Steinbeck and Sinclair start on page 269
and I am at page 73. We may disagree with Schwartz on Islam but his talent, intellect and flair for writting are clearly evident.

Some quick Stephen Schwartz facts

1 Schwartz's father was a far left Jew and his mother was a non practicing Catholic. He was never Jewish in any definition except by those of the far left who assume that any Jewish blood makes one a Jew. Richard Poe and Jamie Glazov are also pointed to by the far left as Jews but are in fact Christians. The great Richard Poe is also Hispanic but unlike Geraldo never gets any credit or recognition.

2 Schwartz does not bash Western Civ at anytime. He praises Western Civ and points to Islam's place on the perifery. We can debate Islam's role in a coherent rational manner. However Schwartz has never espoused the idiotic notion that Islam civilized the West or denigrated Shakespeare or Greco Roman advances.

3 Schwartz has unequivocally condemed terrorism. He has also been critical of the double games of Cair. He has also beaten Justin Raimondo to a pulp for his stupidity and mendenacity. Schwartz is clearly an American patriot as opposed to Anum who trashes America at every opportunity.

The question for each of us is what do we say to Patriotic Muslims like Schwartz. We can disagree with him on history and theology. However should he have the right to freedom of intellect to pursue his brand of Islam. My answer is that we should respect Schwartz as a first rate talented author and respect his patriotism. Schwartz has never advocated burning books or killing nonbelievers. If we are to be true to our Western notion of freedom we should respect his notion of a cosmopolitan Islam that respects other faiths and seeks to live as members of civilized society.


Mr Beamish in 08, Ducky to be banished to North Korea and 167 RIP

Coming Soon to a theatre near you Mr Beamish stars in the new and improved version of the new Algerian Classic "Man in the Iron Gasmask ". Maybe Mr Beamish will make a Movie Poster for the new venture.