I'm just sick about the news that CNN's Lara Logan was beaten and sexually assaulted by a mob in Egypt. Journalists who go into war zones to report are heroes, and I hope Ms. Logan recovers soon.
Of course, as with anything else, a whole lot of people proved themselves idiots in reaction, including that borderline-subhuman piece of human garbage known as Debbie Schlussel, who felt the need to use the occasion to bash Muslims, who as we all know are the only rapists in the world. It might be a new low for Schlussel, although last year she criticized "Waiting For 'Superman'" for blaming the crisis in education on teachers' unions, as opposed to the inherent dysfunctionality of black people.
Then there was Nir Rosen, a relatively obscure lefty journalist/academic, who took to Twitter after the Logan attack to joke about it, denounce her as a warmonger, and lament that she would become a martyr. For this, Rosen was forced out of his fellowship at NYU. (Schlussel probably would've been fired too, but I'm not sure she has a job.)
Rosen's an idiot with a long trail of highly questionable statements, and if this means the end of his career I won't be too upset. But you know what? If Rush Limbaugh had said the exact same thing- perhaps substituting "liberal media mouthpiece" for "warmonger"- the incident would've had no repercussions whatsoever. Media Matters would complain, Rush would say they're trying to "silence" him, and that would be that.
I also don't want to hear Rosen's statements attributed to "The Left." Reaction from "The Left" to Rosen's comments were about 10,000-1 against, and even more lopsided than that among The Left's feminist contingent.
James Poniewozik of Time had my favorite take on this:
What happened to Logan was despicable. What it was not was an object lesson proving anyone's pet take on Egypt, Islam, American policy in the Middle East, the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, the media (pro or con), Logan's past work or personal character, or the proper place of women pursuing their work in dangerous situations. What we know is this: a woman was beaten and assaulted trying to do her job, and it was indefensible. Until and unless we learn more, everything else is conjecture and opportunism. You would think people would understand this point of simple decency. You would be wrong