Is Pamela Geller a Hero?

It seems that both liberals and conservatives champion free speech, but if that free speech comes in conflict with their views, some seem to do an about face in denouncing the free speech of others. So it is with the “free speech” of political gadfly, Pamela Geller.

For years, Pamela Geller has been a forceful, outspoken critic of radical Islam, and it has caused her to have a “fatwa” (a Muslim death sentence) put on her head for her outspoken views. You'd think that right-thinking people would be heaping praise upon her for telling the truth about the evils of radical Islam, but just the opposite has occurred in the aftermath of her cartoon conference in Garland, Texas. Although most of her critics say they favor the 1stt Amendment, they put the caveat on their support by claiming that Pamela Geller is nothing but an opportunist, a provocateur, and a person who needlessly and knowingly put other people in danger. Really?

Pamela Geller is just as anti-Muslim as is talk show host Bill Maher, but the difference is that Pamela Geller is on the political right and Bill Maher is on the political left. Therefore, she is called a vicious hate-monger and he's an amusing free-thinker. A double-standard to say the least. We all know (or should know) that liberals are champions of free speech unless that free speech goes against their liberal orthodoxy (ex: global warming, same sex marriage, fracking etc.), but when you have conservatives like Bill O'Reilly, Laura Ingraham, Greta Van Susteren etc. come out to criticize Pamela, it is a little disconcerting, to say the least.

Is or should Pamela Geller's judgment and wisdom be in question in sponsoring this event depicting cartoons about the Muslim prophet, Mohammad? Since much of the criticism is against her and not the Muslim terrorists who came to commit wanton murder, you wonder if the Islamist apologists have won or are winning the propaganda war? Pamela didn't invite those terrorists to come and do harm to her and the conference attendees, they came, with malice in their hearts, to avenge their “peace-loving prophet” Mohammad. Since when was criticism of anyone or anything deserving of a death penalty? Only a fanatical “politically correct” nut job would sanction such a policy as that. The militant Muslim community has done just that.

Let's speak truth to power and stop the knee-jerk reaction of blaming the messenger and not the perpetrators of crimes against humanity.

Pamela Geller might not be the most erudite scholar of the Middle East or Islam, or not the most couth defender of the 1st Amendment, but give her credit for standing up for the principle of free speech at considerable personal risk to her own life and limb.

So, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with her methods of exposing radical Islam, she should be considered a hero for speaking out for what she believes, and shutting her up would cede the moral high ground to the evil Jihadists who want to dominate the whole world under their oppressive Sharia Law. We must stand up for people like Pamela Geller otherwise we will become like the sheep going to slaughter because we didn't want to offend against the evil theocratic, political ideology (Islam) that is trying to force their ideology down our throats before they slit them under the name of Allah.

Conservative commentary by Chuck Lehmann